Postdoctoral Researcher Position in Planetary Atmospheres

Updated: 2 months ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 30 Sep 2025

21 Feb 2025
Job Information
Organisation/Company

Université de Liège
Department

STAR Institute
Research Field

Astronomy » Astrophysics
Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Positions

Postdoc Positions
Country

Belgium
Application Deadline

30 Sep 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Hours Per Week

38
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Position: Postdoctoral Researcher in Planetary Atmospheric Physics
Location: Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire (LPAP), Université de Liège, Belgium
Duration: maximum 20 months, depending on the experience of the candidate
Salary: depending on PhD award status and level of experience
Start Date: Flexible, no later than September 2025
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The contract will end no later than December 31, 2026.

The Laboratory for Planetary and Atmospheric Physics (LPAP) at the Université de Liège (Belgium) invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in planetary atmospheric physics. The successful candidate will work on the "Mars Visible Night Lights" project, which focuses on the study of the Martian nightglow and aurorae using observations from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) NOMAD-UVIS spectrometer.

The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the analysis of nightglow and auroral emissions on Mars, with the following objectives:

  • Remote Sensing of the Martian Atmosphere: Utilize NOMAD-UVIS spectral data to probe the composition and dynamics of Mars middle and upper atmosphere.
  • Comparison with Global Circulation Models: Evaluate the derived oxygen and nitrogen densities against existing 3D circulation models to improve our understanding of Mars atmospheric processes.
  • Mars Aurorae Investigation: Conduct the first systematic search for visible auroral emissions from orbit, assessing their characteristics and relation to solar energetic particle events.

Where to apply
E-mail

lauriane.soret@uliege.be

Requirements
Research Field
Astronomy » Astrophysics
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Research Field
Astronomy » Other
Education Level
PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • PhD in Physics, Planetary Science, Astrophysics, Data Processing or a related field.
  • Experience in remote sensing, planetary atmospheres, or atmospheric radiative transfer modeling.
  • Proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., Python, IDL).
  • Background in data processing and numerical analysis.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international research environment.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Desirable Skills

  • Experience with ultraviolet and visible spectroscopic data.
  • Familiarity with Mars atmospheric models or general circulation models.
  • Prior work with planetary mission datasets (e.g., ExoMars, MAVEN, Mars Express).
  • Knowledge of French is appreciated.

Languages
ENGLISH
Level
Excellent

Research Field
Astronomy » Astrophysics
Years of Research Experience
4 - 10

Additional Information
Selection process

Application Procedure

Applicants should submit the following documents:

  • A detailed CV including a list of publications.
  • A cover letter describing research experience, interests, and suitability for the position.
  • Contact information for at least two references.

Applications and inquiries should be sent to Dr. Lauriane Soret (email: lauriane.soret@uliege.be ) with the subject line "Postdoctoral Application - Mars Night Lights".

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.


Additional comments

Working Environment

The successful candidate will join the LPAP research group, which has a strong expertise in planetary atmosphere studies, including Mars and Venus remote sensing. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with international teams from ESA and NASA missions. The position includes access to state-of-the-art computational resources and an excellent research environment within the STAR Institute at Université de Liège.


Work Location(s)
Number of offers available
1
Company/Institute
Université de Liège
Country
Belgium
City
Liège
Postal Code
4000
Street
19C allée du 6 août

Contact
City

Liège
Website

https://www.lpap.uliege.be/
Street

Quartier Agora B5c, Allée du Six août 19C
Postal Code

4000
E-Mail

lauriane.soret@uliege.be

STATUS: EXPIRED

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