Post Doctoral Research Associate In Planetary Astronomy

In this project, we will utilise our extensive dataset of infrared telescope observations of the giant planets’ ionospheres to provide direct measurements of the auroral brightness and ion winds over an extended period of time. Using combination of ground-based and JWST measurements of Jupiter and Saturn, we will produce the first-ever long-term auroral current maps organised by local time and planetary phase, allowing a new depth of understanding on how gas giant aurorae are generated. In turn, this will provide vital evidence that will help us answer these key questions that remain unanswered following the Cassini and Juno space missions: What drives Jupiter’s main emission, and why is it so dependent upon local time? What processes control Jupiter’s polar aurora, and why do they switch off at night? Does Saturn have weather-driven aurora, and does this cause its rotation rate to vary? Our programme provides a linchpin that links the magnetosphere with the underlying atmosphere, providing a missing context to a wealth of current spacecraft and auroral observations, and has significant broader geophysical and astrophysical implications.  Your role in the team will be in proposing for future observations, undertaking already awarded observations, and reducing and analysing both these and previously taken observations from JWST, Keck and IRTF, using spectral imaging techniques to resolve the auroral brightness, atmospheric temperatures and ion wind measurements of both Jupiter and Saturn. You will also be expected to work within a wider research network, including collaborations with Solar and Space physics researchers here at Northumbria University, as well as our wider collaboration team, including researchers both within the UK and internationally. You will contribute to the supervision of graduate students and undergraduate students working on related projects, provide advice and support to research staff and post graduate students working on this and similar research projects.  The role has STFC funding for 2.5 years, with the expectation of applying for further funding in the future. ABOUT THE TEAM This Research Project is being delivered within the Department of Maths, Physics and Electrical Engineering. The PI of the project, Prof Tom Stallard is an international leader in magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling at the Outer Planets, having been awarded the RAS Chapman medal in 2019 for this research.   ABOUT YOU Applicants should hold a hold, or expect shortly to hold, a PhD in a research area relevant to Planetary Science and have demonstrable specialist expert knowledge in planetary ionospheric science or giant planet astronomy. Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.   If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tom Stallard at tom.stallard@northumbria.ac.uk. To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'.  Your application should include a covering letter and a CV.