The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has an opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Astrobiochemistry Lab. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of astrobiology, planetary science, and sedimentology.

Key Responsibilities:

• Investigate how biosignatures are affected by riverine dynamics in extraterrestrial environments, specifically targeting Titan and Mars.
• Determine alterations in chemical and morphological biosignatures due to riverine processes.
• Examine the influence of sedimentary deposition on biosignature preservation and detectability.
• Explore the spatial segregation of biosignatures across sedimentary basins to inform current and future space exploration missions.
• Conduct terrestrial analogy studies to support and validate extraterrestrial research findings.

Ideal start window: September 2024 – January 2025

For more information or to apply, click here.

The postholder will be welcomed into AstrobiologyOU, an interdisciplinary research group investigating the feasibility of life beyond the Earth, and the associated scientific, governance and ethical implications. The role would be based within the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences. The role will be to lead and foster interdisciplinary research on space ethics and sustainable futures in space.

Deadline:  26^th April 2024 – 12 noon UK time

For more info, click here.

The Aix-Marseille University is seeking a 24-month Postdoc to work on a Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)-funded project ‘The atmosphere: a living, breathing ecosystem?’. The project is a collaboration involving the Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography in Marseille (France), the University of Guelph (Canada), Monash University in Melbourne (Australia) and Arizona State University in Phoenix (USA). The position is under the supervision of Dr. James Bradley.

The overall aim of the project is to resolve the composition, capabilities, and activities of atmospheric microbes at a global scale, to distinguish whether the atmosphere exhibits structure and microbial activity characteristic of a true ecosystem, or if it is simply a passive dispersal medium for microorganisms.

Deadline:  Friday 10^th May 2024

For more info, click here.

Informal inquiries should be made to Dr James Bradley.

The University of Oslo’s Centre for Planetary Habitability has announced two new postdoctoral opportunities related to Mars Sample Return.

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Earth and Planetary Sciences (257508)
  On establishing a Mars Sample Return (MSR) Analogue Sample Library (ASL) of terrestrial sample materials relevant for the MSR Campaign directed jointly by ESA and NASA (apply here)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Planetary Sciences (257624)
  On deciphering the planetary rock record to explore evidence and fate of water on terrestrial planetary objects from the surface mineralogy and morphology (apply here)

Deadline:  Thursday 29 February 2024

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

The aim of this position is to built, under the supervision of Pr. Grégoire Danger and in collaboration with Dr. Robert Pascal, Dr. Louis Le Sergeant d’Hendecourt, and Dr Vassilissa Vinogradoff, a chemistry lab dedicated to prebiotic chemistry
experiments.

The research will be carried out within the ASTRO team at the Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires (PIIM) laboratory of the Aix-Marseille University
in France. This team is part of the Origins Institute of the Aix-Marseille University.

Application Deadline: February 15^th, 2024
Starting date: June, 2024
End Date: June, 2027

>> Click here << for details on the role and how to apply.

For further information, please contact Grégoire Danger.

The Open University is recruiting for a PDRA position in Mars atmospheric research. The position is funded by the UK Space Agency, for a duration of three years.

Applications are invited from the community to join their group and undertake research using the latest data from the NOMAD instrument on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter mission.  The role holder will undertake an exciting combination of retrievals from instrument observations with global climate modelling studies to understand the behaviour of trace gases in the atmosphere of Mars. 

>> Click here << for details on the role and how to apply.

For further information, please contact Manish Patel

Deadline:  12 February 2024 (noon GMT)

A Research Associate position is available at The University of Manchester for a planetary scientist to undertake research into the metal segregation processes on planetesimals in the early Solar System. The position is in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, under the direction of Prof Rhian Jones and in collaboration with Drs. Margherita Polacci and Romain Tartèse.

The goal of the project is to understand the fundamental process of melting and core formation that took place in the first planetesimals that formed in the Solar System.

>> The deadline for applying is February 19^th 2024 <<

Further information can be found *here*

A Research Associate position is available at The University of Manchester for a planetary scientist to undertake research into the formation and early evolution of the Solar System. The position is in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, under the direction of Prof Rhian Jones and in collaboration with Drs. Romain Tartèse and David Neave.

The goal of the project is to investigate the distribution of halogen elements in chondritic meteorites, to understand how volatile elements were distributed through early Solar System materials during the epoch of planet formation, ~4.6 billion years ago.

The appointment begins as early as April 1^st 2024, and will be for 1 year.

>> The deadline is February 19^th 2024 <<

Further information can be found *here*

The Space Research Institute (IWF) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), is offering a PostDoc Position in Exoplanet Atmosphere Cloud Modelling.

The successful candidate will join the IWF research group “Exoplanets: Weather & Climate (Complex Atmosphere Modelling)“ led by Prof. Christiane Helling as part of the OeAW’s efforts to expand the theme of exoplanet research at the IWF in Graz, Austria. The post holder will play a crucial role in extending our kinetic cloud formation model as part of our efforts in providing physical interpretations of observational data for space missions, for example, CHEOPS, JWST, PLATO, and ARIEL. The applicant must hold a PhD in the relevant fields of astrophysics.

The appointment begins as early as April 1^st, 2024 and will be for 2+2 years.

Applications must include:

• CV
• Publication list
• Research experience statement (max 2 pages) and research plan (max 1 page)
• Academic certificates
• Two reference letters

Please send the application as one PDF file, mentioning Job ID: IWF143PD123 to Cosima Muck.

>> The deadline is February 29^th 2024 <<

Further information can be found *here*