Postdoctoral Researcher in Interiors and Evolution of Sub-Neptunes

Improve atmosphere-interior evolution models tailored to sub-Neptunes Investigate how interior mixing imprints on observable atmosphere Link modeling results to spectroscopically observed atmospheres Build frameworks to analyse populations of observed sub-Neptunes to test formation hypothesis

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on the interiors and long-term evolution of sub-Neptunes, within the Exoplanet Interiors and Atmospheres group lead by Prof. Caroline Dorn. The position is embedded in the NCCR Genesis, the National Centre of Competence in Research on the emergence of life in the Universe which gives access to a Switzerland-wide, deliberately interdisciplinary network spanning planetary physics, geochemistry, chemistry and biology. The position takes two years, but is extendable by a third year subject to NCCR Genesis procedures.

• PhD in astrophysics, planetary science, geophysics, physics or a closely related field, completed by the start date

• Strong scientific programming in Python, and comfortable working with version control (git) in a collaborative codebase

• Fluent, critical use of AI-assisted tools in research and code development, we treat these as part of the standard toolkit and expect them to be used with judgement

• Fortran is useful, as parts of our modelling infrastructure rely on it, but is not a requirement

• Experience in one or more of: planetary interior or structure modelling, thermal evolution, high-pressure equations of state, atmospheric modelling, magma-ocean chemistry, or statistical inference

• Independence, curiosity, and an interest in working across disciplinary boundaries