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In addition to the long-standing “European Astrobiology Network Association (EANA)”, several new European networking initiatives have been launched over the last years, such as the COST Action “Origins and Evolution of Life on Earth in the Universe” (http://www.life-origins.com/), the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership “European Astrobiology Campus” (http://astrobiology-campus.eu/) and the FP7 project “AstRoMap”.

The European astrobiology community has thus gained in maturity and coordination. To build on this momentum and take European Research in astrobiology to a higher level the launch of a European Astrobiology Institute was proposed.

We are pleased to announce 2 Juniors Research Chairs in Astrobiology at Grenoble University, France (see detailed information attached).

Please, find attached the advertisement for 3 positions in the Origins of Life field at Grenoble University, France.

Deadline for application is June 1st.

In the frame of the Excellence of Science –EoS– program, the ET-HoME project aims at investigating the Evolution and Tracers of the Habitability of Mars and Earth. We will (i) explore the role of planetary differentiation, impacts and plate tectonics on the habitable fate of Mars and Earth, (ii) seek for early life by a geochemical approach and the search for microfossils, and (iii) use remote-sensing data to model the martian atmosphere and surface. 

We are looking for 5 PhD and 3 postdoc researchers with interest and experience in:

• - Analytical experience and use of non-traditional stable isotopes
• - Analytical experience and use of trace elements and metal geochemistry
• - Use of light microscopy, TEM, Raman, FTIR micro-spectroscopy, SR-XRF (synchrotron)
• - Atmospheric modeling (General Circulation Model)
• - Experience in geobiology (microfossils, microbial mats)
• - Numerical modeling by using hydrocode
• - Remote-sensing of planetary surfaces

To apply, send your CV with a motivation letter clearly indicating which of the skills above you have to offer (plus 2 potential referees) in English to the coordinator of the project Vinciane Debaille (vinciane.debaille@ulb.ac.be), before March 1st. A first round of selection will occur in March, but positions will remain opened until being filled.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the first platform of online courses in astrobiology: http://astrobiovideo.com/en/

Astrobiology is a field in full expansion and in constant renewal. It stimulates great public and media interest, and generates many vocations among students. It is therefore essential that everyone has access to the latest advances in the field and it is in this spirit that we launch today this free online platform.

Contact: Muriel Gargaud (muriel.gargaud[at]u-bordeaux.fr) and Hervé Cottin (herve.cottin[at]lisa.u-pec.fr)

The Origins Center is a recent, multidisciplinary and multi-institute, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research NWO funded initiative of a large number of top tier scientists in the Netherlands.

Over 17 Dutch universities and research institutes participate in the Center that is coordinated by the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

The Miller–Urey experiments pioneered modern research on the molecular origins of life, but their actual relevance in this field was later questioned because the gas mixture used in their research is considered too reducing with respect to the most accepted hypotheses for the conditions on primordial Earth. Here, we report an experimental work, combined with state-of-the-art computational methods, in which both electric discharge and laser-driven plasma impact simulations were carried out in a reducing atmosphere containing NH₃ + CO.

The new call for the Europlanet 2020 Infrastructures is out!

The Palaeobiogeology Group (PPP Lab), at the Department of Geology, UR GEOLOGY, of the University of Liège searches for collaborators (postdocs, spectroscopist) for its activities in the frame of the ERC PROJECT “ELiTE”: Early Life Traces, Evolution, and Implications for Astrobiology, and the IAP “Planet TOPERS”: “Planets: Tracing the Origin, Preservation, and Evolution of their reservoirs”.

Martian meteorites are a major source of information for understanding both primary and secondary geological and geochemical processes on the surface and subsurface of Mars. The planet is being investigated from an increasing number of orbiters and mobile landers with the primary goal to discover habitable environments, and ultimately extinct or extant forms of life. This requires the detailed study of both the surface and subsurface of the planet.

A collection of articles will be published in this Special Issue of the Open Access Journal "Geosciences" from MDPI (Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263)).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2017

Guest Editor : Dr. Elias Chatzitheodoridis, National Technical University of Athens, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Geological Sciences, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou str., GR-15780 Zografou, Athens, Greece

Download the flyer here.