Planetary physicist (f/m/d)

The DLR Institute of Space Research is a world-leading center of excellence for optical sensor systems and their application in planetary research, Earth observation, and security. Through our work, we expand humanity's understanding of the origin and evolution of our solar system and find solutions to protect life on Earth. With approximately 300 employees, we cover the entire development chain—from the initial research concept through the design, construction, and verification of instruments, their operational use, to the processing, scientific analysis, and archiving of the acquired data. We partner with universities, research institutions, industry, government agencies, and policymakers, and work closely with them.

What To Expect

The Department of Planetary Physics has a long-standing experience in developing models of the dynamics and evolution of the interior of planets and moons, with a major focus on large-scale numerical simulations of thermal convection in the mantle of rocky bodies.

As part of the Emmy Noether DFG project granted to Dr. Adrien Broquet and that is entitled: “Geodynamic history of the Moon and Mercury revealed by their volcano-tectonic record and gravity field,” we will use orbital observations and geophysical modelling to address some fundamental questions in lunar and Hermean science. Our main objectives are to provide constraints on the timing and geospatial history of volcanism and tectonic activity and to understand why two similarly-sized worlds (Mercury and the Moon) experienced drastically different geodynamic histories. The project will strongly rely on inversions of data collected by space missions, including gravity and topography, and is highly relevant to the future of space exploration with connections to BepiColombo and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS).

We are offering you the opportunity to join us as a doctoral student.

Your tasks

• Using gravity and topography data in the spectral range and calculation of planetary deformations using the DSP inversion code.
• Performing gravity and topography inversions using Python to determine the internal structure and thickness of the mare flows, as well as to estimate the shape of the crust prior to mare formation.
• Use of crater count statistics to reconstruct the eruption history of the maria.
• Development of a viscoelastic relaxation model for the crust of lunar basins using an existing open-source Fortran program (ALMA). This is used to calculate the Moon's internal structure.
• Derivation of the viscosity structure of the lunar mantle based on comparisons between predicted and observed crustal structures.
• Mapping the slope of crater floors near large basins using digital elevation models to reconstruct post-impact deformations.
• Using the estimated viscoelastic relaxation to establish constraints on the origin and evolution of fold ridges and rift systems at the margins of large lunar basins.

Your Qualifications

• Master degree in physics, geophysics, mathematics, computer science or another relevant discipline
• Solid programming skills, preferably in Python and scripting languages in UNIX/Windows environments
• Knowledge in the field of numerical geophysics and geodynamics
• Strong interest in general topics of planetary science and a distinctly interdisciplinary research environment
• Very good English skills (spoken and written)

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 4714) please contact:

Prof. Dr. Doris Breuer

Tel.:

and

Dr. Adrien Broquet

email: