Tag: Open University

Postdoctoral position on asteroid studies at The Open University

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the ICARUS project: Investigating Changes in Asteroid Regolith and Understanding Solar-driven Volatile Release in Near-Sun Asteroids. 

This role focuses on experimental petrology and high-resolution geochemical analysis to investigate how intense solar heating drives gas release and surface evolution in active near-Sun asteroids, with particular emphasis on asteroid [3200] Phaethon. The project combines cyclic heating experiments on meteorites with advanced analytical techniques, including SEM, Raman, near-IR spectroscopy, and impact ionisation mass spectrometry, to generate the essential ground-truth datasets required to interpret in-situ measurements from the DESTINY+ mission.

The successful candidate will lead laboratory-based research, contributing to experimental design, data acquisition, quantitative analysis, and interpretation, collaborating with international partners in Germany and Japan. This is primarily a research role with scope for limited teaching in line with institutional policy.

The successful candidate will be line managed by Dr Martin D. Suttle who serves as PI on the ICARUS project. 

Essential skills:

  • PhD (or submitted PhD thesis) in planetary science, geochemistry, meteoritics, experimental petrology, physics or a closely related field.
  • Strong laboratory-based analytical skills in mass spectrometry complemented by proficiency in at least three of the following techniques: SEM, EMPA, Raman spectroscopy, near-IR spectroscopy, TGA, XRD, and/or TEM. Ideally applied to the study of meteorite or planetary analogue materials.
  • Proven ability to design, execute, and interpret complex laboratory experiments independently.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including a track record of publishing research in high-impact journals as lead author.
  • Willingness and ability to travel internationally for collaborative work and conferences. 

Need more details?
Everything you need to know for you application can be found here.

Application deadline is on Wednesday June 24th 2026.

2 Postdoctoral Research positions – The Open University

The Open University (Milton Keynes, United Kingdom) is recruiting researchers for two postdoctoral positions in the field of planetary science/cosmochemistry.

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 15th October. For more information follow these links:

  1. Postdoc in the field of Primitive Asteroids:

https://jobs.open.ac.uk/job/Post-Doctoral-Research-Associate-Primitive-Asteroids/1050-en_GB

Job listing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4302331461/?capColoOverride=true

  1. Postdoc in the field of Differentiated Meteorites:

https://jobs.open.ac.uk/job/Post-Doctoral-Research-Associate-Differentiated-Meteorites/1062-en_GB

Job listing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4302322720/?capColoOverride=true

PhD Studentship in Analytical Tools within Contamination in Spacecraft & Satellite Industry (UK)

The Open University (Milton Keynes, UK) would like to advertise the following PhD position:

Development and validation of innovative, near real-time analytical tools to enable mitigation of contamination within cleanrooms of the UK spacecraft & satellite industry.

Open University Supervisory team: Claire Batty; Vic Pearson; Geraint Morgan

Project Highlights: 

  • Opportunity to develop expertise in cutting edge volatile organic compound detection and analysis for contamination detection.
  • Opportunity to develop skills in analytical techniques, contamination control, and materials and process (M&P) protocols within the space sector.
  • This industrial CASE studentship is a collaboration between The Open University (OU) and Airbus Defence and Space Ltd (Airbus DS) providing both academic and industrial research experience.

The aims of this studentship are: 

  1. To identify, profile and catalogue volatile, semi-volatile and surface organic compounds in cleanrooms and understand the influence of VOCs on bonding, and cleaning methodologies.
  2. To develop techniques, in partnership with the Airbus technical team, to help identify individual contamination compounds, and assess risk of silicone contamination vs cure.
  3. To develop analytical strategies to then deal with real time contamination events.
  4. To develop and optimise analytical methods for flight hardware, cleanroom surfaces and air.

Application deadline: August 1st 2025, 5pm GMT

More information about the project and how to apply here.

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.