A PhD scholarship opportunity is open as part of the Institut Origines (Aix-Marseille University, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille), in Marseille, France. The successful candidate will understand and model the abundance profiles of the main volatile species in Uranus and Neptune using numerical simulations to prepare the future exploration of these worlds by a spacecraft mission. The abundance distributions of key chemical species across the planet provide information about the planet’s deep chemical inventory, bringing constraints on the planet formation scenario. Such model predictions are necessary to interpret in-situ measurements performed by entry probes. These distributions also contain the signature of the planet transport processes, and are important to understand how the planet interact with its local environment. The PhD position will be supervised by V. Hue and O. Mousis. The candidate will work in the interdisciplinary environment of the Institut Origines, which will provide opportunities for expanding their knowledge.

The funding is available for a period of three years. The start date would be October to December 2023, depending on the availability of the applicant. Applicants must hold a Master's degree in physics, astrophysics, planetary science, or computer science at the time of appointment. Applicants should submit a letter of motivation, a CV, a list of publications (if available), degrees certification, and request a letter of recommendation. Review of applications will begin upon receipt until the position is filled. All applications received by the deadline will be given full consideration.

Application Deadline: August 1st, 2023

Attention To: Vincent Hue

Thesis advisor: Dr. Vincent Hue
Email and address: vincent.hue@lam.fr
Co-advisor: Prof. Olivier Mousis