Team members
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Eva Laplace | Principal Investigator |
| Javier Morán Fraile | Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Sofia Mesini | PhD Candidate |
| Adam Parkosidis | PhD Candidate (University of Amsterdam, as co-promotor. Main advisor: Silvia Toonen) |
| Lorens Niehof | PhD Candidate (start: Sep. 2026) |
| Zihan Wang | PhD Candidate (start: Sep. 2026) |
| Vázsony Varga | PhD Candidate (start: Sep. 2026) |
| Flore Poelmans | MSc Student |
| Ishan Ghosh Coutinho | MSc Student - summer internship |
| Xander Dewulf | MSc Student - summer internship |
Job opportunities
Open positions
At present, there are no open positions within the StarHearts team. Exceptionally strong and motivated candidates whose research profile fits well with the group are nevertheless encouraged to apply with their own independent research fellowships. Further details are provided below.
Postdoctoral funding opportunities
We are happy to support applications for major competitive postdoctoral fellowships from candidates with a strong scientific profile, a clear research vision, and personal qualities that align with the values and goals of our team.
- FWO Junior Postdoctoral Fellowship: Deadline typically mid‑November. A prestigious 3‑year independent fellowship hosted at universities in Flanders. Applicants should hold a recent PhD and show strong potential for independent research and leadership.
- FWO Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship: Deadline typically mid‑November. A highly competitive 3‑year fellowship for more experienced postdoctoral researchers. Candidates are expected to demonstrate research maturity, an excellent track record, and a clearly independent research program.
- Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship: Deadline typically in April. Prestigious European fellowship supporting international mobility and advanced training. Applicants must not have resided or worked in Belgium for more than 12 months in the 3 years prior to the deadline and should propose a high‑quality, original research project with strong career‑development components.
Early contact is highly encouraged so that I can assess the fit with our team and provide guidance on the proposal. The Leuven Institute of Astronomy offers generous support for fellowship applications.
PhD funding opportunities
Note: As the group will be at full capacity from September 2026 onward, I am currently only able to support new PhD applications in the role of co‑promotor.
Exceptionally qualified PhD applicants from EU-based universities may be eligible to apply for an FWO PhD Fellowship. This highly-competitive fellowship requires a thorough preparation. It typically has a deadline in March and final results in October.
Master projects and summer internships
My research team provides several exciting opportunities for research projects. These are available for interested students enrolled in the MSc of Physics or MSc Astronomy & Astrophysics programs of the KU Leuven.