One Postdoctoral Contract Dynamic Interactions and Exoplanets 2025 (PS-2025-072)

Sociedad Española de Astronomía; Tenerife; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institute in astrophysics located in Tenerife seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to study dynamic interactions of exoplanets and small celestial bodies. The candidate will pursue research on the formation, dynamics, and disruption of cometary and asteroidal bodies, contributing to the project funded by significant astrophysical initiatives. Candidates with relevant experience and a PhD in Astrophysics are invited to apply.

Qualifications

• Strong background in computational modeling and dynamics of planetary systems.
• Experience with observational data related to exoplanets and astrobiology.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively on complex research.

Responsibilities

• Study formation and dynamics of planetesimals and asteroids.
• Investigate small bodies' roles in planetary evolution.
• Characterize exocometary activity around different stars.

Skills

Experience in Exoplanets

Dynamical systems analysis

Research on small bodies

Education

PhD in Astrophysics or related field

Job description

One Postdoctoral Contract Dynamic Interactions and Exoplanets 2025 (PS-2025-072)

The IAC (Tenerife) announces ONE postdoctoral contractto work on the project linked to the line of research“Exoplanets and Astrobiology”. The contract is funded by the project “Big problems for small bodies: DISrupting COmetary BOdies and asteroids using Large Objects” (PID2021-127289NB-I00), led by Prof. Eva Villaver Sobrino.

Research topics at the IAC include most areas of astrophysics: Solar Physics (FS), Exoplanetary System and Solar System (SEYSS), Stellar and Interstellar Physics (FEEI), The Milky Way and The Local Group (MWLG), Formation and Evolution of Galaxies (FYEG), and Cosmology and Astroparticles (CYA-CTA). All of these are supported by an ambitious instrumentation programme. Further information about the IAC's research programme, its Observatories and the 10.4m GTC is available at the IAC's web page:https://www.iac.es/en

Tasks:The successful candidate willpursue researchin the following fields:

• Study the formation, dynamics, and disruption of planetesimals, comets, and asteroids in proto-planetary and evolved star systems, including their ejection into interstellar space.
• Investigate the role of small bodies in planetary evolution and astrobiology, focusing on water delivery, atmospheric composition, and chemical enrichment of planets.
• Characterize the detectability and prevalence of exocometary activity and debris disks around stars of different spectral types, from main-sequence A-type to cooler late-type stars.
• Quantify the gravitational perturbations and resonances with large bodies (planets and stars) that drive scattering events, mass depletion, and the release of planetesimals.

Particular attention will be given to applicants with experience in the field of Exoplanets and dynamical evolution of systems.