PhD student position in space physics - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Physics is looking for a candidate for a PhD position in space physics. Starting date in September 2019 or by agreement. The PhD project will be conducted in close collaboration with scientists from the University Centre in Svalbard and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. The last day to apply is April 15, 2019.

Project description
The solar wind carries large amounts of energy and mass throughout the solar system, but Earth is partly shielded by two thin boundaries and current sheets: the bow shock and the magnetopause. The bow shock is the outermost boundary where the supersonic solar wind is slowed down and a turbulent magnetosheath plasma is created.

The bow shock has long been considered to be a quite passive element of space physics. However, recent studies show that it can have a far more important role for the magnetosphere, with bow shock processes causing geomagnetic disturbances all the way down to the ionosphere: For example, magnetosheath jets (localized kinetic energy enhancements) generated at the shock can impact the magnetopause and cause disturbances in the geomagnetic field.

In the project we will use data from several spacecraft missions and ground-based observatories to investigate the response of magnetosheath jets in the polar regions.

The project is financed by the Swedish Research Council.

Qualifications
To be admitted for studies at third-cycle level you are required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits. The recruitment procedure will follow the Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen). Prerequisites include 240 ECTS credits (högskolepoäng) of higher education studies, of which 60 ECTS credits should be on an advanced level (Master’s level), or equivalent. In addition to these requirements, 120 ECTS credits need to be in physics.

We are looking for a highly motivated and responsible candidate who is passionate for developing as an individual scientist as well as a space physics research team member. In order to succeed as a PhD student, you must be creative, goal-oriented and devoted to work. In order to be admitted to postgraduate studies, it is required that the applicant has necessary knowledge from university higher education or corresponding relevant for the PhD education area. Analysis of data is an essential part of the work, and good skills in programming and good experience from using Matlab and C or equivalent are required. Good communication skills in written and spoken English is also a requirement. You must also have good interpersonal skills, be resourceful, and have a high degree of independence.

Terms of employment
The employment is expected to result in a doctoral degree and the main assignment for the doctoral student is thus to be part of the research education, which includes participation in the described research project but also to take relevant courses. Teaching and other departmental work (up to a maximum of 20%) can be included. The employment is limited to four years at full time or up to five years if teaching and other departmental work is performed. The salary is fixed according to the established salary level for doctoral students.

Application
The application should include the following

1. A cover letter. It should include your contact information, your qualifications and previous experience relevant for the position, your motives for wanting to pursue studies at the PhD level in this area, your career ambitions, and the expectations you have on working life after you have completed a doctoral degree.

2. A curriculum vitae (CV);

3. Verified copies of degree certificates translated into Swedish or English, including documentation of completed academic courses and obtained grades (for an international applicant, the grading system should be shortly described);

4. A copy of your BSc and/or MSc thesis or similar and, if applicable, other research publications;

5. Names and contact information for at least three reference persons.

Your application should be written in Swedish or English and be submitted via our e-recruitment system Varbi (link below).

Information
For further information, contact Maria Hamrin, maria.hamrin@space.umu.se.

Applications must be submitted via the e-recruitment system Varbi no later than April 15, 2019.

We look forward to receiving your application.