Postdocs | Junior Research Groups

Postgraduate students and early career academics working in history, the social sciences, or the humanities who are interested in the history of European space activities may now apply for the European Space Agency (ESA) Postgraduate Research Grant Programme.

This annual programme supports original academic research on the history of the European Space Agency (ESA) and its predecessor organisations. Each year, two grants of EUR 5,000 are awarded to support research based on the archival holdings of ESA, which are preserved at the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence, Italy.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Postgraduate students (Master’s and PhD candidates)

• Postdoctoral researchers

• Early career university teachers or lecturers
  Applicants must either be nationals of or affiliated with an academic institution in an ESA Member State, Associate State, or Cooperating State.

Applicants must have completed a Master’s degree or PhD within the past ten years from the date of application and should currently be pursuing a research career.

Research focus

Funded projects should lead to an academic publication such as a thesis, dissertation, monograph, or scholarly article. Research should address some aspect of ESA, European space research, or Europe’s role in space.

Projects submitted by postgraduate or postdoctoral researchers should ideally align closely with their existing field of academic study. Applicants should note that most archival documents are in English, with some in other European languages such as French, German, or Italian.

Deadline for applications: 31 July 2025

🔗 Further details and application guidelines can be found on the European University Institute’s website.

This is a valuable opportunity to access unique archival resources and contribute to the historical understanding of Europe’s engagement in space exploration and policy.