Offer Description
Location
Laboratoire Lagrange, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
Funding
ANR-MIRAGES, Multi-Resolution Analysis of Giant Exoplanets (funds already available)
Starting date: January 1st, 2027 (flexible) Duration: 12 months.
Supervisors
Mamadou N’Diaye (Laboratoire Lagrange/OCA), mamadou.ndiaye@oca.eu
Arthur Vigan (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), arthur.vigan@lam.fr
Collaborators
Gaël Chauvin (Max Planck Institute of Astronomy), Mickael Bonnefoy (Institut de Planétologie et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble), Benjamin Charnay (Laboratoire d’Instrumentation et de Recherche en Astrophysique/Observatoire de Paris), Andrea Chiavassa, Vivien Parmentier, Julia V. Seidel (Laboratoire Lagrange/OCA), Salvador Cuevas (Instituto de Astronomía-UNAM)
Scientific Context & Motivation
Direct imaging is the only method providing direct access to the atmospheric composition, luminosity, and orbital properties of young self-luminous giant exoplanets at wide separations (10–1000 AU). It is critical to address key open questions in planet formation: the relative contributions of the core accretion vs. gravitational instability scenarios, chemical fingerprints tracing formation environments (disk chemistry, migration), and the mass-separation distribution of young substellar objects vs. theoretical predictions. Current samples are biased and limited (<50 directly imaged planets), favoring massive, wide-separation companions. Expanding this sample is essential to test formation theories.
The FRIDA instrument on the 10.4m GTC and its adaptive optics system (GTCAO) is a forthcoming near-infrared (0.9–2.5 μm) imager and integral field spectrograph offering medium- (R≈1,500–3,000) and high-resolution (R≈30,000) spectroscopy with coronagraphy. Its Northern Hemisphere location provides exclusive access to young associations (Taurus, Cepheus, Ursa Major) inaccessible to Southern instruments, with GTO access secured via UNAM (Mexico).
With ESA Gaia DR4 (2026), dozens of new substellar companions will likely be revealed via astrometric accelerations. FRIDA is ideally positioned to confirm and characterize these candidates using high-contrast imaging, cross-correlation spectroscopy to detect different species (CO, H₂O, CH₄), and atmospheric retrieval (ExoREM). This project is embedded within the ANR MIRAGES collaboration.
Project Objectives
In the context of a collaboration between LAM and Laboratoire Lagrange, we propose a project that is defined by two different but related lines of research:
- Development of a FRIDA simulator for exoplanet imaging and spectroscopy A dedicated simulator is essential to optimize observing strategies and interpret early data. The postdoc will
- implement an end-to-end framework for FRIDA’s slicer-based IFS
- model instrumental systematics that can mimic/mask planetary signals at R≈30,000
- benchmark detection limits using first on-sky data
- Early science exploitation with FRIDA First-light observations will provide unique data to characterize new exoplanets. The postdoc will
- conduct first-light observations, targeting known companions and Gaia DR4 candidates
- perform spectral characterization to test formation scenarios.
- apply cross-correlation methods to detect molecular species and constrain atmospheric properties.
The expected outcome of the research work will lead to:
- expand the sample of directly imaged planets in the Northern Hemisphere.
- probe atmospheric chemistry to test formation scenarios.
- advance pathfinders for ELT instrumentation (ANDES, HARMONI).
Team & environment
We value diversity of backgrounds and perspectives as essential drivers for innovation and collective success. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported in their professional development.
The Postdoc will work at the Laboratoire Lagrange with M. N’Diaye as a member of the Physics Method for Observation (MPO) group. They will also work with A. Chiavassa, V. Parmentier, and J. Seidel at Lagrange. Visits will be foreseen to work with A. Vigan from Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (PI of the MIRAGES project) as a member of the Research and Development (GRD) group. They will also have a close partnership with Salvador Cuevas (UNAM, Mexico) for FRIDA operations. The selected candidate will be a member of the MIRAGES project, and will collaborate with experts in the field of brown dwarfs and exoplanets, high-contrast imaging at IPAG (Grenoble), LIRA (Paris), LAM (Marseille), Lagrange (Nice), and MPIA (Heidelberg).
They will be a member of the HiRISE and ANDES consortia, and will collaborate with experts in the field of brown dwarfs and exoplanets, adaptive optics, coronagraphy and high resolution spectrographs at LAM (Marseille), IPAG (Grenoble) or exoplanetary atmosphere models at LIRA (Paris). In addition they will potentially develop skills in programming (python), observations (GTC/FRIDA). They will benefit from a rich national and international scientific environment, and will have the opportunity to share her/his work with the community through international schools and conferences.
Keywords
observations, formation, statistical techniques, high-contrast instrumentation, high-resolution spectroscopy, atmospheres, exoplanets, brown dwarfs.
Applicant’s profile
The applicant will hold a PhD degree in astrophysics, astronomical instrumentation, or other related fields by December 2026. Skills in Astrophysics, Fourier optics, scientific programming (ideally in python), or in data processing will be assets for this research work. The applicant is expected to be enthusiastic, dynamic, autonomous while having teamwork abilities. A strong interest in astronomy and interdisciplinary work will be a plus.
Application
Deadline: Friday 11 September 2026 (23:59 CET)
The application is constituted of the following documents:
- Cover letter, up to 3 pages, highlighting your past research and how it relates to the project
- Curriculum vitae, including a full list of publications and the references of two people who can be contacted for recommendation
Please send your application to both Mamadou N’Diaye (mamadou.ndiaye@oca.eu) and Arthur Vigan (arthur.vigan@lam.fr). All applications sent by September 11th, 2026 will receive full consideration.
Where to apply
E-mail: recrutement@oca.eu
Requirements
Research Field: Astronomy » Astrophysics
Education Level: PhD or equivalent
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: Observatoire cote d'Azur
Country: France
State/Province: FRANCE
City: NICE
Postal Code: 06300
Street: 96 bd de l'Observatoire
Contact
State/Province: France
City: Nice cedex 4
Website: https://www.oca.eu/fr
Street: 96, boulevard de l'Observatoire
Postal Code: 06304
E-Mail: recrutement@oca.eu
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