Programme Overview

Engineers design, build, and operate ESO’s advanced ground-based astronomical facilities. To achieve results at the cutting-edge of telescope and instrumentation engineering, we need strong research and development (R&D). Each year ESO offers one to two PhD studentships, up to three years, in engineering and technology for young researchers to take part in our R&D projects.

Note that ESO does not award PhDs, so you must be enrolled in a PhD programme at a university of your choice for the duration of the studentship.

As a student at ESO you’ll work alongside, and be mentored by, experts, contribute to groundbreaking developments in your field, and build your research career in a unique high-impact environment. For your application you will develop and grow a research plan based on one of our original PhD projects in discussion with your supervisor at your home university and with the ESO supervisor.  You can find examples of ESO R&D along with the complete list of PhD projects further down this page.

PhD studentships take place at ESO Headquarters in Garching bei München, Germany (a remote or hybrid studentship is not possible), and should begin in the year following your application. You will receive an attractive remuneration package, including a coverage by ESO’s health insurance scheme, and one return trip per year to your home university. 

Who are we looking for?

• You are a graduate in a STEM field, planning to pursue, or already engaged in, a PhD and you are interested in working on one of the subjects described below for (part of) your PhD.
• You are either already enrolled in a PhD programme or meet the pre-requisites to start a PhD at a university of your choice and have an academic supervisor.
• You study in, or are a national of, an ESO Member State or Chile.
• You are excited to contribute to ESO R&D projects with a good deal of team spirit, curiosity and eagerness to learn.
• You have a good ability to understand and communicate in English (oral and written).

If you meet all these criteria, we look forward to your application!

Why choose ESO?

• We offer a broad range of engineering research subjects and professional experience at the forefront of ground-based astronomy and technology, working in collaboration with ESO's partner institutes and industries in the ESO member states.
• We are an international organisation, attracting a diverse range of passionate, talented, and collaborative people.
• We have a multi-disciplinary and high-tech work environment, situated next to the best German universities and world-renowned research centres.
• We are building the largest optical telescope on Earth, the Extremely Large Telescope, and operate world-leading observatories:  La Silla, Paranal and ALMA.

PhD studentship projects

ESO is working on developments in many fields of engineering. Here are some examples[FD5.1] of past and current R&D topics:

• Advanced visible and infra-red detectors (APD arrays, CMOS) and their controllers and electronics
• Cryogenic amplifiers for ALMA
• Extreme adaptive optics for exo-planet observation, including predictive control, new wavefront sensor, deformable mirrors
• Solid-state Laser Guide Stars including field experiments at la Palma Observatory
• Interferometry including vibration control & high-accuracy metrology
• Optics and Photonics technologies (photonic lanterns, integrated optics, active phasing of mirrors)
• New cryogenic technologies for large scale instruments
• Finite element analysis and digital twins of telescope large structures including effect of the wind, earthquakes, vibrations
• Control and SW engineering with PLCs and Real Time Computing
• Systems engineering with end-to-end modelling, verification, RAMS, configuration control
• And many more…

Currently all PhD studentship positions for 2026 start are filled. The list of projects for 2027 will be available when the PhD studentship vacancy opens in October 2026.

How to apply

Check out our recruitment portal in October for a vacancy called “Engineering PhD Studentship”. The vacancy is open until late November.

Applications must be completed in English and should include:

• A cover letter (max one page) detailing your motivation for the studentship at ESO, and which PhD subject you would like to work on and why.
• Your CV with an outline of your technical/practical experience and a list of publications, if any.
• A research plan (max two pages) outlining how you would develop the PhD project including a timeline, your desired starting date, and studentship duration (one to three years).
• The names and contact details of three persons familiar with your research and/or engineering work and able to provide a recommendation letter on request.

At the time of the PhD start date, you will have to provide:

• A letter from your home institute indicating that the pre-requisites to start a PhD have been met.
• A letter from the formal supervisor at your home institute indicating agreement with the project plan and collaborating with ESO on this subject in the frame of a PhD, and (if the studentship is requested for less than 3 years) guaranteeing financial support (salary, health insurance, travel money) for the part of the PhD done at the home institute.

If you have any further questions, please contact: vacancy@eso.org.