CSH Fellow in Solar System / Planetary Science

The Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern, Switzerland, invites applications for CSH Fellows.  CSH Fellows are expected to be independent postdoctoral researchers, who will carry out their own early-career research program that is broadly consistent with CSH interests.  In addition to research, we expect each CSH Fellow to take on leadership roles in the intellectual life of the CSH, including leading coffee/lunch discussions, journal clubs, inviting and hosting seminar/colloquium speakers, etc.  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 expertise and projects performed either during the Ph.D or last postdoctoral position.  The rest of the proposal (minimum 2 pages) should describe the future research to be pursued at the CSH, including the key scientific questions addressed and the anticipated impact.  Each candidate should name the CSH researcher(s) he/she anticipates interacting with on a regular basis.  Please consult the CSH website for more details.

For this position, we are interested in applicants with expertise in traditional Solar System science in either theory, observation or instrumentation.  Observers need to demonstrate that they are capable of procuring telescope time on their own.  CSH Fellows specialising in instrumentation need to demonstrate that the existing facilities within the University of Bern are sufficient for their project needs, and obtain prior approval from the PI of the respective lab for the collaborative use of facilities.  For theory and simulation, there are ample computing resources within the CSH and University of Bern.

Each CSH Fellowship is held for 2+1 years at the University of Bern and comes with an annual 5000 CHF research budget.  The annual salary is between 85,000 and 95,000 CHF, depending on experience (years after Ph.D) and is set by a predetermined matrix from the University and Canton of Bern.  Child allowance and maternity/paternity leave are offered.  Additional application materials include a 2-page CV, a list of 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 CSH Director Kevin Heng (kevin.heng ‘at’ csh.unibe.ch).  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that three letters of recommendation are sent directly to CSH Secretary Danielle Zemp (danielle.zemp ‘at’ csh.unibe.ch) by the application deadline of 1st November 2017.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed by 1st December 2017, and will be invited to the annual CSH Symposium on 11th January 2018 in Bern, Switzerland, for talks and interviews.  We expect to extend formal offers by 15th January 2018.