The Space Physics Group of the University of Helsinki is a leading European group specialising both in computational modelling and in spacecraft observations. We have developed the global magnetospheric beyond-MHD simulation Vlasiator.

We have recently completed the first 6-dimensional runs of the entire magnetosphere-ionosphere system, offering high-resolution results both from the 3D real space as well as from the 3D velocity space. Our first runs show how the ion-kinetic physics at small scales lead to global reconfigurations, and vice versa. We can also study how changes in the ionosphere influence ion-kinetic physics within the magnetosphere.

We are excited to open two positions, as follows:

(1) A postdoctoral fellow position for a 2-year project, with a possibility of extension pending funding situation and performance. The postdoctoral fellow will focus on the 3D reconnection process within the simulation, looking both at the dayside and tail reconnection which occur simultaneously in the same simulation box.

(2) A PhD student will study the same processes as the postdoctoral fellow. This position is for four years, which is the nominal length of a Finnish PhD thesis project. The PhD student will write original papers that will comprise the thesis.

Prior knowledge and useful skills: Physics of magnetic reconnection, model development and/or data analysis, Python.

We offer a position in a dynamic and international research group, with a possibility to network and to develop as a researcher. We are innovative, high-spirited and a welcoming community. Finland is the happiest country in the world offering a great environment fostering equality, equality of opportunities, the world’s best schooling system, vacations, and possibilities for work-family balance.

The positions are available immediately. We start reviewing the applications on 14 November, but the positions will remain open until filled. Interviews are held in Nov-Dec.

For more information, please visit:
http://helsinki.fi/vlasiator
http://blogs.helsinki.fi/spacephysics/
https://www.helsinki.fi/sustainable-space

For specifics about the position, contact Minna Palmroth (minna.palmroth@helsinki.fi). Interested candidates should send their informal application, CV, list of publications, and a maximum of three names to act as references to Hewan.Zewde@helsinki.fi by 11 Nov 2022, and cc minna.palmroth@helsinki.fi.… continue to the full article

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The Max Plank Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen, Germany invites applications for PhD positions in Solar System Science for a start in 2023, to work on projects in solar physics with Sami Solanki or Laurent Gizon: https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/open-projects

More details can be found under:
https://www.mps.mpg.de/phd/applynow

Review of applications will begin on 1 November 2022, and two letters of recommendation are due no later than 10 November 2022.… continue to the full article

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The Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics research group in the Mathematics Department at the University of Exeter is offering a PhD studentship, for entry in September/October 2022. The project is on modelling shear flow instabilities in magnetohydrodynamics. It is funded by the STFC for 3.5 years.

Further details may be found here:
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=4455

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Joanne Mason (j.mason@exeter.ac.uk).

https://emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics/staff/jm511… continue to the full article

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Aberystwyth University’s Physics Department is seeking high-quality candidates for 3-yr STFC-funded PhD projects in the field of Solar System Physics. The group has particular strengths in modelling and observational analysis of the solar atmosphere/solar wind, space weather forecasting, and instrument development for space missions. Our recent work concentrates on the development of novel data analysis techniques for solar atmospheric images, ground-based spectropolarimetric analysis of the quiescent and flaring corona, space weather studies and forecasting, advanced numerical modelling of coronal structures, calculations of molecular emission in solar/exoplanet contexts, and lunar surface impactors. We develop new instrumentation for solar and planetary applications, and particularly welcome applications in this field for the 2022 round.

Applications are due by June 8th 2022 for a September 2022 start. Due to limitations set by the funders, only applicants with UK residency can be considered for this year’s positions, although we will welcome early overseas applicants for the following academic year (September 2023 start).

Applicants should follow the instructions at https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/study-with-us/pg-studies/apply/. Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Prof Huw Morgan, by email: hmorgan@aber.ac.uk.

https://solarphysics.aber.ac.uk… continue to the full article

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The Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group (SMTG) in the School and Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, is currently looking for applicants for 2 PhD studentships, subject to the usual eligibility criteria regarding residency and citizenship, for a start in September/October 2022.

One project will be supervised by Prof Ineke De Moortel (ineke.demoortel@st-andrews.ac.uk) will focus on coronal heating models for open field regions, linking to Solar Orbiter observations, and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. This project will run in collaboration with the University of Palermo.

The second project will be supervised by Prof Thomas Neukirch (tn3@st-andrews.ac.uk) and it is planned that this project will focus on the equilibrium and dynamics of collisionless current sheets (other topics, for example on the numerical calculation of magnetohydrostatic equilibria to model coronal magnetic fields, could also be possible). This project will be funded by STFC.

The minimum academic entry requirement is a UK upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Applied Mathematics, Theoretical Physics or a closely related subject. Apart from excellent academic qualifications, we expect applicants to have the motivation and enthusiasm to enable them to successfully work on an extended research project in solar and magnetospheric theory.

The SMTG currently has 7 academic staff, 3 PDRAs and 9 PhD students. It is one of three research groups in the Applied Mathematics Division of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews.

We will start the selection process very soon after 15 April 2022 and hence would encourage all candidates to submit their application by the deadline.

For details about the application process see: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/maths/prospective/pg/phdprogrammes/ and for informal enquiries email either Prof Ineke De Moortel (ineke.demoortel@st-andrews.ac.uk) or Prof Thomas Neukirch (tn3@st-andrews.ac.uk).… continue to the full article

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The School of Mathematics and Statistics (SoMaS) at the University of Sheffield offers one fully funded STFC PhD studentship in solar physics tenable from 1st October 2022 or 1st January 2023. The successful applicant will work with world leading experts in advanced analytical/numerical modelling, and analysis of high-resolution observations obtained by cutting-edge ground and space based instruments.

More information on the groups with interest in solar physics and the research carried out can be found at https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/pdg/ or https://sp2rc.group.shef.ac.uk/

The studentship provides UKRI tuition and maintenance fees for up to 3.5 years (subject to satisfactory progress).

Successful applicant will be able to work in one of the following topics:

– General MHD wave theory with solar and astrophysical applications
– Numerical modelling (HPC and GPU computing) of wave processes in the solar atmosphere
– MHD wave observations and solar magneto-seismology
– Heating of the solar atmosphere: waves, reconnection, etc.
– Novel joint ground-based and satellite observations of the Sun and Sun-Earth system
– Analysis of ionospheric perturbations: application to climate prediction and natural hazard risk assessment
– Energy transfer mechanisms in the Sun-Earth system
– Deep Learning / Machine Learning in application to solar data analysis

Applications are invited from Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering students who have graduated or expect to graduate with a first or upper-second class degree.

This studentship is for UK applicants only. More about the eligibility can be found at https://www.ukri.org/councils/stfc/career-and-skills-development/training/studentships/

The deadline for application is 1st of April 2022, but applications will be considered until the position is filled.

How to apply:
Please send a covering letter outlining the proposed project area (if you have a specific interest), CV, exam result transcripts, any relevant publications and the names and contact details of two references to one of the contact addresses below or to:
maths-phd@sheffield.ac.uk

For more information, contact:

Dr Istvan Ballai (i.ballai@sheffield.ac.uk)
Dr Rekha Jain (r.jain@sheffield.ac.uk)
Dr Gary Verth (g.verth@sheffield.ac.uk)
Prof Robert von Fay-Siebenburgen (r.von.fay-siebenburgen@sheffield.ac.uk)… continue to the full article

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We welcome applications for five places on the ING studentship programme 2022/23.

The deadline for applications is

Friday 25th March 2022, 24:00 WET

Details of the programme can be found on:

http://www.ing.iac.es/astronomy/science/studentship.html

The programme provides a unique opportunity for up to five PhD, MSc
or undergraduate astronomy students to get hands-on experience of work
at an international observatory. Successful applicants will spend one
year on La Palma, supporting imaging and spectroscopy runs at the
2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) and working on projects supervised
by the ING staff. The studentship programme is open to anyone, but
we particularly welcome applicants from our three partner countries:
the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.

We would be grateful if you would draw the attention of suitable
candidates to this opportunity.

Marc Balcells
Director ING… continue to the full article

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