Category: Asteroids/Phobos/Deimos

Post-Doctoral Research Assistant at the Florida Space Institute/University of Central Florida in Small-Body Planetary Sciences

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Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Florida Space Institute
City: Orlando
State/Province: Florida
Category: , , , ,
Country: USA
Contact Person: Julie Brisset
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Central Florida
Application Due Date: Thursday, October 31 2019
Web Link: https://jobs.ucf.edu/cw/en-us/job/498004

Job Description:

The Florida Space Institute (FSI) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a postdoctoral associate position to carry out research on the physical processes on the surface of small bodies such as asteroids. The successful candidate will be expected to investigate material and mechanical properties of asteroid simulants under relevant conditions. Research will be performed with various instrumentation at the Florida Space Institute and supplemental hardware may be developed to carry out experiments. Additionally, the successful candidate will perform numerical simulations of the behavior of granular material by adapting existing Discrete Element Model code, under guidance from our collaborator at the University of Colorado Boulder. Supervision of undergraduate research assistants and publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals is expected.

The position is expected to have a start date before November 2019 and is renewable annually for up to three years.

FSI is associated with the Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) and the Arecibo Observatory, providing exciting opportunities for collaboration and networking. The University of Central Florida is a thriving preeminent research university located in metropolitan Orlando. With more than 66,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the U.S. The university benefits from a diverse faculty and staff who create a welcoming environment and opportunities for all students to grow, learn and succeed. We encourage you to learn more about UCF at https://www.ucf.edu/.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D. from an accredited institution in physics, astronomy, astrophysics, planetary sciences, or a related field is required.

Preferences:

Experience in the following is of interest:

  • Hands-on experience in hardware design, manufacturing, and operation;

  • Laboratory work with cryogenic samples;

  • Mentoring of undergraduate students;

  • One or more of the following coding languages: IDL, Python, C, C++, Fortran.

EEO Employer:

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. UCF’s Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at: http://www.oie.ucf.edu/documents/PresidentsStatement.pdf. As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources website, at https://jobs.ucf.edu/cw/en-us/job/498004. In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload a curriculum vitae and a brief description of prior research experience.

Additional Application Materials Required:

In addition to the online application, candidates must also submit:

  1. Full curriculum vitae;

  2. Cover letter describing their related experience;

  3. Statement of research interests;

  4. Names, addresses and emails of three people willing to write letters of recommendation

Questions may be directed to:

Dr. Julie Brisset, Associate Researcher

Florida Space Institute

[email protected]

Postdoctoral Researcher in Planetary Science

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Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Department of Physics
City: Helsinki
Category: , , , ,
Country: Finland
Contact Person: Mikael Granvik
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Helsinki
Application Due Date: Friday, November 30 2018
Web Link: https://jobregister.aas.org/ad/09a5e498

The Department of Physics at the University of Helsinki is seeking an ambitious postdoctoral researcher to join the Planetary System Research Group. The successful candidate is expected to carry out research within the framework of a project entitled “Population-level constraints on asteroid interior structure and composition”, funded by the Academy of Finland (PI: Mikael Granvik).

The aims of the project are to i) understand the mechanism leading to the destruction of near-Earth objects (NEOs) close to the Sun, ii) develop a state-of-the-art model of the near-Earth-object (NEO) population that accounts for the thermal and tidal disruption of NEOs, and iii) enable and prepare for solar system science with the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission, currently planned to be launched in 2021.

Applicants should have a PhD in planetary science or a closely related field, and, preferably, experience with numerical modeling of asteroid orbital evolution and/or disruption of asteroids or asteroid constituents. In addition, good programming and data analysis skills and a demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team are considered highly advantageous.

The project includes collaboration with researchers in the United States, France, Sweden, and Canada, and provides ample funding for travel. The successful applicant will have access to the Finnish national supercomputing centre, enjoy a stimulating and international work environment, and is encouraged to develop a unique research profile within the framework set by the research project. The successful applicant will also assist in supervising a PhD student.

The appointment will be for an initial period of two years, extendable by one year based on satisfactory performance (2+1). The expected starting date is September 2019, but earlier dates are also possible. Applications should include a CV, publication list, and a statement (max. 3 pages) of research interests. This should include a summary of past research achievements and a statement of future plans. Electronic submission in pdf format to the email address provided is strongly preferred. The applicant should also arrange for three recommendation letters to be sent by the application deadline. Prior informal enquiries via email are most welcome.

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION — ASTROPHYSICAL INSTITUTE OF THE CANARY ISLANDS

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Current state: Approved
Department: Solar System Group
City: Tenerife
State/Province: Canary Islands
Category: , , ,
Country: Spain
Contact Person: Javier Licandro, Julia de Leon
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Astrophysical Institute of the Canary Islands
Application Due Date: Thursday, September 13 2018
Web Link: http://www.iac.es/info.php?op1=26&id=746

A 2-year post-doctoral position is available at the Astrophysical Institute of the Canary Islands (in Tenerife, Spain) to work within its Solar System Group, led by Drs. Javier Licandro and Julia de Le?n. The project is focused in the compositional characterization of primitive asteroids from ground- and space-based observations, including near-Earth asteroids accesible to spacecraft. The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. degree in Physics/ Astrophysics/Planetary Science. Observational experience (photometry and spectroscopy) as well as skills in data mining will be valuable. Interested candidates can find more information at:

http://www.iac.es/info.php?op1=26&id=746

For questions please contact Dr. Julia de Leon

([email protected] <[email protected] <

Postdoctoral Research Scholarship in Asteroid Engineering

Posted on
Current state: Approved
Department: Division of Space Technology
City: Kiruna
Category:
Country: Sweden
Contact Person: Assoc. Prof. Mikael Granvik or Prof. Reza Emami
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Luleå University of Technology
Application Due Date: Saturday, June 30 2018
Web Link: https://www.ltu.se/ltu/stipendier-priser/postdoc-stipendier?l=en

Background
The mandate of Onboard Space Systems at the Division of Space Technology of Luleå University of Technology is to provide research and education on concurrent methodologies for the design and development of systems for control, observation, instrumentation, communication and manipulation in the upper atmosphere, in space and on the small extraterrestrial bodies and planetary surfaces. Some of the current research subjects include nanosatellite concurrent design, satellite formation flying, free-flying robot manipulators, satellite/robot teams for space debris surveillance and removal, asteroid and planetary exploration. The research group has established the Nanosatellite Laboratory hosting state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for the fabrication, integration, and environmental and hardware-in-the-loop tests and simulations, as well as a ground station for tracking and operating miniaturized satellites. The facilities has recently been used for the complete cycle of design and development of a 2U cubesat for the QB50 project, which is currently fully operation in orbit. The group has also recently established the Asteroid Engineering Center with a research and education mandate on asteroid exploration, redirection and prospecting. Current collaborations with the industry include joint research and development projects with Swedish Space Corporation, OHB-Sweden and RUAG Space. The group also has international research collaborations with academic research groups in the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Brazil, and Finland.

Project description
The successful candidate will focus on projects aiming to understand the mechanisms leading to the disruption of asteroids close to the Sun by planning, executing, analyzing, and modeling heating experiments on meteorites and asteroid-analogue materials carried out in the new Asteroid Engineering Laboratory. The knowledge gained through the experiments will be combined with the state-of-the-art population models of near-Earth asteroids, which describe their orbit, size, and surface properties, to provide insight into the interior characteristics (such as material composition) of the disrupting asteroids.

The candidate will take a central role in our research projects including collaboration with our academic partners. The position is primarily research-oriented, but with a possibility for the candidate to be involved in limited teaching activities at the department. The candidate is expected to publish research results in internationally renowned journals and at international scientific conferences, and to participate in on-going activities for securing future funding of the existing and new research projects. The position is for up to two years.

Qualifications
To qualify for a position as a postdoctoral research fellow on scholarship, you must have a PhD, or doctoral degree or a foreign degree equivalent to a doctorate or doctoral degree. For this scholarship, a Ph.D. in planetary science, astronomy, geosciences, geoengineering, space engineering, or a related field is meriting, as well as experience in numerical modeling and experimental research on meteorites and/or other rocky materials.

All candidates fulfilling the requirements are encouraged to apply, but priority will be given to candidates who have completed their Ph.D. within three years prior to the application deadline. If there are special circumstances, the Ph.D. could have been completed earlier. Special circumstances mean leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, trade union duties, or similar cases. Applicants who are very close to finishing their Ph.D. program are also encouraged to apply.

Assessment criteria
The following assessment criteria apply for the scholarship:
 

  1. Scientific expertise
    1. Certificate of Ph.D. degree
    2. Scientific publications 
       
  2. Educational expertise
    1. Pedagogic education
    2. Documented educational experience
    3. Documented educational evaluations
       
  3. Other assessment criteria are weighted equally
    1. Experience in experimental research 
       

Information
For further information, please contact: Assoc. Prof. Mikael Granvik, [email protected] or Prof. Reza Emami, [email protected], Chair of Onboard Space systems, +46 980 67546.

Application
We prefer that you apply for this scholarship by clicking on the link below. The application should include a CV, personal letter and copies of relevant university diplomas. Your application must be written in English or Swedish. Mark your application with the reference number below.

Last day of application: 2018 06 30

Reference number: 1046-2018

OSIRIS-REx Postdoctoral Researcher

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Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Department of Space Studies
City: Boulder
State/Province: CO
Category: , , , ,
Country: USA
Contact Person: Vicky Hamilton
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Southwest Research Institute
Application Due Date: Monday, October 30 2017
Web Link: https://resapp.swri.org/ResApp/Job_Search_Results.aspx?DETAIL=15-01241

The Department of Space Studies at Southwest Research Institute (Boulder) seeks a postdoctoral researcher to support activities of the Spectral Analysis Working Group of the OSIRIS-REx mission prior to and during spacecraft operations at the asteroid (101955) Bennu. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to carry out independent research in the area(s) of solid surface planetary and/or laboratory spectroscopy, and is expected to publish scientific papers on a regular basis. This position entails regular travel (~two weeks duration, every other month) to Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY), travel to science team meetings (two/year, usually in Tucson AZ), and co-location in Tucson AZ for mission-critical events, primarily in the first half of calendar year 2019.  The desired start date is 2 January 2018; the position is for two years, with the potential to extend for a third year. 

Applications must include a curriculum vitae, cover letter, statement of research interests and contact information for three professional references.

Applications will be accepted immediately, with reviews starting 15 October, and the application deadline is 5:00 pm CDT, 30 October 2018.   See the link for more information on minimum and desired qualifications and to submit an application.

 

Solar System Exploration Postdoctoral Fellow

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Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
City: Baltimore
State/Province: MD
Category: , ,
Country: USA
Contact Person: Sarah Horst
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Johns Hopkins University
Application Due Date: Tuesday, August 15 2017
Web Link: https://apply.interfolio.com/43201

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (http://eps.jhu.edu) at Johns Hopkins University working with the new SSERVI team Project ESPRESSO (https://www.espresso.institute). The Postdoctoral Fellow will be working under the supervision of Prof. Sarah Hörst (www.sarahhorst.com) but will be expected to participate as a full member of the Project ESPRESSO Team, which will include collaborations with Prof. Kevin Lewis in EPS and ESPRESSO Team Members at other institutions. The Postdoctoral Fellow’s primary responsibilities will include laboratory measurements of optical constants and a candidate with experience in these types of measurements and data analysis is preferred. Secondary responsibilities of the Postdoctoral Fellow will include participation in fieldwork and data analysis of geological materials using LIBS and Raman spectroscopy under the supervision of Prof. Kevin Lewis.  Additional opportunities may also be available to participate in microgravity flight campaigns and other Project ESPRESSO efforts. Dr. Hörst is committed to building a diverse and inclusive research group and candidates with a demonstrated history of efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in STEM are especially encouraged to apply.

The position is for one year, but renewable for up to a total of 5 years contingent on satisfactory performance. The position includes salary, benefits, and funding for travel to professional conferences and annual SSERVI team meetings. Johns Hopkins University has recently adopted a new policy on parental leave for Postdoctoral Fellows (https://www.jhu.edu/assets/uploads/2017/06/newchildaccommgradandpostdoc.pdf). The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and Prof. Hörst’s laboratory are housed in Olin Hall. All entrances and floors of Olin Hall are handicapped accessible. Olin Hall has 2 all gender bathrooms.

QUALIFICATIONS
Applicant must have a Ph.D. in a related field. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Applicants should submit their CV (including publications), a 1-2 page statement of research interests, and contact information including email addresses for 3 references. Please contact Prof. Hörst with any questions about the position ([email protected]). The deadline for applications is August 15, 2017.

Applications should be submitted using Interfolio https://apply.interfolio.com/43201

Scientific Programmer, Planetary Data Systems – Small Bodies Node

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Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Department of Astronomy
City: College Park
State/Province: Maryland
Category: ,
Country: USA
Contact Person: Dr. Ludmilla Kolokolova
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Maryland
Application Due Date: Friday, August 25 2017

The Small Bodies Node (SBN) of NASA’s Planetary Data System, based in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking a programmer with analytic experience who would work with a larger group of planetary scientists and programmers. The ideal candidate will also work closely with programmers at the Minor Planet Center at the Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA, concerned with small body astronomy and orbital calculation. 5 years experience is required, including some system administration experience or training, and with some experience either designing or implementing IT security measures in a Linux network environment. A familiarity with relational database management is also desired. A Bachelor’s or Master’s level degree in computer science or a related field is prefered, but previous work experience will also be considered. Near-term tasks include developing a cross-identification database for all bodies represented in the archive, overseeing the security plan for the SBN, back-end development and user interface development, and reporting to NASA. Some travel may be involved.

The Department of Astronomy includes a large number of planetary scientists working primarily on small bodies and on dynamics, and with participants in a variety of missions including Rosetta, OSIRIS-REx, and New Horizons as well as many research projects (see http://www.astro.umd.edu/rareas/). The Small Bodies Node of NASA’s Planetary Data System has major operations both at the University of Maryland (UMD) and at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson (locally headed by Eric Palmer). There are many other nearby institutions that are also active in various aspects of both planetary science and astronomy and with varying degrees of direct collaboration with UMD.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, a complete resume, and a list of references to [email protected]. Applications received by August 25, 2017 will receive full consideration. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The University of Maryland is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply.

The University of Maryland’s benefits package can be reviewed at http://uhr.umd.edu/benefits/benefits-at-a-glance/.

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

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Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
City: Flagstaff
State/Province: AZ
Category: , ,
Country: USA
Contact Person: Catie Blazek
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Lowell Observatory
Application Due Date: Tuesday, March 14 2017
Web Link: https://lowell.edu/about/employment/

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at Lowell Observatory to work on the physical characterization of near-Earth objects. This position will be supervised by Dr. Nicholas Moskovitz.

The initial appointment is for one year with annual extensions for up to two additional years in the case of satisfactory progress. The position is expected to be split with 80% of the time dedicated to the main program and 20% for any other research of the postdoctoral associate’s choosing. The start date is negotiable, but the preference would be for late Summer or early Fall 2017. This position is funded by a NASA Near-Earth Object Observations grant and comes with a competitive salary with full benefits. Funding is available for computer resources, attending conferences, and observing runs. Postdocs at Lowell Observatory have access to our 4.3m Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) as well as 1.8m, 1.1m, and 0.9m telescopes. Lowell offers numerous opportunities for involvement in education and public outreach. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The postdoctoral associate will work in collaboration with Dr. Moskovitz and other project team members on an ongoing physical characterization survey of near-Earth objects. This survey is working to build a comprehensive dataset of astrometry, rotational light curves, and spectra for hundreds of newly discovered NEOs. Observations are being conducted at a wide range of facilities including Gemini North and South, the SOAR 4m, and Lowell’s DCT.

In addition to assisting with target management and conducting regular (1-2 nights per month) observing runs, the postdoctoral associate will be expected to take a leading role in the survey’s spectroscopic observations, reductions, and analysis. This work will include development of a generalized reduction pipeline for longslit spectral data. The postdoc will be expected to take the lead on publications relevant to this work and will be tasked with public release of the spectroscopic data.

QUALIFICATIONS

– Experience with minor planet observations

– Experience with spectroscopic techniques, data reduction, and analysis.

– Strong programming skills, preferably Python, IDL, and/or IRAF.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

A PhD in physics, astronomy, planetary science, or a closely related field is required by the start date.

 

FLSA Classification:                         Exempt
Compensation Type:                      Salary                   
Status:                                                  Full Time, Regular
Benefit Eligible:                               Yes
Location:                                             Mars Hill, Flagstaff, AZ

To apply: please send a completed Short Form application https://lowell.edu/about/employment/  to [email protected] along with a single PDF document incorporating the following:

* A cover letter (1 page)

* A Curriculum Vitae

* A statement of research accomplishments and future research plans. Candidates should explicitly describe how their experience is relevant to this position. (3 pages)

* Phone numbers and e-mail addresses of three references

Review of applications will begin on 15 March 2017.

Lowell Observatory is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and provides equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status.

Lowell Observatory provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. This nonsmoking campus is at an elevation of 7,000 ft/2100m. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources office for assistance.

VERSION January 4, 2017/HR

 

 

 

 

B612 Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Astrodynamics

Posted on
Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Astronomy
Category: ,
Country: USA
Contact Person: Danica Remy
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: B612 / University of Washington
Application Due Date: Tuesday, January 31 2017
Web Link: http://www.b612foundation.org

B612 is a nonprofit institution dedicated to protecting the Earth from major asteroid impacts.

Position Summary:

B612 is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on orbital dynamics problems related to Planetary Defense from asteroid impacts on Earth. The fellow is expected to conduct original research in collaboration with B612 and University of Washington researchers.  Areas of research could include asteroid deflection scenarios and mission planning, the evolution of  individual asteroid impact probabilities, implications of near term asteroid discovery improvements on the catalog of known asteroid risks and the distribution of asteroid deflection cases, as well as other topics in Planetary Defense.  The applicant is expected to be based in either Silicon Valley or Seattle.  The position will collaborate closely with University of Washington faculty and members of the LSST team.

Examples of Responsibilities:  

  • Travel & present research results at professional conferences.
  • Collaborate with professional scientists.
  • Publish papers in peer-reviewed planetary science journals.
  • Write and assist with the writing of research proposals to external sponsors.

Minimum Qualifications:

Earned PhD or equivalent in Astronomy, Planetary Science, or appropriate related field from an accredited research institution

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior research experience in dynamical astronomy or orbital dynamics
  • Record of publication in peer-reviewed literature

Instructions:  

The applicant should enclose a short summary of research interests and description of proposed areas of research during the Fellowship.  Include a CV, and three references.

The deadline for applications January 31, 2017

B612

20 Sunnyside Ave Suite 427

Mill Valley, CA 94941

[email protected]

Useful Links

Annual Report

Leadership Team

B612 is hiring Fellow for Computational Astrodynamics Group

Posted on
Current state: Approved and Notify DPS Secretary
Department: Research & Development / Astronomy
City: Mill Valley
State/Province: California
Category: ,
Country: United States
Contact Person: Danica Remy
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: B612 / University of Washington
Application Due Date: Sunday, January 31 2016
Web Link: http://b612foundation.org

B612 is hiring Fellow for Computational Astrodynamics Group

B612 is a nonprofit institution dedicated to protecting the Earth from major asteroid impacts.

Position Summary:

B612 is hiring a Postdoctoral Fellow to work on orbital dynamics problems related to Planetary Defense from asteroid impacts on Earth. The fellow is expected to conduct original research in collaboration with B612 and University of Washington researchers.  Areas of research could include asteroid deflection scenarios and mission planning, the evolution of  individual asteroid impact probabilities, implications of near term asteroid discovery improvements on the catalog of known asteroid risks and the distribution of asteroid deflection cases, as well as other topics in Planetary Defense.  The applicant is expected to be based in either Silicon Valley or Seattle.  The position will collaborate closely with University of Washington faculty.

Examples of Duties:         

  1. Travel & present research results at professional conferences.
  2. Collaborate with local professional scientists.
  3. Publish papers in peer-reviewed planetary science journals.
  4. Write and assist with the writing of research proposals to external sponsors.

Minimum Qualifications:

  1. Earned PhD or equivalent in Astronomy, Planetary Science, or appropriate related field from an accredited research institution
  2. PhD conferred no earlier than August 31, 2012

Preferred Qualifications

  1. Prior research experience in dynamical astronomy or orbital dynamics
  2. Record of publication in peer-reviewed literature

Instructions:  

  1. The applicant should enclose a short summary of research interests and description of proposed areas of research during the Fellowship.
  2. Include a CV, and three references.
  3. The deadline for applications January 31, 2017

 

B612

20 Sunnyside Ave Suite 427

Mill Valley, CA 94941

[email protected]