Two PhD positions at Lund Observatory

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Archive Date: 
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Pre-doctoral/Graduate Positions
Institution Classification/Type: 
Large Academic
Institution/Company: 
Lund University
City: 
Lund
State/Province: 
Scania
Country: 
Sweden
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

Lund Observatory announces two PhD positions within astronomy and astrophysics. The PhD students will work within the subjects:

(1) The student will participate in the Gaia data processing for future data releases, especially improving the calibration models as well as characterizing the quality of the catalogue. Specific topics could include the accuracy of the Gaia reference frame and the parallax zero point, spatial systematic errors and proper motion patterns. Deviations in proper motions of sources between different catalogue releases can be used to indicate the presence of binary or exoplanet systems. Exploitation of the Gaia results for Galactic dynamic studies using insights into the expected correlated errors among the astrometric data is encouraged. This will be especially important when combining data for many stars (for example in clusters), where even small correlations, if not taken into account, may lead to severe underestimation of the actual uncertainties of the results.

(2) The student will run numerical simulations of the dynamics of massive particle discs orbiting around young gas giants and ice giants. Such discs may form at the planet formation stage as pebbles of ice and dust are accreted towards the planet and build up a dense circumplanetary disc due to the conservation of angular momentum. The disc material will mainly reside within the Roche limit where gravitational collapse to form moons is not possible due to the strong tidal force. The student will simulate how such a ring expands outwards due to collisions between the particles and how the outer regions collapse gravitationally to form moons. Such moons will migrate away from the planet due to tides from the remaining disc and this way entire moon systems can form.

In addition to working on the topics listed above, the students will work within the inspiring environment at Lund Observatory, which currently hosts 35 scientific staff, including postdocs, and 15 PhD students.

Candidates should send a curriculum vitae and a brief statement of research interest. The application should also include the names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of two persons who have agreed to serve as a reference for the applicant. Note that reference letters should not be sent to us in connection with the application; we will contact the reference persons when required.

Applications should be submitted electronically - please follow the link below.

For exceptional candidates, further positions than the two outlined here may be filled in this call.

Included Benefits: 

All employees in Sweden and at Lund University enjoy full access to the national health care system. The position includes 5 weeks paid annual leave. For employees with small children there are extra possibilities of leave and there are state provided daycare facilities.

Application Deadline: 
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Selection Deadline: 
Monday, December 31, 2018
Current Status of Position: 
No Status Given (Opted Out)
Apply to Job
Attention To: 
David Hobbs and Anders Johansen
Inquiries About Job
Attention To: 
David Hobbs and Anders Johansen