Postdoc position on modeling the fate of volatile elements during accretion of rocky planets

The Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice University is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral scholar position who would explore dynamical and geochemical fingerprints of accretion and magma ocean processes, searching for conditions of producing chemically habitable rocky planets. The focus will be tracking the fate of life-essential volatile elements, C, N, H, and S in our Solar System and other exoplanetary systems from the protoplanetary disk to the magma ocean stage via dynamical and geochemical modeling. The contract will be initially for 1 year and is renewable for up to 3 years based on performance and funding. The position will be based out of Rice University but the postdoctoral candidate will also interact with astrophysicists and planetary scientists in the entire CLEVER Planets (Cycles of Life-Essential Volatile Elements in Rocky Planets; http://cleverplanets.org/) team.

The research is on modeling planet formation, tracking the evolution of major volatile elements. The candidate may work on

• Modeling planetesimals and planetary embryos coupling disk dynamics and geochemical differentiation during accretion for our Solar System and other solar systems
• Establishing a framework of volatile distributions in rocky bodies for disk evolution and rocky planet formation with or without giant planet migration
• Modeling the volatile budgets of rocky planets taking into account magma ocean, core, atmosphere fractionation, and impact-induced losses

The candidate will work closely with geochemists, planetary scientists, and astrophysicists in the team who are using laboratory experiments and numerical models to study disk dynamics, planetary assembly, and differentiation during accretion.

The candidates are required to have

• completed a PhD in earth and planetary sciences, astrophysics, geophysics, or a related field at the time of the appointment;
• A strong background in computation
• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.

In addition, the ideal candidate should have

• Experience with N-body simulation codes, various hydro codes for impact processes

Curriculum vitae with list of publications, a one-page statement of research interests and past research accomplishments, and contact information of at least 3 references should be sent as a single pdf file to [email protected]. Questions should be directed to Prof. Rajdeep Dasgupta ([email protected]).