If you are interested in applying for one of the positions below please contact the center.
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics or a related field.
You will be part of the Center for Interstellar Catalysis working with observational astronomers supported by experimental surface scientistsworking in close collaboration with theoreticians.
Applicaiton deadline 26th May 2026.
Expected start date 1st Janurary 2027
Supervisors: Giulia Perotti
Research area and researh group:
You will work with high-sensitivity infrared and (sub-)millimeter spectroscopic observations, primarily from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large (sub-)Millimeter Array probing gas and ices in protoplanetary disks. Preparatory work for upcoming mid-infrared and far-infrared facilities, such as ELT/METIS and potentially PRIMA, is also envisioned. You will co-supervise M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. Teaching may be included depending on the candidate’s interests and the needs of the department.
The group conducts research on star and planet formation, protoplanetary disks, and astrochemistry, with a strong focus on the observational characterization of the physical and chemical conditions in planet-forming environments. Members of the group combine observations from world class facilities with theoretical and numerical modelling to understand the origins of planetary systems and the chemical composition of embedded planets. The research environment is highly collaborative and international, welcoming new ideas. By promoting active engagement and the exchange of diverse perspectives, the research group aims at fostering a dynamic setting where innovative approaches can develop. This inclusive culture will strengthen the quality of the research while empowering team members to pursue novel directions and contribute meaningfully to the project’s goals.
Please email Giulia Perotti (tzd208@ku.dk) or intercat@phys.au.dk to express your interest.
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We are looking for enthusiastic people with a strong instrumental background and an interest in astronomy.
You will be working with MATRI2CES, an ultrasensitive cryogenic setup, combining ice ablation and time-of-flight technology to investigate COM formation and destruction pattern upon vacuum UV irradiation.
This project is not yet open for applications. Please check back again soon.
Expected start date in 1st August 2026.
Please email intercat@phys.au.dk to express your interest.
We are looking for enthusiastic students with experience in experimental surface science and/or astrochemistry.
You will be part of the Center for Interstellar Catalysis working with cutting edge experimental surface science instrumentation at helium cryogenic temperatures under ultra high vacuum in close collaboration with theoreticians and observational astronomers.
Applicaiton deadline 1st May 2026.
Expected start date 1st August 2026.
Supervisors: Liv Hornekær + Cornelia Meinert - Université Côte d'Azur
Research area and project description:
Under this PhD project we will investigate how circular polarized light (CPL) can induce enantiomeric excesses via photo-destruction and photo-desorption processes. Energetic processing with CPL of molecular ices containing chiral molecules such as amino acids and sugars may induce enantiomeric excesses and provide a possible interstellar pathway to the emergence of molecular handedness in terrestrial life. The successful applicant will take part in the built up of the unique “AU Chiralice” setup at Aarhus University, which will allow processing of low temperature interstellar ice analogues with CPL in the VUV/UV range as well as in situ detection of enantiomeric excesses via circular dichroism measurements at Aarhus University or ex situ enantioselective gas chromatography measurements in the laboratory of Cornelia Meinert at CNRS/Université Côte d’Azur.Chiroptical spectroscopy of individual chiral biomolecules embedded in amorphous ices will be employed to probe fundamental mechanisms of chiral light–matter interactions in the VUV/UV domain. We will collaborate with theoreticians within the Center for Interstellar Catalysis to identify expected fragmentation and reaction pathways following CPL photo-processing. In addition, the candidate will study the effect of CPL-induced desorption as a pathway to create chiral surface structures that may result in enantioselective catalytic activity. Together, these approaches will allow us to explore pathways to chiral selectivity in formation and destruction of amino acids and sugars in the low temperature solid phase under molecular cloud and protoplanetary disk conditions.
Research stays at Université Côte d'Azur can form part of the PhD project.
Please email Liv Hornekær (liv@phys.au.dk) or intercat@phys.au.dk to express your interest.
Supervisors: Sergio Ioppolo + Herma Cuppen - Radboud University
Research area and project description:
The project focuses on how vibrational energy deposited in interstellar ices by infrared radiation, cosmic rays, UV photons, or chemical reactions induces structural changes such as molecular diffusion, segregation, and desorption. Experiments carried out at HFML-FELIX will use ultrahigh vacuum surface science techniques, free-electron laser irradiation, and time-resolved spectroscopy (FTIR, QMS) to probe processes down to the millisecond timescale, complemented by molecular dynamics simulations and supporting experiments at Aarhus University.
Sergio Ioppolo, s.ioppolo@phys.au.dk or InterCat@phys.au.dk
Regular visits to the HFML-FELIX facility and the Radboud University are expected.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants to the PhD position must have a relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Candidates with knowledge of astrochemistry and/or experimental surface science will be preferred.
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We are looking for enthusiastic students with experience in computer programming.
The PhD candidate will benefit from a supportive and inspiring international environment and collaborations with partners across theory, laboratory experiments and astronomical observations within the Center for Interstellar Catalysis.
Applicaiton deadline 1st May 2026.
Expected start date August 2026.
Supervisor: Mie Andersen
Project Description: The PhD candidate will develop machine learning interatomic potentials to study grain surface reactions in astrochemistry.
The project focuses on silicates, which are a major constituent of dust grains in interstellar gas clouds. The reactivity of realistic silicate grain surfaces is poorly understood, since the grains may be amorphous, contain varying amounts of Mg and Fe, and be fully or partly covered in water-rich ices. This complexity is challenging to capture with first-principles methods like density functional theory (DFT), where the computational cost typically limits us to simple model catalyst surfaces and simplified reaction networks.
In this project, the PhD candidate will develop graph neural network (GNN) interatomic potentials based on DFT calculations to be employed in connection with structure optimization methods and reaction exploration. Realistic structures of silicate surfaces will be identified and used as the starting point for exploring reactions of astrochemical interest. The exact reaction paths will be guided by findings from experimental partners in the center and could include top-down chemistry such as bond-breaking in N-substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or bottom-up chemistry such as reactions of smaller N-containing hydrocarbons. These reactions may be a starting point for the formation of complex organic molecules, e.g. nucleobases, of relevance to prebiotic chemistry. GNN potentials will also be used to calculate IR spectra for comparison to lab or observational data.
More information here:
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants to the PhD position must have a relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Experience with computer programming (e.g. Python) is required. Experience with first-principles calculations and/or machine learning methods is not required but will count positively in the assessment. Explicit knowledge of astrochemistry is not required.
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact Associate Professor, Mie Andersen, mie@phys.au.dk
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The Niels Bohr Institute/Astrophysics and Planetary Science section invites applicants for two PhD fellowships in the chemistry of planet formation. The project is part of the Villum Young Investigator project “Chemistry meets Astrophysics: pathways to life-enabling ingredients during planet formation”. The PhD candidates will also benefit from a supportive and inspiring international environment and collaborations with partners across theory, laboratory experiments and astronomical observations within the Center for Interstellar Catalysis.
Application deadline 26th May 2026.
Expected start dates between September 2026 & Janurary 2027
Supervisor: Troels Haugbøll
Co-supervisor: Giulia Perotti
Project Description: The PhD project will investigate how the chemical composition of planet-forming disks shapes the volatile inventories of planets. Recent observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed a surprising diversity in the chemistry of inner disks, including systems that appear depleted in water but enriched in hydrocarbons. The project will combine infrared spectroscopic observations from JWST with data from the Atacama Large (sub-)Millimeter Array (ALMA) to characterize the chemical composition and physical structure of disks around very low-mass objects. These observations will be complemented by numerical simulations to put firm constraints on the physical and chemical processes responsible for the observed diversity. The project will help establish how variations in disk chemistry influence the building blocks of planets.
Supervisor: Jes Jørgensen
Co-supervisor: Giulia Perotti
Project Description: The PhD project will focus on characterizing the solid budget of planet-forming disks, including both ices and refractory materials. The student will analyze infrared spectroscopic observations obtained with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), targeting a sample of protoplanetary disks. Spectral decomposition will be carried out using state-of-the-art fitting routines in combination with laboratory ice spectra, and the analysis will be complemented by radiative transfer modeling to derive ice column densities. By characterizing disk ices across a statistically significant sample, the project aims to reveal the chemical composition of the solid building blocks available for planet formation.
More information here:
Qualifications and specific competences:
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. physics, chemistry, biology.
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact Giulia Perotti, tzd208@ku.dk
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