Tag: Planetary science

Postdoctoral Research position in Astrochemistry/Planetology

The team of the project ORGAMISS within the ASTRO team of the PIIM laboratory in Marseille (France) is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the impact of space weathering to detect organic matter in mineral matrices simulating solar system bodies.

This project investigates the origin and chemical evolution of extraterrestrial organic matter in past or present aqueous environments of Solar System bodies. The project will experimentally simulate the fate of organic matter on the surface of bodies (asteroids, Mars) using analogs and meteorites and define biases for the detection of OM in mineral matrices.

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 should have demonstrated skills for experiments and/or analytics during the PhD or postdoctoral positions.

For more information, click here (PDF file).

The starting date is expected before July 2026.
Please send a CV, a description of research interests, a publication list, and email addresses of 2 referees as a single PDF file to Vassilissa.vinogradoff@univ-amu.fr

British Planetary Science Conference (BPSC), UK, 2026

The British Planetary Science Conference will be hosted by the University of St Andrews, from 9-11th June 2026.

Registration for BPSC 2026 is now open and the registration portal can be found here.

Online registration is open til Wednesday 27th May, with the early registration deadline on Saturday 9th May. The abstract submission deadline is also on Saturday 9th May.

BPSC2026 will cover the wide range of our community’s interests including meteorites, sample return missions, Mars, the Moon and more. We want BPSC2026 to bring together planetary scientists from across disciplines and institutions to promote a collegiate and supportive space to discuss and present new ideas and results.

For more information, visit the event’s website here.

Postdoctoral Research position in (Exo)planetary Climate Modelling

A Postdoctoral Researcher wanted for a 3-year full-time position in (Exo)Planetary Climate Modelling to join the newly established research group of Dr João M. Mendonça at the University of Southampton: https://software-oasis.com/.

The successful candidate will primarily work on the development and enhancement of the OASIS model, contributing to new physical parameterisations, numerical algorithms, and/or performance optimisation. They will also lead the application of the new code developments to open questions in Solar System and Exoplanet research. Applicants with backgrounds in (exo)planetary climate science, atmospheric physics, applied mathematics, or computer science are particulary welcome.

You can find the link to the new postdoc position here: https://jobs.soton.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=3267925WF
The application deadline is 14 January 2025.

UKPF Early Career Meeting (United Kingdom), January 9th 2026

Registration and abstract submission is now open for the 19th UK Planetary Forum Early Careers Meeting (ECM), which will be held on Friday 9th January 2026, hosted by the Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck, at the Birkbeck Clore Management Centre, in Bloomsbury, London. The UKPF ECM is designed to bring together early career researchers from across the UK for a day of networking and knowledge sharing. This event provides a supportive environment for early career scientists to present their research to peers and receive constructive feedback, offering valuable preparation for larger, international conferences. Presentations will include both talks and posters, showcasing the diversity of work taking place in planetary science. We welcome contributions from all aspects of planetary science, including but not limited to: planetary surfaces, interiors, atmospheres and magnetospheres, habitability and astrobiology, meteorites, (exo)planets and their moons.

Date: Friday 9th January 2026
Location: Birkbeck Clore Management Centre, Torrington Square, Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 7JL
Cost: Completely free!
Registration Link: UKPF ECM 2026 Registration Form
Registration deadline: Wednesday 17th December 2025.
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday 31st October 2025 (23:59)

Abstract Submission: Please use the abstract template as a guide. Abstracts should be uploaded via the upload link in the registration form. Max. one A4 page only including figures and references. The abstract upload link will open a new tab in your browser window. ​Please ensure you return to the original form to complete your registration.

Attendees are encouraged to join in person, but virtual attendance will also be offered for those unable to travel. For enquiries regarding accessibility, registration or abstract submission, please contact ukpf-ecm-2026@ucl.ac.uk. For more information, check out the meeting page on the UKPF 2026 website.

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

Exploring Otherness on Earth and Beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities – April 9-11 2025 in Berlin, Germany

The upcoming conference, “Exploring Otherness on Earth and Beyond: Bridging the Gap Between Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities,” will take place at Freie Universität Berlin (campus Lankwitz) from April 9 to 11, 2025. This event, funded by the European Astrobiology Institute and the Einstein Foundation, aims to explore the concept of otherness through the lenses of various disciplines and foster a multidisciplinary dialogue.

The conference will feature sessions on:

  • Other Life: Search for alien life
  • Other Worlds: Colonization of the Moon and Mars
  • Other Earth: Alien environments and human catastrophes
  • Philosophical and theological views on otherness
  • Communication science and psychology

With a planned attendance of approximately 50 participants, the conference will include a mix of invited and contributed oral presentations. Participation is by application and invitation, and early registration is recommended. A limited budget is available for partial travel support.

Registration, including abstract submissions, will close on Wednesday February 5 2025. The organizing committee may need to limit participation based on the number of applications. Registered participants will be notified about their status shortly after the registration deadline.

The full conference announcement is available >>here<<.

The conference is organized by members of an Einstein circle in collaboration with the European Astrobiology Institute. For any inquiries, please contact Christoph Gross.

5th British Planetary Science Conference in 2026 at the University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews has been selected to host the 5th British Planetary Science Conference in 2026! The selection was made by a panel consisting of members of UKPF and organisers of BPSC2024 following an open call for applications.

BPSC2026 will take place in early June 2026. Stay tuned for more information, including specific dates, which will be communicated on the website [ukpf.org.uk] in due course.

Dr Paul Savage (U. St Andrews) has said the following on behalf of the BPSC2026 local organising committee: “We’re honoured to have been chosen to host BPSC 2026 in St Andrews. We’re looking forward to seeing you all here and providing a platform to show off the scientific achievements in the UK Planetary Science community. We hope everyone will feel welcome in our small corner of Scotland.”