FEUP - Postdoctoral Research Grant – Ciao_2024.16728.PEX: Extreme Adaptive Optics for the Extremely Large Telescope

The Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) is offering a postdoctoral research grant within the project Ciao PCS: the extreme adaptive optics of the extremely large telescope, funded by national funds through FCT/MECI. This opportunity is based in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and focuses on advancing computational optics methods for wavefront sensing, including super-resolution and joint wavefront and amplitude estimation, to enhance the performance of extreme adaptive optics (XAO) for the future Planetary Camera and Spectrograph (PCS) instrument of the Extremely Large Telescope. The successful candidate will develop and test computational approaches, compare wavefront control strategies using Monte Carlo models, and perform experimental work and data analysis on scaled-down PCS XAO prototypes. The research is supervised by Professor Carlos M. Correia and will be conducted in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment at FEUP. Applicants must hold a PhD in Physics Engineering or a closely related field, obtained within the last three years. The postdoctoral research must be carried out at a host institution different from where the PhD was awarded, and candidates must not exceed a cumulative period of three years under this type of grant. Compliance with Portuguese regulations for foreign degrees is required. Selection is based on academic merit, relevant R&D project experience, publications, and English proficiency, assessed via motivation letter and interview. A minimum final score of 16/20 is required for award. The grant offers a monthly stipend of €1851, paid in monthly instalments by bank transfer, for an initial duration of 12 months (renewable, not exceeding the project duration). The call is open from 11 March 2026 to 30 April 2026. Applications should be submitted by email to [email protected] and [email protected], clearly stating the reference FEUP-Ciao_2024.16728.PEX, and must include a motivation letter, certificates of academic degree(s), CV, declaration on honour, and any other relevant documents. This position is ideal for candidates with a strong background in physics, optics, and computational methods, seeking to contribute to cutting-edge astronomical instrumentation. For further information, visit the FEUP website or the official position link on Euraxess.