Category: Job Positions

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Microbiology and Palaeobiology (University of Edinburgh, Scotland)

The School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher for an exciting three-year position at the intersection of palaeontology and microbiology. This role focuses on investigating the fossil record of microbial life, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research.

Key Requirements:

  • PhD in palaeontology, Earth sciences, microbiology, or a related field
  • Training and experience in microbiology
  • Strong ability to work independently and in a team
  • Experience in scientific publications and conference presentations

Job Details:

  • Location: James Clerk Maxwell Building, Edinburgh (100% on-campus)
  • Salary: £40,247 – £47,874 per annum (Grade UE07)
  • Contract: Full-time, fixed-term (3 years)
  • Application deadline: March 7, 2025
  • Start date: July 1, 2025

Why Join?

  • Work in a leading research-intensive university
  • Be part of a diverse and dynamic international community
  • Access mentorship, career development, and staff benefits

The University of Edinburgh is an equal opportunity employer and can sponsor international applicants for a Skilled Worker Visa.

For more info and to apply, >>click here<<

PhD Opportunities in Interdisciplinary Space Sciences and Planetary Research in Graz (Austria)

The Young Researcher Program YRP@Graz welcomes applications for PhD positions. YRP@Graz is jointly supported by the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Graz University of Technology, and the University of Graz.

The application process has two stages with which we aim to decrease selection biases: Stage 1 of the application process is anonymised (submission deadline: March 11th 2025), stage 2 takes the form of an interview.

Excellent candidates with a strong background in natural sciences are welcome to apply. Successful candidates must hold a master’s degree in physics, astrophysics, geoscience, computational chemistry or equivalent at the latest by the starting date of the position but preferably at the time of application. The appointment can begin July 1st 2025, and will aim for a minimum of three years.

The five offered projects are:

Details about the offered projects and the application process can be found here.

PhD position: Novel Biosignatures for Microfossil Interpretation (Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland)

The ProtoSigns Lab in the School of Chemical Sciences at Dublin City University is seeking a motivated PhD student to explore novel biosignatures for microfossil interpretation as part of an ERC-funded project.

📌 What is offered:
✅ Fully funded 4-year PhD (€25K/year stipend)
✅ Fieldwork opportunities
✅ Cutting-edge facilities & international collaborations
✅ Mentorship from leading experts
✅ Training and career development

📅 Apply by: 31 Jan 2025
📧 Email: sean(.)jordan(@)dcu(.)ie
For more info on the project, click >here<

PhD projects at the Natural History Museum in London (UK), September/October 2025

There are two PhD projects available at the Natural History Museum, for a September/October 2025 start. These projects are in the fields of meteorites and mineralogy. Deadline for all applications is Sunday 2 February 2025, 23:59 GMT. STFC projects

Project 1: Salt hydrates at high pressure and low temperature: Implications for icy moon explorations Contact Supervisor: Ines Collings https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/study/postgraduate/phd-opportunities/projects/salt-hydrates-high-pressure-low-temperature.html

Project 2: Petrologic and geochemical constraints on volcanic eruptions on Amazonian Mars Contact Supervisors: Chiara Petrone, Paul Schofield https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/study/postgraduate/phd-opportunities/projects/petrologic-geochemical-constraints-volcanic-eruptions-amazonian-mars.html

Full details of the application process, supervisors, and associated universities can be found on all the project pages.

PhD projects for autumn 2025 at the AstrobiologyOU (The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK)

The AstrobiologyOU research group at The Open University are advertising several fully funded PhD projects for autumn 2025 entry. Advertised projects span a range of disciplines and topics, and include:

  • Follow the fluids: hydrothermal alteration in Iceland and implications for Early Earth
    • Lead supervisor Dr Julia Semprich

  • Tracking the fate of ocean carbon within the ice shells of icy moons
    • Lead supervisor Dr Mark Fox-Powell

  • Exploring the contribution of meteorite impacts on the Earth’s early ocean composition
    • Lead supervisor Dr Nisha Ramkissoon

  • Pushed to the Extreme: Extremophile-Mediated Bioremediation of Smouldering Sewage Sludge Emissions
    • Lead supervisor Dr Michael Macey

..and others! See https://www5.open.ac.uk/research-groups/astrobiology/work-with-us/phds for more information and links to apply. Keep your eye on the page as more projects may be added in the coming weeks.

PhD fellowship funded by the Italian Space Agency

Where: Università G. d’Annunzio – Chieti
Duration: 3 years, including 6 months abroad (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität
Münster) + 3 months (c/o Italian Space Agency, Rome)
Doctoral program: GEOSCIENCE
Title: “Geological mapping of lunar landing sites and the MATISSE webtool”
Tutor: Lucia Marinangeli lucia.marinangeli@unich.it
Application deadline: 3 December 2024 12:00 pm CET
Colloqium (in person or virtual): 11 December 2024 9:00 am CET
More info: https://www.scuolasuperiore.unich.it/node/7244

OBJECTIVES:
With the ARTEMIS exploration program bringing a new human crew to the lunar surface in 2026 as the first phase for the construction of a permanent human base, preparatory activities for the study of landing sites by combining multi-sensor data of different resolution and scale are fundamental for defining potential in situ resource utilization (ISRU).

With this project we want to propose an integrated approach for data analysis aimed at detailed geological analysis for the definition and valorization of in situ resources for the ISRU through the production of a geological cartography with standardization of the units that allows the definition of guidelines for the characterization of the new landing sites planned in the south pole of the Moon.

Currently, thanks to the availability of better spatial resolution orbital data together with remote spectral data to determine the composition of the surface material, it has been possible to review the geological interpretation of the Apollo landing sites [1-4] providing new details on the stratigraphic evolution of rock units and their correlation with samples brought to Earth. Preliminary work on geological mapping applied to the ISRU [5] highlighted the potential of the Apollo 17 site thanks to the geological diversity and the type of rocks that can allow the successful extraction of hydrogen and methane.
For this reason, the research activities will focus on the Apollo 17 site following the cartographic approach of [1-4] adding both a morphological and stratigraphic study deriving from the photographic repertoire acquired by the astronauts, and the compositional information of the rock samples and soil brought to Earth and available in the NASA Curation Office archive.

Based on the study and the geothematic maps that will be produced, analyzes will be carried out on the potential of the mapped material for the ISRU.
The integrated approach of different types of data (multimission – multisensor – multispectral) for detailed and standardized geological cartography is fundamental for future studies of lunar landing sites. The data will be processed and/or calibrated and then inserted into a GIS system for the analysis and creation of digital maps.
This modus operandi will constitute a model that can be replicated in other sites.

The PhD student will spend 6-months abroad working at the Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität in Münster (tutor C. van der Bogert) to familiarize with the lunar dataset and cartographic methods. This institute in Münster has a long experience on geological mapping of the Moon.
In the final part of the project the student will work at the ASI-SSDC to upload the produced maps into the MATISSE online tool to make it accessible to the scientific community. MATISSE is the ASI-SSDC webtool dedicated to Solar System exploration missions, capable of showing the results both in classic two-dimensional visualizations, showing the data projected directly onto the three-dimensional shape of the selected target. In particular, this activity will be integrated into the current development of the tool aimed at planetary geology, expanding the possibility of searching for data also on the basis of advanced information available from geological maps.


In summary, the activities to be carried out will be:

  1. bibliographic research and review of available geological maps – 3 months
  2. selection of the areas of interest to analyze in detail, data processing and project preparation in the GIS environment of the study area – 6 months
  3. period abroad to acquire knowledge of lunar geological cartography – 6 months
  4. cartography of the chosen sites – 12 months
  5. definition of guidelines for the classification of geological units and potential values for the ISRU – 3 months
  6. data entry in MATISSE – 3 monthsthesis writing – 3 months

Bibliographic references:
[1] Iqbal W. et al. (2019) Geological mapping and chronology of lunar landing sites: Apollo 11, Icarus,
Volume 333, Pages 528-547
[2] Iqbal W. et al. (2020) Geological mapping and chronology of lunar landing sites: Apollo 12, Icarus,
Volume 352
[3] Iqbal W. et al. (2023) Geological mapping and chronology of lunar landing sites: Apollo 14, Icarus,
Volume 406
[4] Iqbal W. et al. (2024) New geological maps of Apollo 15 and Apollo 17 landing sites, LPSC, #1010
[5] van der Bogert et al. (2021) Science-rich Sites for In Situ Resource Utilization Characterization and Endto-
end Demonstration Missions, Planet. Sci. J., 2 84

Post-doctoral Researcher in Astrochemistry/Planetology at the University Aix-Marseille, PIIM laboratory (Marseille, France)

A stimulating opportunity for a postdoctoral research position (F/M) up to two-year is available at the ASTRO Team of the PIIM laboratory of CNRS/Aix-Marseille University to perform space weathering experiments on solar system analogs.

The project is part of French Research National Agency grant, ORGAMISS project. The project intends to question the fate of organic matter in mineral matrices at the surface of airless bodies through irradiation experiments, and define biases for the detection of OM in solar system bodies, especially asteroids and Mars. The experiments will be performed in collaboration between different laboratories in France (PIIM, IAS, LISA) and will be analyzed mainly with infrared spectroscopy for direct comparison with extraterrestrial samples and remote observations. This experimental work is to tackle some of the most intriguing questions around organic matter: its preservation or destruction favoured by specific conditions (type of irradiation) with minerals on the surface of extraterrestrial bodies. The goal of the project is to create a database of samples that could be used for space mission data.

The preferred candidate will have a PhD (or close to completion) in astrochemistry, planetary sciences, chemistry or a closely related field, with knowledge and familiarity in spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV, Raman) and experimental works. The candidate will join a vibrant astrochemistry research group within the PIIM laboratory (ASTRO team) in Marseille, France.

Review of applications will begin on 18/11/2024 until the position is filled. Please send a CV, a description of research interests, a publication list, and email addresses of 2-3 referees as a single PDF file- to Vassilissa Vinogradoff. The starting date is expected to be January-February 2025.

For more details click here.

2 years Post-Doctoral position in analytical chemistry in the context of extraterrestrial sample analyses and Origins of Life (Aix-Marseille University, France)

Context:
For the past 15 years, the ASTRO team at the PIIM laboratory of CNRS/Aix-Marseille University has been investigating the origin of organic matter in the solar system, focusing on its potential role in prebiotic chemistry on early Earth. They have developed experimental approaches and analytical methods to study the chemistry of dense molecular clouds, the formation of protoplanetary disks, and the incorporation of primitive organic matter into asteroids and comets. This matter, potentially delivered to Earth via meteorites 4.3 to 3.8 billion years ago, may have contributed to the emergence of life.

Objectives of the scientific project:
The project aims to advance analytical methodologies, particularly using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS), to characterize organic matter in extraterrestrial samples like meteorites and mission returns. The candidate will contribute to liquid chromatography analyses and methodology development, while supporting other team projects.

The ASTRO team already has significant experience in high-resolution mass spectrometry and seeks a candidate with expertise in HPLC-MS and data analysis related to these techniques.

  • Application Deadline: Open until filled
  • Starting date: January 2025
  • End Date: January 2027

For more details click here, while you can contact Prof Grégoire Danger if you have any questions.