PhD Positions 2024
The Forming Worlds Lab at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute invites applications for one PhD position focussed on the interior and atmospheric evolution of rocky planets. The prospective student will model the transition from hot magma ocean epochs to cooler climatic and geodynamic regimes of rocky exoplanets and early Earth analogues. The goal is to interpret observations of lava exoplanets to gain insights into the formation of the prebiotic atmosphere of the earliest Earth.
Application portal coming online soon
Information on how to apply and more details on the positions can be found at https://www.rug.nl/research/kapteyn/vacatures/phd-positions. This website will come online in the following days. You may apply for this position until December 2nd, 2024, at 23:59 (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Interviews are planned between January 27th and February 7th, 2025.
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The application package consists of (all in one PDF):
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A cover letter with a) your motivation to apply for one or more of the proposed PhD projects (please clearly indicate which projects you apply for and rank them in your order of preference); b) a brief statement of research interests and a description of past research experience (3 pages max in total).
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An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
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A certified list of courses and grades from your undergraduate degree(s) up to the moment of application (in case your degree has not yet been awarded). Please provide translation is they are not in English or Dutch.
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In addition, two letters of reference should to be sent directly to vacancykapteyn@astro.rug.nl by the application deadline.
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Conditions of employment
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:
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a salary of € 2,872 in the first year to a maximum of € 3,670 gross per month in the final year (PhD salary scale), based on a full-time position,
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a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income,
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an 8.3% year-end bonus,
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a full-time position (1.0 FTE),
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a position for four years. The selected PhD candidates will be first offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years.
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​PhD projects in the Forming Worlds research group
The PhD project will focus on a better understanding of the build-up of rocky planetary atmospheres during high-temperature magma ocean epochs. Current and near-future exoplanet surveys such as JWST, TESS, CHEOPS, PLATO, Ariel and the ELTs will deliver ever-more accurate insights into the atmospheric and surface conditions of rocky planets that are potentially similar to Earth in a number of features. At present, the most favourable targets within the accessible rocky planetary census are high-temperature super-Earths that are either vaporised or molten from intense stellar irradiation. These worlds share characteristics with the magma ocean epoch during the accretion of our own planet, which formed the prebiotic atmosphere of the Hadean Earth. As outlined on the Research page, the Forming Worlds Lab seeks to identify the main driving factors behind the emergence and preservation of life-creating and -supporting environments, and how frequent such places are in our vast universe.
As a successful applicant, you will develop numerical and theoretical simulation tools to model the interaction of atmospheric volatiles with the planetary interior, applicable to transient (like the Earth's) and long-lived magma ocean epochs, such as those of short-period exoplanets. The goal will be to create blueprints of planetary evolution pathways that enable advanced interpretation of data from exoplanet surveys. Ultimately, this will enable us to constrain the composition and thermodynamics of post-magma ocean atmospheric regimes that are potentially amenable to surficial origin of life scenarios. You will become part of the expanding Forming Worlds research group and will have the opportunity to collaborate with internationally leading scientists from the Alien Earths, AEThER, LIFE, PLATO, and Ariel initiatives, NOVA, and the Dutch Origins Center.
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For the outlined PhD project, the focus will be on atmospheric (e.g., disequilibrium chemistry, hydrodynamic escape, volatile- to rock-vapour transition) and/or geophysical (e.g., tides, radioactive heating, redox evolution, gravitational differentiation) processes that shape the evolution of rocky exoplanets and the young terrestrial planets of the early Solar System. The previous background and scientific interests of the selected PhD candidate will be taken into consideration to define the detailed project.
Informal inquiries about the thematic direction of the positions are welcome and should be sent to tim.lichtenberg@rug.nl.​​
What profiles do we look for?
PhD projects in the Forming Worlds Lab operate within the highly cross-disciplinary spectrum of planetary and exoplanetary sciences. We seek motivated and ambitious students with a strong background in the physical sciences or geosciences, including, but not limited to, physics, astronomy, atmospheric science, geophysics, geochemistry, or computational science. Further interdisciplinary training throughout the PhD program will familiarise you with the areas you have not been specialising in during your undergraduate studies.
Key characteristics for selection are:
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An MSc degree in one of the disciplines mentioned above by the starting date. Previous research experience and skills are important criteria for selection. In rare special cases, candidates with only a BSc degree and extensive research experience (typically >9 months total of undergraduate research) may be considered.
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Eagerness to pursue simulation-based research within a highly collaborative environment.
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High proficiency in English and being a good communicator and team player.
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Very good computer and programming skills. Familiarity with Linux/UNIX computer environments, version control software (such as git), high-performance computing, and one or more computer languages (Python/Julia/C/Fortran) are highly desirable. Examples of our group's ongoing code developments can be found at github.com/FormingWorlds.
Dutch language skills are welcome but not essential. English is the common language spoken at the Kapteyn Institute, in undergraduate courses, and in research.
The Forming Worlds Lab is highly diverse in culture and gender. Our group and the University of Groningen strive to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also the Diversity and Inclusion Policy of the University of Groningen and the Code of Conduct of the Forming Worlds Lab. Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and the European Commission's Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code.
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The city of Groningen
Groningen is a historic university town in the northern Netherlands with a population of approximately 240,000 people, of which around 25% are students. This makes Groningen the city in the Netherlands with the highest student population density, the youngest city in the country, and one of the youngest in Europe. Groningen offers very high quality of life, surrounded by beautiful nature, and is a lively city with a remarkably diverse cultural scene. You can find more information on visitgroningen.nl and GroningenLife!.​
