- JOB
- Estonia
- EXPIRES SOON
17 Nov 2025
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- E-Sailors Consortium - University of Tartu, Estonia, TUD Dresden of Technology, Germany, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, Aalto University, Finland, Riga Technical University, Latvia, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, University of Pisa, Italy, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Latvia, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland, Industry partners: CrystalSpace, Estonia, Spacecraft Anatomy, Estonia, Nanocraft, Latvia, Aurora Propulsion Technologies, Finland.
- Research Field
- Technology » Space technologyEngineering » Aerospace engineering
- Researcher Profile
- First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions
- PhD Positions
- Application Deadline
- Country
- Estonia
- Type of Contract
- To be defined
- Job Status
- Full-time
- Hours Per Week
- 40
- Offer Starting Date
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- Horizon Europe - MSCA
- Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number
- 101227277
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer Description
The Electric solar wind Sail doctors (E-Sailors) is a challenge-based Doctoral Network funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The network aims to advance Electric solar wind sail (E-sail) from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) demonstration missions to the operational environment of the solar wind. Project network includes 9 universities including FMI, where E-sail was invented, and 4 companies.
E-sail is a highly innovative and potentially disruptive propellantless propulsion system. An operational E-sail consists of hair-thin and kilometres-long wires, or tethers, which are charged at a high voltage creating an electrostatic sheath (electric sail) which deflects solar wind particles and generates the propulsive effect in interplanetary environment. Successful and rapid development and deployment of the technology will ensure EU's leadership in the exploration and exploitation of deep space, the next commercial space frontier.
The programme is designed to achieve the following training objectives for our doctoral candidates: 1) Equip them with core scientific skills and specialised knowledge in designing experiments for demonstrating space technologies and developing space missions; 2) Provide them with a wide range of transferrable skills, such as Open Science and FAIR, communicating science to public, advocacy, networking etc.; 3) Develop their business and entrepreneurship skills, such as IPR management, preliminary business planning, pitching to investors, starting start-ups.
Partners
The 15 Doctoral Researcher positions will be hosted by University of Tartu (UT), Estonia (E-Sailors Coordinator) - 3 positions, Dresden University of Technology (TUD), Germany - 3 positions, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden – 2 positions, Aalto University (Aalto) – 2 positions, Riga Technical University (RTU) – 2 positions, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) – 1 position, University of Pisa (UNIPI) – 1 position, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) – 1 position, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Industry partners: Crystal Space (CS), Spacecraft Anatomy (SA), Nanocraft (NC), Aurora Propulsion Technologies (APT).
Details of the 15 positions
- For detailed information on each position, including how to apply and the application deadline, please refer to each position description below.
- If you wish to apply to more than one position, please apply individually to each position.
- Please note, in some institutions PhD programmes are for a 48 month period – please see individual requirements in the position descriptions below.
Application deadline: 31st January 2026 at 11:59 PM EET (some institutions application deadline is longer - please see detailed information about each position in the links below)
Expected starting date: 1st May 2026
Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.
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DC 1:Electric solar wind sail mission design
Host Institutions - University of Tartu (UT) Estonia, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) Finland and company Spacecraft Anatomy OÜ (SA) Estonia
Main Supervisor: Dr. Aditya Savio Paul (UT)
Project duration: 48 months
More information:UT_E-Sailor1_register_here
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DC 2:Radiofrequency ranging for Lunar orbits
Host Institution - Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Sweden
Main Supervisor: Prof. Mykola Ivchenko (KTH)
Project duration: 48 months
Secondment: Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Latvia 6 months
More information:KTH_E-Sailor2_register_here
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DC 3:Future solar-wind propulsion concepts
Host Institution - TUD Dresden University of Technology (TUD) Germany
Main Supervisor:Prof. Dr. Martin Tajmar (TUD)
Project duration: 36 months
Secondment:Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) Finland2 months
More information:TUD_E-Sailor3_register_here
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DC 4:E-sail payload system design and engineering for nanospacecraft
Host Institutions - Aalto University (Aalto) Finland, Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) Finland and company Spacecraft Anatomy OÜ (SA) Estonia
Main Supervisor: Jaan Praks (Aalto)
Project duration: 36 months
More information:Aalto_E-Sailor4_register_here
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DC 5:High-Voltage PPU for E-sail
Host Institution - TUD Dresden University of Technology (TUD) Germany
Main Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Tajmar (TUD)
Project duration: 36 months
Secondment: Aalto University (Aalto) Finland 2 months
More information:TUD_E-Sailor5_register_here
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DC 6:Electron Emitter for E-sail
Host Institution - TUD Dresden University of Technology (TUD) Germany
Main Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Tajmar (TUD)
Project duration: 36 months
Secondment: Aalto University (Aalto) Finland 2 months
More information:TUD_E-Sailor6_register_here
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DC 7:Spacecraft-plasma interaction of E-sail
Host Institution - Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Sweden
Main Supervisor: Prof. Mykola Ivchenko (KTH)
Project duration: 48 months
Secondment: Tartu University (UT) Estonia 6 months
More information: KTH_E-Sailors7_register_here
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DC 8:E-sail tether deployment monitoring and safety
Host Institutions -Aalto University (Aalto) Finland, and company CrystalSpace OÜ (CS) Estonia
Main Supervisor: Jaan Praks (Aalto)
Project duration: 36 months
More information:Aalto_E-Sailor8_register_here
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DC 9:Lunar orbit communications and ranging: RT16 and RT32 ground segment design
Host Institutions - Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Latvia and Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Sweden
Main Supervisor:Prof. Andris Vaivads (VUAS)
Project duration: 36 months
More information:VUAS_E-Sailor9_register_here
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DC 10:Lunar orbit communications and ranging space segment experiment design
Host Institutions - Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) Estonia and University of Tartu (UT) Estonia
Main Supervisor: Ivo Müürsepp (TalTech)
Project duration: 36 months
More information:TalTech_E-Sailor10_register_here
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DC 11:Triangulated Celestial Navigation (TCN) on-board computer design
Host Institutions - University of Tartu (UT) Estonia and company Nanocraft SIA (NC) Latvia
Main Supervisor: Dr. Aditya Savio Paul (UT)
Project duration: 48 months
Secondment: company CrystalSpace (Estonia) 6 months
More information:UT_E-Sailor11_register_here
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DC 12:Development and verification of PC-based blueprint for triangulated celestial navigation algorithms in E-Sail mission
Host Institutions - Riga Technical University (RTU) Latvia and company Nanocraft SIA (NC) Latvia
Main Supervisor: Prof. Ali Arshad (RTU)
Project duration: 48 months
Secondment: company CrystalSpace (Estonia) 6 months
More information:RTU_E-Sailor12_register_here
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DC 13:Implementation of multiple E-sail simulation fidelity levels of physical and orbital models
Host Institution - University of Pisa (UNIPI) Italy
Main Supervisor:Dr. Lorenzo Niccolai (UNIPI)
Project duration: 36 months
Secondment: University of Tartu (Estonia) 6 months
More information:UNIPI_E-Sailor13_register_here
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DC 14:E-sail spin plane orientation and spin rate control design
Host Institutions - University of Tartu (UT) Estonia and company Aurora Propulsion Technologies (APT) Finland
Main Supervisor:Dr. Aditya Savio Paul (UT)
Project duration: 48 months
More information:UT_E-Sailor14_register_here
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DC 15:High-fidelity virtual testbed development in Unreal Engine-5 (UE-5) for the photorealistic sensor simulation and hardware for the E-Sail mission
Host Institution - Riga Technical University (RTU) Latvia
Main Supervisor:Prof. Ali Arshad (RTU)
Project duration: 48 months
Secondment:company CrystalSpace (Estonia) 6 months
More information:RTU_E-Sailor15_register_here
Where to apply
- Website
- https://esailors.ut.ee
Requirements
- Research Field
- Technology » Space technology
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
Specific Requirements
- Master’s degree. Copies of bachelor's and master's diplomas and academic transcripts/diploma supplements (with translations, if applicable).
- Curriculum vitae.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English. Proof of English language proficiency.
- Copy of passport.
- Motivation letter(topics depending on the recruiting institution).
- As events and if applicable secondments are foreseen, applicants must be ready to travel
- Other requirements may apply depending on the recruiting institution. Please refer to the individual advertisements provided for each position.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Excellent
- Research Field
- Technology » Space technology
- Years of Research Experience
- 4 - 10
Additional Information
Benefits
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network Program offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. Each fellowship includes the following:
- Enrolment in a PhD doctoral program.
- Covered tuition costs, research costs and funding for short term mobility (i.e. conference attendance).
- Interdisciplinary and international research projects.
- Competitive funding scheme:
Living allowance: 4010 euro/month. This amount is adjusted via a correction coefficient based on the country in which the researcher is recruited.
Mobility allowance: 710 euro/month.
Family allowance: If applicable and depending on the family situation: 660 euro/month. For the purposes of the MSCA, family is defined as "persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country where this relationship was formalised) or dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher".
Amounts indicated for living allowance, mobility allowance, and family allowance are gross amounts. The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment and is depending on the country of residence and the country-specific correction to coefficients (to allow for the difference in cost of living in different EU Member States). This amount is subject to local taxes, social security deductions, etc.
- A full-time contract with the recruiting institution.
- Personalized Career Development Plan.
- E-Sailors will offer an international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral training programme that promotes scientific excellence and exploits the expertise and infrastructure present in the consortium. In addition to their individual scientific projects, all the fellows will benefit from the Network Training Programme including international secondments, a variety of training modules, as well as transferable skills training and dissemination and public engagement activities.
Eligibility criteria
- The applicant must not already be in possession of a doctoral degree.
- At the time of recruitment, the researcher must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in (host institute country) for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior to the recruitment date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not considered.
- Applicants can be of any nationality within laws of EU to enter the EU countries.
- Candidates may apply to multiple positions offered within E-Sailors, but should carefully choose the ones that they apply for.
- Exclusivity: The candidate must be working exclusively for the action.
- Other eligibility criteria may apply depending on the recruiting institution. Please refer to the individual advertisements provided for each position.
Selection process
Our selection procedure is open, transparent, merit-based, impartial and equitable and in line with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. We will choose candidates that fit best for each individual scientific project according to the following steps:
- Applicants should follow the application criteria and instructions for the position(s) that they are interested in applying for.
- Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and suitability based on the criteria listed for each position.
- After shortlisting, candidates will be invited for online interviews with the respective recruitment committees.
- The recruiting institution will send out notification of the selection outcome after the online interview.
- Website for additional job details
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 3
- Company/Institute
- University of Tartu
- Country
- Estonia
- State/Province
- Tartu
- City
- Tartu
- Postal Code
- 50090
- Street
- Ülikooli 18
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 3
- Company/Institute
- Technische Universität Dresden
- Country
- Germany
- City
- Dresden
- Postal Code
- 01069
- Street
- Helmholtzstrasse 10
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 2
- Company/Institute
- Aalto Korkeakoulusaatio SR
- Country
- Finland
- City
- Espoo
- Postal Code
- 02150
- Street
- Otakaari 1
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Universita di Pisa
- Country
- Italy
- City
- Pisa
- Postal Code
- 56126
- Street
- Lungarno pacinotti 43/44
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 2
- Company/Institute
- Kungliga Tekniska Hoegskolan
- Country
- Sweden
- City
- Stockholm
- Postal Code
- 10044
- Street
- Brinellvagen 8
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 2
- Company/Institute
- Rigas Tehniska Universitate
- Country
- Latvia
- City
- Riga
- Postal Code
- 1048
- Street
- Kipsalas iela 6A
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Ventspils Augstskola
- Country
- Latvia
- City
- Ventspils
- Postal Code
- lv-3601
- Street
- Inzenieru iela 101
- Geofield
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Tallinna Tehnikaülikool
- Country
- Estonia
- City
- Tallinn
- Postal Code
- 19086
- Street
- Ehitajate tee 5
- Geofield
Contact
- Website
- esailors@ut.ee