Postdoctoral position in planetary science at the University of Bern (Switzerland)

Postdoctoral position in planetary science at the University of Bern (Switzerland)

As part of its long-term strategic interest in exoplanet science, the government of Switzerland has awarded funding to a network of universities and research groups to create a Swiss-wide research framework known as "PlanetS". The scope of the framework is broad (see www.nccr-planets.ch) and includes planet origin, evolution and characterization, considering both the Solar System and exoplanets, in theory, observation and instrumentation. PlanetS already funds a large number of PhD and postdoctoral positions in the participating institutions (University of Bern, University of Geneva, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich).

In order to further support this research effort, we are offering a new postdoctoral position in the field of planetary sciences. The selected applicant will address different key problems of planet formation and will contribute to the development of planet formation models, both based on accretion of planetesimals and accretion of pebbles, as well as the analysis of the results of models. The applicants should have experience in at least one of the following fields: planet formation, planet evolution, protoplanetary disk (in particular solid-gas interaction from pebble to planetesimal size range). In addition, experience in statistical analysis tools (e.g. machine learning and deep learning) will be a plus.

The position will be based at the University of Bern, hosted by the group of Yann Alibert, but frequent and regular interactions are foreseen with other groups at the University of Bern (e.g. Willy Benz, Christoph Mordasini, Kevin Heng, Brice-Oliver Demory), and with other institutes part of the NCCR. The selected applicant will have access to the high level computing facilities at the University of Bern.

This Postdoctoral position is for 3 years, and could be extended to a fourth year depending on funding and results. The annual salary is between 75,000 and 97,000 CHF, depending upon experience (years after Ph.D) and is set by a predetermined matrix from the University and Canton of Bern. 

Each prospective candidate will submit a research proposal with a maximum length of 5 pages. The candidate will use a maximum of 3 pages to explain her/his existing research expertise and interests performed either during the PhD or previous postdoctoral position(s). Additional application materials include a 2-page CV, a list of peer-reviewed publications (no page limit) and a cover letter (1 page) listing the names of 3 referees/references.

The entire application should be submitted as a single PDF file to Mrs Janine Jungo ([email protected]) by the application deadline of 1st December 2018. Please state « Postdoctoral Fellowship in Planetary Science in the group of Y. Alibert » as the title of your email.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that three letters of recommendation are sent directly and separately to Mrs Janine Jungo by the letter writers themselves.

The starting date of the position is negotiable, but not later than 31st March 2019.

For inquiries about the job, contact Yann Alibert ([email protected]).
 

The University of Bern is equal opportunity employers, and we specially encourage the application of young female researchers.