The Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas” (INTA) announces a selection process for a predoctoral contract (Professional Group M3) in the Centro de Astrobiology (CAB, INTA-CSIC) at the Villanueva de la Cañada site (Madrid) associated to the project “ATALENT” (position code PREATALENT); PI. Ismael Garcia-Bernete

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) release large amounts of energy that regulate star formation by altering the interstellar medium (ISM) and driving galaxy evolution. This PhD project will investigate the interaction between supermassive black holes (SMBH) and their host galaxies using tracers such as dust, ices, gas, and organic molecules (from simple species to complex hydrocarbons), some of which are relevant to prebiotic chemistry and have recently been detected in extragalactic environments.

Leveraging ~160 h of proprietary JWST data (Cycles 1-4), the PhD candidate will use advanced dust models and analysis tools to probe the chemical and physical properties of the ISM in obscured galactic nuclei. The project will benefit from the interdisciplinary environment at CAB, including collaborations with experts in molecular spectroscopy and ices, ensuring a solid, innovative thesis with international impact. It will also connect to future missions such as ELT, NewAthena, and PRIMA.

Supervisors: Ismael Garcia-Bernete & Almudena Alonso-Herrero

Interested candidates, please contact as soon as possible: Ismael García-Bernete ( igbernete@cab.inta-csic.es ) and/or Almudena Alonso-Herrero (aalonso@cab.inta-csic.es ).

The application period ends 15 working days from the 2nd September.

Salary level, selection prosess, starting date and duration: see https://www.inta.es/export/sites/default/.galleries/RRHH/Laborales/2025/BASES-DE-CONVOCATORIA-PREDOCTORALES-2025.pdf