Dear all,

The Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), UCL’s Department of Space and Climate Physics, invites applications for STFC PhD studentships starting in September 2022. We would very much appreciate if you could forward this information to any students in your departments that may have an interest in pursuing a PhD at MSSL.

MSSL is a world-leading space science laboratory. It offers a unique environment, with scientists at the forefront of space science research working alongside top engineers building and testing instruments for space missions. We offer a range of research degrees, including PhDs in space science, astrophysics, climate physics, and systems engineering.

The applications from both UK and non-UK students for Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) studentships remain open until 31 January 2022. The STFC studentship will cover fees and stipends for the 3.5 years of research degree study.
You can find details about the application process here:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/study/phd-opportunities

We offer the following topics for PhD projects in the area of solar-system research (primary supervisors given in brackets):

Planetary Science:
– Identification of biosignatures on Mars using the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover (Dr Louisa Preston)
– The many influences on comets’ tails (Prof. Geraint Jones)

Solar Physics:
– Spectroscopic signatures of solar flare onset (Prof. Sarah Matthews)
– How do magnetic waves affect plasma composition? (Dr David Long)
– Our Sun, the astrophysical particle accelerator (Dr Hamish Reid)
– Can solar eruptions be forecast using a novel combination of observations and machine learning techniques? (Prof. Lucie Green)

Space Plasma Physics:
– Solar Orbiter: studies of solar wind dynamics (Dr Georgios Nicolaou)
– Investigating the Earth’s magnetosphere using multi-spacecraft measurements (Prof. Andrew Fazakerley)
– Imaging the Earth’s magnetosphere response to solar wind variability (Prof. Graziella Branduardi-Raymont)
– Interactions between electrostatic fluctuations and electrons in the solar wind (Dr Daniel Verscharen)

More details on these projects can be found here:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/study/phd-opportunities/stfc-phd-projects-2022

Best wishes,

—Daniel Verscharen