Vacancies

Postdoctoral position at Sorbonne University

A 18 months Post Doctoral fellowship is available at Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC, Sorbonne University, CNRS & MNHN), in collaboration with the PASTEUR Lab (Dept of Chemistry of ENS, CNRS, SU). The latest starting date is 1st of November 2023. Candidates are required to have a PhD in Physics, Chemistry or Materials Science. The project is mainly focused on the investigation of prebiotic chemical reactions in solution by numerical simulations, enhanced sampling, ML approaches (details in attachment). Prior knowledge of numerical simulations using, e.g., DFT, MD, is expected. Experience of one or several of the following codes is considered an advantage: CP2K, Quantum-Espresso, Plumed, LAMMPS. Interested applicants should send (via mail to A. Marco Saitta, marco.saitta@sorbonne-universite.fr and Rodolphe Vuilleumier rodolphe.vuilleumier@ens.fr ) the following: * an up-to-date CV * a publications list * a letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) * the names and contacts of at least 2 academic referees

PhD Position

PhD position in astrobiology at the Aix-Marseille University, France: culture of micro-organisms in conditions relevant to icy moons of the solar system and analysis of resulting markers

The discovery of several subsurface oceans in solar system bodies, with data indicating some of them may present conditions favorable to life, raises the question of how putative micro-organism may affect the chemistry of their environment and whether this impact could be detectable by future space missions. The PhD work will consist in performing microbial cultures in different sets of conditions relevant to what is known of ocean moon Enceladus and subsurface oceans of other bodies of the solar system; and then characterize the chemical effect these micro-organisms had on their environment and what detectable markers depending on the conditions they are subjected too, using advanced analytical chemistry techniques. The position requires a Master of Science degree in Biology. Experience with lab work, especially culture of extremophiles, is a clear advantage; experience with analytical chemistry techniques such as Gas Chromatography or High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry is a plus. This PhD is co-advised between the Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (MIO) for the microbial culture part and the Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires (PIIM) for the analytical chemistry. Interested applicants should send their curriculum vitae (including professional experience), a one-page motivation letter, the contact details of two reference persons, and the grades obtained at the Master level to either Dr Alexis Bouquet (alexis.bouquet@univ-amu.fr), Pr Gaël Erauso (gael.erauso@univ-amu.fr) or Pr Grégoire Danger (gregoire.danger@univ-amu.fr). Note: the funding for this PhD is conditional to a successful application of the candidate to the selection process of the University’s Doctoral Schools.

Position

New research fellowship opportunity: The Natural Sciences Programme

The Institut Origines from Marseille (France), whose dual goals are to develop intensive and interdisciplinary research and establish a Graduate School that will train the future researchers in the field of Astrobiology, is looking for a young scientist with expertise in at least one of the following fields: experimental astrochemistry, the formation and evolution of planetary systems, including the Solar System. More specifically, the proposed research will have to be compatible with the research programs conducted at our Institute whose implications and interests are as follows: i) exploitation of ground-/space- based observations of exoplanets and Solar System bodies (e.g., JWST, ELT, PLATO, ARIEL), ii) exploitation of data acquired by Solar System interplanetary missions (Bepi-Colombo, MMX, JUICE, Europa-Clipper, Comet Interceptor), iii) laboratory characterization of extraterrestrial matter (interplanetary dust particles, meteorites, extraterrestrial samples returns) and/or analogues of extraterrestrial materials (e.g., organics, ices, etc..), and iv) development of laboratory experiments related to the exploitation of observational data. The hired person will have to demonstrate a strong potential to propose news ideas that differ from what already exists in our Institute, as well as an ability to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment.

The open position (tenure track) will become permanent (civil servant position at the Professor level) after 3 to 5 years provided that the hired candidate has managed to conduct a successful research program during this time span. The teaching activities will be reduced during the first 3 years (64h/year) before getting back to normal (192h/year), allowing the candidate to start his/her research program with more flexibility. The teaching activity will be both at the Bachelor and Master level. The position comes with guaranteed funding (270 000 euros), allowing the recruitment of at least one PhD student and one postdoc along with funding to buy equipment and to attend international conferences.

For information contact: iom-direction@osupytheas.fr

This video tries to answer the following questions:
– How to become an astrobiologist ?
– Where to study astrobiology ?  
– How to find an intership ? 
– Participation to online courses, conferences

This video wikll give you helpful hints and tricks for your own career, and present to you an overview about the astrobiological landscape in Europe.