CENTRO DE INVESTIGACAO EM ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICA DA UNIVERSIDADE DOPORTO ASSOCIACAO

Their core work

CAUP is the astrophysics research centre of the University of Porto, specialising in stellar physics and exoplanet science. Their core research involves detecting and characterising exoplanets around evolved (post-main-sequence) stars, using data from major space missions including NASA's TESS satellite. The centre hosts early-career researchers under Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships, acting as a scientific host for individual investigators. Beyond pure astrophysics, they have participated in initiatives that train researchers in entrepreneurial and innovation skills, reflecting a secondary engagement with the science-society interface.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

CAUP's two-project H2020 record moves from pure investigator-led astrophysics research (PULSATION, 2018-2020) toward participation in broader researcher development programmes (SKIES, 2021-2022). The first project was a self-coordinated MSCA individual fellowship anchored entirely in observational space science; the second was a consortium-based training initiative with a science-society mandate. Whether this reflects a deliberate strategic expansion or simply an opportunistic participation cannot be determined from two data points alone.

CAUP appears to be supplementing its core astrophysics identity with engagement in researcher development and science-entrepreneurship networks, though the evidence base is too thin to confirm this as a sustained strategic direction.

How they like to work

CAUP has functioned both as a coordinator and as a project partner, but the coordination role (PULSATION) was an MSCA individual fellowship — meaning CAUP acted as the host institution for a single incoming researcher rather than managing a large consortium. Their overall network is small: six partners across four countries, consistent with the modest scale of MSCA fellowship and CSA-type projects. This suggests they operate as a specialist host or contributing partner rather than a large-scale consortium driver.

CAUP has worked with six unique partners across four countries in H2020, a compact footprint shaped by the small-consortium nature of MSCA fellowships. Their real scientific network in the global astrophysics community almost certainly extends well beyond what this H2020 data captures.

What sets them apart

CAUP is one of the few Portuguese research centres with demonstrated expertise in exoplanet science and stellar astrophysics at the intersection of space mission data and theoretical modelling. For consortia seeking a southern European partner with space science credentials — particularly in ESA or NASA mission contexts — CAUP offers a focused, specialised profile that generalist universities cannot match. Their MSCA hosting track record also makes them a credible destination for incoming research fellows in the physical sciences.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PULSATION
  CAUP's only coordinator role in H2020, and their largest project by funding — a focused MSCA fellowship on exoplanet detection around evolved stars using NASA TESS, placing the centre in a cutting area of modern astrophysics.
• SKIES
  Marks CAUP's entry into researcher development and science-entrepreneurship programming, broadening their profile beyond pure astrophysics research into the Society pillar.