PhD in Astrophysics
📢 Call for applications — 2026
The call for applications for 2026 is open!
The announcement can be found on our website by clicking on Apply Now below, and on the AAS Job Register. More information regarding the program and applicant profile can be found in Information regarding applications for the program.
History and Foundations
The Astronomy Nucleus at UDP was established in 2013 with a goal of forming a high-level, internationally recognized research group in observational astronomy. Chile holds a crucial and unique place in observational astronomy, as home to the largest collection of telescopes in the world. From state-of-the-art facilities like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (LSST), the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA), to next-generation instruments including the Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) currently under construction – Chile’s Atacama Desert in the north is set to host around 70% of the world’s ground-based astronomical infrastructure. This represents an exceptional opportunity for Chilean research institutes to compete for 10% of the observation time reserved for the host country on each telescope – positioning our institute strategically to conduct cutting-edge research in astronomy.
In 2019, the Doctoral Program in Astrophysics was launched, marking an important step in training the newer generation of astronomers, and in consolidating our institute as an internationally renowned group. Then, the Astronomy Nucleus renamed in 2023 as the Institute of Astrophysical Studies (Instituto de Estudios Astrofísicos or IEA, in Spanish). Over the last decade, the IEA has established itself as an international and highly productive research institute – with its members contributing to over 1000 publications, securing grants and observing time, as well being part of leading collaborations both nationally and internationally. All the faculty members have embraced the challenge to create a new PhD program in Astrophysics in Chile, that would be adapted to the current reality of astronomy and caputre the good practices learned in all our previous institutions across the globe. The IEA thus became a fertile territory to plant new seeds in how we see modern astronomical research.
Overview
The IEA offers a PhD programme in Astrophysics, with extensive research opportunities across the fields of Stellar and Galactic Astronomy, Extragalactic Astronomy, and Planetary Systems. Our graduate students explore everything from exoplanet and exomoon detection, to working out the stellar connections in the Milky Way, and peering into the hearts of galaxies beyond – at all redshifts and through all wavelengths.
Objective of the program
The PhD Astrophysics programme at the IEA is designed to train graduate students to carry out independent and original research, thereby contributing to the advancement of the Astronomy domain — both in Chile and on the global stage. Located in a region that is home to some of the world’s most advanced observatories, we offer our students the opportunity to develop their research using state-of-the-art facilities and data — from the La Silla Observatory to ALMA.
Since its launch in 2019, the PhD program has welcomed over 35 students from across the globe — reflecting the vibrant and diverse astronomical community we have built here.
The PhD experience at the IEA
Our programme equips early-career scientists – the graduate students – to conduct independent research on an international platform. Spanning 8 semesters over a course of 4 years, the curriculum is designed with English as the language of instruction and communication, propelling their visibility in national and international academic circles. Furthermore, the programme consists of Research Jamborees and regular astro-ph sessions, fostering discussions with fellow students, alongside postdoctoral researchers and professors. By the end of the PhD, each student is required to have at least one peer-reviewed publication in a leading astronomy journal (typically A&A, MNRAS, and ApJ) – this benchmark reflects the high standards and research quality we uphold at the IEA across all levels.
The curriculum for the PhD programme is built and periodically refined by the faculty at the IEA, shaped by the feedback from current students and alumni. This unique approach ensures the programme remain flexible and adaptable where needed, while still maintaining a rigorous and modern foundation rooted in theory and practice. Students are allowed to dive head-first into research right from the first semester, and are encouraged to explore their research interests before defining their thesis project in the third semester. Participation in national and international conferences, in addition to academic visits with collaborators across the world, form a key part of the student experience.
Scientific outreach plays an important role at the IEA, and students often partake in events across the city – from telescope nights to Asteroid Days and public talks and promoting inclusivity in Astronomy – at whatever level they wish to contribute. Finally, diversity and openness are at the heart of our institute, where a friendly, inclusive environment has brought together students and researchers from over 15 countries.
