University Assistant (predoc): On the path to the detection of another Earth: exoplanet char-acterization in the era of JWST
Supervision: Sudeshna Boro Saikia, Manuel Guedel (both Department of Astrophysics), Aiko Voigt (Department of Meteorology and Geophysics), in collaboration with Ingo Waldmann (University College London, UK)
The first detection of an Earth-like atmosphere outside the Solar-system would be one of the biggest scientific achievements of this century. Until now, determining the atmospheric properties of small exoplanets has been very difficult due to limitations in instruments and atmospheric retrieval models. The launch of JWST has provided us with a unique opportunity to explore the parameter space of the smallest known exoplanets, such as super-Earths and mini Neptunes. The aim of this project is to take advantage of new instrumentation, and advances made in atmospheric modeling and new cutting-edge machine learning techniques, to uncover the atmospheric properties of super-Earths and mini Neptunes, a necessary step in our hunt for another Earth. In our sample we will include exoplanetary systems with a wide range of properties and evolutionary history. In order to determine the atmospheric properties of our targets we will apply atmospheric retrieval models to observations taken by JWST and ground-based instruments. Furthermore, we will incorporate machine learning techniques in our atmospheric retrieval pipelines to generalize the models. Despite the use of new instruments and techniques, there will still be a level of uncertainty in the detected atmosphere, an aspect that we will address in this work. To lower the uncertainties in the determination of atmospheric properties we will take the exoplanet and its host star’s co-evolution into account. Our approach will ensure that the results are verified against the wear-and-tear a planet’s atmosphere goes through during its lifetime.
Job Description:
The position aims to deepen and extend the professional and scientific education targeting a doctoral degree. Tasks and responsibilities include:
● Independent research and development of an academic profile targeting a doctoral degree. We expect the successful candidate to sign a doctoral thesis agreement within 12 months.
● Participation in research, teaching and administration of the research group/department
● Participation in publications / academic articles / presentations
● Participation in teaching and independent teaching of courses as defined by the collective agreement
● Supervision of students
● Participation in evaluation activities and in quality assurance
● Participation in the organisation of conferences, workshops and consortium meetings
The candidate who is selected for this position joins VISESS as a PhD student member.
Profile:
● Astronomy / Earth Sciences / Geography / Environmental Sciences: Master Degree or equivalent
● Excellent command of written and spoken English
● Excellent command of python
● Knowledge of TensorFlow, PyTorch desirable
Expected starting date: Ideally Summer/Autumn 2022
Duration of employment: 3 years with the possibility of extensions up to 4 years. The employment relationship is initially limited to 1.5 years and automatically extended to a total of 3 years unless the employer submits a declaration of non-renewal after a maximum of 12 months. In exceptional, well argumented cases and on the condition that budget is available, there is the possibility of extensions up to 4 years.
We offer:
● Job grading in accordance with collective bargaining agreement: §48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc) with relevant work experience determining the assignment to a particular salary grade
● An active and inspiring research environment, a vibrant PhD community and many ways to connect with peers from home and abroad on a social and professional level
● A broad range of interdisciplinary training possibilities and school activities, such as leadership skill trainings, workshops, seminars, mobility and summer schools
Extent of employment: 30 hours/week
Application: Interested students can apply until the deadline of 15 April 2022 via: <https://visess.univie.ac.at/how-to-apply/>.
Further information: For further information, please contact <admin.visess@univie.ac.at>.
The University pursues a non-discriminatory employment policy and values equal opportunities, as well as diversity (http://diversity.univie.ac.at/). The University lays special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female applicants.