Presentation

The Institute for Planetary sciences and Astrophysics of Grenoble (IPAG), is one of the major research units of the Grenoble Observatory (OSUG). IPAG is a joint lab of the National Institute for Earth Sciences and Astronomy of CNRS (INSU) and of the Grenoble Alpes University (UGA).
Our research themes embrace the formation of solar systems, from the initial phases of the core collapse when molecular complexity builds up, through protostellar disk physics and chemistry, up to the study of exoplanets. We also work on accretion-ejection processes around young stellar objects and compact objects (neutron stars, black holes). In planetary sciences, we study Sun-Earth interactions, planetary subsurfaces, small bodies in the solar system, and the chemical evolution of primitive matter.

Our activities obviously include astronomical observations, but also laboratory measurements, high performance computing, as well as the design and operation of cutting edge instrumentation for space missions and ground-based telescopes, notably for the future European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Our expertise includes adaptive optics, integrated optics, interferometry, infrared detection, and radars on space probes to study the structure of Solar System bodies.

We thrive thanks to our local, national and international collaborations: with other labs, universities, research institutions (CNES, ESO, ESA, ONERA, CEA-LETI), and companies (Lynred, Thales, Airbus). In addition to our research publications, we are keen to patent our inventions and to initiate startups (Alpao, RSS, FLI). IPAG benefits from funding from various agencies, notably the French National Research Agency (ANR) and from the Horizon 2020 program of the European Union.

With more than 30 scientists employed by the University, IPAG is strongly involved in teaching and training at the Université Grenoble Alpes. We welcome PhD students from all countries and host every year more than 60 intern students. We propose many activities to engage with a wider audience on astrophysics and planetary sciences: from telescope nights at our institute to the future Center for science serving the Grenoble area.
IPAG was created on January 1st, 2011 from the merger of two laboratories: LAOG (Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Grenoble) and LPG (Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble). Around 170 people work at IPAG, including 60 staff scientists and professors, 30 staff engineers, technicians, administrative personnel, and 80 contracted personnel, including around 20 postdocs and 40 PhD students.