Leiden Observatory invites applications for approximately 6-10 new PhD positions. The four-year PhD program consists mostly of research under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Positions are available in most of the research areas in which the Observatory is active. These include galaxy formation and evolution, stars and planetary systems, computational astrophysics, high energy astrophysics, and instrumentation. More information about research at Leiden Observatory can be found here. Application deadline: November 15th, 2025.
Leiden Observatory, founded in 1633, is the oldest university astronomy department in the world. With about 35 faculty, over 40 postdoctoral associates and about 65 PhD students it is the largest astronomy department in the Netherlands. Leiden is a charming university town with an international flair. Most Leiden researchers have an international background. English is the common language.
During their thesis, Leiden PhD students are paid as civil servants, which means that they earn competitive salaries (the current annual gross salary, including allowances, increases from about EUR 37,000 in year 1 to about EUR 47,000 in year 4) and are eligible for both social security and retirement benefits. PhD positions are funded for four years.
Application forms and instructions are available at https://local.strw.leidenuniv.nl/jobs/phd/. Applicants are requested to upload a curriculum vitae, a list of all university courses taken and transcripts of grades obtained, brief statements of research interests and experience, and the contact information for at least two referees.
The successful candidates must have a MSc degree (or equivalent) by the starting date. The starting dates are negotiable.
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