João Pedro Trancoso Gomes Rosa

The University of Coimbra is advertising 1 PhD Researcher position equivalent to Junior Researcher in the scientific area of Astronomy , subarea Astrophysics , within CFisUC (Centre for Physics) at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Portugal. The post is part of the ENFORCER project (Reference: COMPETE2030-FEDER-03264900 , operation 26198) and is funded through FEDER under COMPETE 2030 / Portugal 2030 and the European Union. The contract is a specified-duration public service employment contract, full-time, with a gross monthly salary of 2,408.11 euros . The research work focuses on orbit determination and space object tracking . The successful candidate will integrate, adapt, and optimize open-source orbit determination software for radar and optical data; develop and validate an astrodynamics-based orbit determination algorithm using TFC, including hybrid solutions with stochastic filters such as EKF or UKF; and integrate and calibrate optical sensors while building an image-processing pipeline for detection, tracking, and characterization of space objects. This opportunity is aimed at highly qualified researchers with a PhD in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or a closely related area whose background demonstrates the ability to carry out advanced work in the core scientific field of the tender. The notice also requires applicants to meet standard public-employment suitability conditions and, for non-native speakers of Portuguese or English, a minimum C1 level in at least one of those languages. Applications must be submitted electronically via the Apply UC platform. Candidates must provide a dated and signed CV, qualification certificates, 3–6 representative papers, other publications listed in the CV, and any additional relevant documents. Foreign doctoral degrees must be recognized or registered by contract signing if selected. The application must be submitted in Portuguese or English (with limited exceptions for some supporting documents). The deadline is 28 August 2026 at 23:59 Lisbon time . The selection procedure uses CV/scientific background assessment (90%) and interview (10%), with only the top 4 candidates from the CV stage invited to interview. Location: Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.