Research Fellowships in Space Science 2027: applications now open!

These fellowships are specifically for postdocs whose research is in the fields of heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics or fundamental physics. If you are curious to know more about the programme, who better to tell you about it than those who are currently living the experience? We invited our 2026 Research Fellows in Space Science to share their experience at ESA, so read on to discover what it’s really like to be a part of the programme and get inspired. Applications are open until 21 September 2026. 

Elena Favaro

What does your research focus on and why it is important for space science?

My research focuses on planetary surface processes, particularly aeolian (wind-driven) sediment transport. I am especially interested in how evidence of landscape evolution over billions of years is recorded across the Martian surface in vast dune fields, swarms of yardangs, granular ripples large and small, and the dust devils we observe from surface platforms and track from orbit. By combining fieldwork in remote environments on Earth with computer modelling and spacecraft imagery of Mars, I study how sediment moves on planetary bodies. This is an important step toward reconstructing their climatic histories and, ultimately, understanding how planetary surfaces evolve - and whether they could ever have supported life.

While much of my research is site-agnostic, my work also supports the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission, which will search for signs of past life on Mars. The same wind-driven processes I study across the planet are at work in the rover's landing region at Oxia Planum, where wind has shaped the terrain and continues to move sand and dust today. By understanding sediment movement across the planet, I contribute to analyses of rover traversability, help characterise the geology and geomorphology of the landing site and support instrument testing and the validation of analysis techniques ahead of the 2030 landing. In this way, understanding how sediment moves across Mars becomes a practical tool for exploring it, and for answering the fundamental question of whether the planet was ever able to support life. 

What is it like to be part of the Research Fellow in Space Science community at ESA?

It is, above all, a collaborative experience. The group brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds and career paths, and I learn something from those different perspectives every day: a heliophysicist helped me debug code; an x-ray astronomer and astrophysicist assisted with a statistical analysis; and a collaboration with a summer student and a planetary dynamicist ensured the Rosalind Franklin rover drive path remains clear of obstacles.

The Space Science faculty is engaged in cutting-edge research across a remarkable breadth of topics, and being surrounded by that work has given me a much deeper appreciation of how space missions are developed and implemented, and how data can be leveraged in ways I would never have conceived of on my own. But what I value most is the balance the position offers: I have the freedom to explore my own research interests while also contributing to missions, drawing on the considerable expertise of colleagues across the department and learning continually from those around me. The opportunities afforded to me in this position have helped me grow as a scientist, a researcher and as a person. I’m grateful to work in and be a part of such an inspiring environment.

Laura Rodríguez García

How would you describe your experience at ESA, and what has inspired you most?

My experience at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), ESA's establishment in Spain, has been truly rewarding. What I love most is the atmosphere and, above all, the people. It's a place where something as simple as breakfast or lunch turns into a conversations with mission managers, research fellows, operations scientists and engineers – people from completely different backgrounds and roles. Those everyday exchanges are what I find most inspiring; they open up your perspective and remind you just how many pieces come together to make space missions and science happen.

It's also very inspiring for me knowing that my work is directly connected to the future of space exploration, as well as seeing first-hand how fundamental research ends up shaping real solutions to the challenges space missions face.

Which facilities or resources at ESA have been most valuable for your research?

ESA has opened doors for me that have truly shaped my research and my career. I've had the chance to contribute to the JUICE mission, including during its cruise phase, a period that turned out to be valuable for heliophysics studies. Thanks to the ESA Faculty programme, I've been able to invite collaborators, organise a workshop on space weather on Mars and supervise two interns working on solar energetic particles measured by JUICE and Solar Orbiter.

Another thing I've valued enormously is how much the programme has helped me grow my scientific network. Through the ESA Archival Research Visitor Programme, I was invited to take part in collaborative research activities, which led to new connections and opportunities I wouldn't have found otherwise. It also opened the door for me to join the ESA Machine Learning Community, a space that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. On top of that, I've taken part in outreach activities through ESA's CESAR programme, sharing my work on space weather and solar eclipses with much broader audiences.

Antonio La Marca

What does a typical week look like for you as a Research Fellow in Space Science at ESA?

There is no single “typical” week as an ESA Research Fellow, which is one of the aspects I enjoy most about my job. A large part of my time is dedicated to my research in space science, which involves data analysis, software development, joining meetings with colleagues and reading and writing scientific papers. Alongside my own research, I contribute to the ESA Datalabs platform by developing new tools and functionalities for the Euclid community. These publicly released products are designed to make access to and analysis of Euclid data easier and more efficient for scientists around the world.

Beyond this, my week includes many opportunities for interaction and collaboration. I supervise a Master’s student working on their thesis project, attend scientific seminars such as the weekly informal breakfast seminars, which I really enjoy as they teach me about topics far from my own interests, and regularly have lunch and coffee breaks with colleagues at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), ESA's largest site located in the Netherlands. ESTEC also offers excellent sports facilities, so I try to make time for physical activity during the week.

In what ways has the fellowship shaped your future ambitions?

The fellowship has broadened my perspective on space science. Coming directly from a PhD position, I was primarily focused on the scientific use of data. At ESA, I gained a much deeper understanding of what lies behind that data: the long-term effort required to design, propose, develop, launch and operate a space mission. Being part of this environment allowed me to see how scientists, engineers, software developers and project teams work together to turn scientific ideas into real missions that serve the scientific community for many years.

This experience has shaped my future ambitions by making me want to contribute not only to scientific research, but also to the infrastructure and missions that enable it. Through my work supporting the Euclid community, I have come to appreciate the importance of developing tools and services that make scientific data more accessible and useful to researchers. Looking ahead, I would like to continue working at the interface between science, data and space missions, helping to maximise the scientific return of current and future missions. And, who knows, maybe one day, I would also like to contribute to the conception and development of a new space mission.

Meet our newest fellows

Some of the topics currently being explored by our 2026 fellows are: investigating the nature of dark matter using galaxy cluster collisions; learning how Jupiter’s atmosphere works using the observations of the famous Great Red Spot; and exploring the evolutionary pathways of exoplanets. This is just a flavour of the type of research supported by this programme—explore the 2026 projects in greater depth and meet the faces behind them.

Where can ESA's Research Fellowship Programme take you?

Meet some of our former Research Fellows and discover how their careers have developed since participating in the programme. Where could it lead you?

• Japheth Yates, lead computational engineer at Arrival, an electric vehicle startup.
• Catarina Alves de Oliveira, Science Operations Development Manager at ESA.
• Christiane Helling, Director of the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
• Ágnes Kóspál, astronomer and physicist working at Konkoly Observatory in Budapest, Hungary.
• Tra-Mi Ho, Head of the Department of System Engineering and Project Office at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Applying to the programme

Who can apply

To be eligible for the Research Fellowship Programme you must:

• have recently completed or be close to completing a PhD in a relevant technical or scientific discipline. Preference is given to applications submitted by candidates within five years of receiving their PhD.
• be a citizen of one of ESA’s Member States, Associate Members, European Cooperating States or Canada as a Cooperating State. The full list of eligible nationalities is stated in the footer of each vacancy.

How to apply

Join us at the forefront of unveiling the mysteries of our Solar System and the Universe! Read more and apply by 21 September 2026.

Life at ESA

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