Vacancies

This PhD project will investigate the impact of icy-moon environmental conditions on the detectability of selected bacteria in ice/salt mixtures rapidly exposed to vacuum, extremely low temperatures and high-radiation levels. For this purpose, a high-sensitivity spectro-polarimeter will be interfaced with a temperature-vacuum chamber. Additionally, an electron gun and a UV light source will be used to investigate the incidence of harsh conditions on bacterial samples deposited on ice as a proxy for icy moon conditions. The study will also investigate whether spectro-polarimetry could probe fundamental structures in the microorganisms such as cofactors or proteins in the near UV. The project will thus investigate the detectability of fundamental biosignatures relevant to a wider range of microorganisms. This effort will inform the preparation of future life-detection missions in our Solar System, such as the planned ESA L4 mission to Enceladus.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team (lead: Prof. Brice-Olivier Demory) with expertise spanning astrophysics, microbiology, biomedicine and engineering. The new group member will have the opportunity to gain unique experience in dual-use instrumentation applicable to both space exploration and medical diagnostics.