Credit: Photographer Monique Shaw
Join the team !
we hosts PhD, Postdoctoral, and undergraduate (Bachelor’s and Master’s) research projects within a vibrant and collaborative environment.
In addition to (inter)national funding opportunities, we welcome externally funded fellowships and are happy to serve as a hosting institute for competitive grant-supported positions.
See the current vacancies below, and feel free to contact us if you are interested in applying fellowship opportunities.
Vacancy profiles
Postdoc.
Ph.D.
- Upcoming PhD position in mid 2026
Master Research
- Several research projects are open for application, check with the Education Office Astronomy.
Bachelor Research
- short-term laboratory project will be open soon.
Traineeships (HBO or ERASMUS+)
It is possible to carry out your traineeship (4th-year HBO), Bachelor’s, or Master’s research project at the Laboratory for Astrophysics (LfA). You will join an ongoing research project, and depending on your interests, the focus of your project will be defined together with your supervisor. While all topics are connected to astronomy, the exact work can vary widely—from designing and constructing new equipment, performing measurements on existing setups, and programming, to data analysis, interpretation, or combining laboratory results with astronomical observations.
HBO (Hoger Beroepsonderwijs):
You are in the final year of a physics/engineering program and your university of applied sciences recognizes the Leiden Observatory as a formal graduation location. This is the case, for example, for The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
International Traineeships:
We welcome traineeships from international students who have their own funding sources (e.g., university funding or ERASMUS+). These internships are typically intended for students in the final year of their Master’s program. Please note that we generally do not host very short stays (< 3 months) or placements during the summer period (mid-June to mid-September).
Criteria:
You are enrolled in an Astronomy, (Applied) Physics, (Engineering) Chemistry, or relevant program and have a strong interest in the experimental aspects of scientific research. Please note that laboratory projects are offered only to students with a solid background in experimental work. Alternatively, your project may focus on astronomical research that connects to ongoing laboratory studies.
The procedure:
Send a brief email to chuang@strw.leidenuniv.nl to request an appointment, including a short motivation letter and your CV.
We typically supervise up to 3 traineeships per semester, so please contact us well in advance
Fellowship opportunities
NWO–VENI GRANT
This grant allows 3 years of research, funded by the Talent Programme-Veni, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), on one of our experimental setups or as theoretical support for running projects. The application is open for all nationalities. VENI grants are awarded to excellent research proposals of strong candidates who recently graduated; only applicants who have obtained their PhD in the three years preceding the reference date of each round are eligible to apply.
The procedure:
VENI pre-registration (pre‐proposals) before 02 September, 2025, to check eligibility and quality CV. In the case of an admission, the full proposal has to be handed in not later than 27 January, 2026.
Check the Call for Proposals – NWO_Science Domain 2025
When you are interested in a VENI application, please let us know at least 2 months in advance of the pre-registration date.
MARIE CURIE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
This grant allows 2 years of research, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Horizon Europe framework programme by European Commission , on one of our experimental setups or as theoretical support for running projects.
The Postdoctoral Fellowships action targets researchers holding a PhD who have obtained their PhD in the eight years preceding the reference date of each round to carry out their research activities abroad, acquire new skills and develop their careers. Pay extra attention to the mobility rules and resubmission restrictions.
The procedure:
The timeline for MSCA applications can vary. The usual deadline for full proposals is in September of each call year. Decisions are typically announced in February, and funded projects can begin as early as April–May.
Check the Call for Proposals (announced in May 2026) – HORIZON-MSCA
When you are interested in a MSCA application, please let us know at least 3 months in advance of the deadline.