Two-Year Postdoc: Exoplanet Atmospheres & Life Signs

ETH Zurich; Zürich; On-site; CHF 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ETH Zurich's Exoplanets and Habitability Group invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Researcher position focused on atmospheric characterisation of temperate terrestrial exoplanets and the search for signs of life within the LIFE mission framework.

The successful candidate will develop and apply atmospheric retrievals, explore diverse planetary atmospheres, and work closely with the LIFE Science Team, ETH researchers and students.

Qualifications

• PhD completed by start date in a related field.
• Experience with atmospheric retrievals and exoplanet modelling.

Responsibilities

• Develop and pursue research on characterisation of temperate terrestrial exoplanet atmospheres and search for signs of life.
• Investigate diverse atmospheric scenarios beyond Earth analogues.
• Use and develop atmospheric retrieval and modelling approaches, potentially including ML/AI.
• Collaborate with LIFE Science Team to translate results into science requirements for LIFE.
• Mentor PhD and undergraduate students on related projects.

Skills

Atmospheric retrievals

Exoplanet atmosphere modelling

Scientific programming

Machine learning (optional)

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in astrophysics or related field

Tools

Radiative-transfer models

Climate/GCM models

Job description

ETH Zurich's Exoplanets and Habitability Group invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Researcher position focused on atmospheric characterisation of temperate terrestrial exoplanets and the search for signs of life within the LIFE mission framework.

The successful candidate will develop and apply atmospheric retrievals, explore diverse planetary atmospheres, and work closely with the LIFE Science Team, ETH researchers and students.