The Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, INTA-CSIC) announces a selection process for a predoctoral contract to the national project PID2024-159902NA-I00 (Estudio de los procesos de acreción y retroalimentación en núcleos activos de galaxias a través del tiempo cósmico con el telescopio espacial James Webb); PIs. Ismael Garcia-Bernete & Michele Perna.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the most powerful observatory ever deployed in space and is transforming our understanding of galaxy evolution. This project aims to investigate how supermassive black holes grow and influence their host galaxies across cosmic time, taking full advantage of JWST's unprecedented sensitivity and resolution.

By analysing multiple AGN tracers and applying advanced diagnostic tools, we will study AGN-driven outflows and their interaction with the host galaxy's interstellar medium, evaluating their effects on galactic structures, kinematics, and the chemical composition of gas, dust, and molecules at different epochs. We will also explore the feeding processes that fuel black hole growth, such as gas inflows and environmental mechanisms.

The PhD candidate will participate in the analysis of JWST and complementary multi-wavelength datasets, modelling of AGN emission, and the interpretation of results within the broader framework of galaxy evolution. The project is led by Dr. Michele Perna and Dr. Ismael García-Bernete at the Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, CSIC-INTA), in collaboration with international partners

Interested candidates should send their CV, academic transcripts for both their undergraduate and Master’s degrees, and the email address of a previous supervisor willing to provide a reference. Please submit the material by November 30, 2025, to: Ismael García-Bernete (igbernete@cab.inta-csic.es) and Michele Perna (mperna@cab.inta-csic.es).

Salary level, selection process, and further details can be found at PIF2025 call website.