Leiden/ESA Astrophysics Program for Summer Students (LEAPS)

LEAPS is a 10-week summer research programme placing students with research scientists at Leiden Observatory or ESA/ESTEC to work on astronomy and astrophysics projects. Students choose up to two projects and are selected based on academic achievement and research potential. Projects span observational data analysis, large simulations, and laboratory work in astrochemistry. The programme includes supervised research, field trips, and integration into the host research groups.

Travel reimbursement, housing, modest weekly stipend (~196 EUR/week), health insurance, and organised field trips (including visits to ESTEC and potentially LOFAR).

The programme is open to students with an interest in astronomy and astrophysics who are not currently engaged in a Ph.D. programme. For ESA projects, applicants must be enrolled for the entire duration of the programme at a university in one of the listed ESA Member States, Associate Member States, or Cooperating States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom).

Applications are evaluated on research potential and project fit.