The ESO Science Communication Internship 2026 offers a six-month, in-person placement with ESO’s Department of Communication in Garching, Germany. Interns work alongside professional science communicators on astronomy-related content for public audiences. ESO provides a monthly allowance, accommodation and the cost of a return trip from the intern’s home station.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: Internship: Science Communication
Category: Internship
Host: ESO
Department: Department of Communication
Location: Garching, Germany
Format: In-person
Duration: Six months
Support: Monthly allowance, accommodation and return travel cost
About the ESO Science Communication Internship 2026
ESO’s Department of Communication manages the organisation’s internal and external communications. Its work includes media relations, content production, outreach, digital communication and internal communication.
Science communication interns join the team in Garching and contribute to public-facing communication products. These may include news and press releases, publications, web pages, video scripts and exhibition panels.
The internship is intended for people seeking experience in communicating frontline astronomy projects to wider audiences.
What Interns Can Learn
The internship provides practical exposure to professional science communication within ESO.
Interns can develop their understanding of:
✓ ESO’s mission and the role of its Department of Communication
✓ Workflows and processes within a scientific organisation
✓ Writing about complex scientific topics for general audiences
✓ Editing drafts collaboratively for different target audiences
✓ Combining written content and audiovisual material
✓ Communicating astronomy in an accessible and engaging way
Interns also gain experience working with professional science communicators on real communication projects.
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Who Can Apply?
ESO is looking for candidates who want to develop experience in science communication related to astronomy.
Applicants should have:
• Previous experience in written science communication or journalism.
• Enough basic astronomy knowledge to understand scientific papers.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
Candidates currently studying or who recently completed a university degree in science, science communication or science journalism are preferred.
ESO also welcomes applications from students who recently completed an astronomy degree and have experience writing about science for wider audiences.
Required Competences
Candidates should be able to:
• Translate scientific research into clear concepts for general audiences.
• Communicate clearly and concisely in writing and orally.
• Work under time pressure and meet agreed deadlines.
• Work independently and as part of a team.
• Build collaborative relationships with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
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Financial and Practical Support
ESO provides several forms of practical and financial support during the six-month internship.
Confirmed support includes:
✓ A monthly allowance to cover living expenses
✓ Accommodation
✓ Cost of a return trip from and to the intern’s home station
The internship must take place in Garching, Germany. Remote and hybrid arrangements are not available.
ESO does not sponsor visas for this internship. Applicants are responsible for securing their own right to enter, live and work in Germany. This may include obtaining a visa.
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Required Application Materials
Applications must be completed in English.
Candidates should submit:
• A motivation letter of one page
• A CV of two pages
• Two written science communication samples, each no longer than five pages
The written samples should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to communicate science to a wider audience.
Suitable examples include:
• Blog posts
• Magazine articles
• Newspaper articles
• Press releases
Scientific papers and theses aimed at scientific audiences are not accepted as writing samples.
The samples must be in English. However, they do not need to have been previously published. Applicants may prepare or adapt texts specifically for their application.
Only complete applications containing all required materials in English will be accepted.
Nationality and Recruitment Preference
ESO states that no nationality is excluded in principle from employment.
However, recruitment preference is given to nationals of ESO Member States, host states and strategic partners listed in the vacancy:
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Chile
ESO states that this recruitment preference applies irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.
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Application Timing
The vacancy text describes the Science Communication Internship as a rolling position with no application deadline.
Applicants should state their approximate preferred start date in their application if they have one. Applications are reviewed every four to six months throughout the year.
The recruitment portal separately displays 31 December 2026 in its deadline field. However, the vacancy description explicitly states twice that the position has no application deadline and operates on a rolling basis.
How to Submit an Application
Candidates can apply through ESO’s official recruitment portal.
Before submitting an application:
• Prepare all required materials in English.
• Include a one-page motivation letter.
• Include a two-page CV.
• Upload two eligible writing samples.
• State an approximate preferred start date where applicable.
• Ensure that the application is complete before submission.
Applicants can proceed through the official ESO online application system for the Science Communication Internship.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official ESO application portal below.
