PhD Position: Space Geodesy for Asteroids 100% fixed‑term, start date 01.09.2026 or by arrangement, at the Astronomical Institute (AIUB) Bern, University of Bern.
Project Overview This PhD project focuses on the gravity field, rotation state and interior structure of the near‑Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis, using data from the European Space Agency’s upcoming RAMSES mission (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety). The candidate will develop and apply simulation pipelines and tools to integrate radiometric tracking, laser ranging and optical camera data, especially from the CHANCES instrument, into the determination of RAMSES’s trajectory and Apophis’s geodetic parameters.
Responsibilities
Develop simulation pipelines for deep‑space data processing.
Integrate multi‑instrument data (radiometric tracking, laser ranging, optical camera) for trajectory and geodetic parameter determination.
Apply and extend the in‑house Bernese GNSS Software for deep‑space probe data.
Contribute to interpretation of mission data and publication of results.
Qualifications
Completed master thesis (diploma/“Lizentiat”/Master) in astronomy, geodesy, physics, or related field.
Experience in orbit and gravity‑field determination from satellite data is an advantage.
Background in computer science (coding in Fortran90, C++, or Perl) is beneficial.
Fluent in spoken and written English.
Benefits and Compensation
Fully funded PhD position with salary following University of Bern guidelines.
Participation in the high‑impact ESA RAMSES mission.
Access to state‑of‑the‑art computational resources.
Collaborative, international research environment.
Opportunities for conference participation and scientific networking.
Annual gross salary for 2026: 50 042 Swiss francs, including the 13th month salary.
Application Process Deadline: 30 June 2026. After this date, applications will be considered depending on availability.
Required documents:
A letter of motivation (max 2 pages), describing research interests and skills.
A detailed CV, with a list of publications if applicable.
Details of BSc and MSc degrees, including Transcripts of Records with course grades.
Names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.
Send your application to Dr. Daniel Arnold (daniel.arnold@unibe.ch).
The University of Bern is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and under‑represented minorities.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Project Overview This PhD project focuses on the gravity field, rotation state and interior structure of the near‑Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis, using data from the European Space Agency’s upcoming RAMSES mission (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety). The candidate will develop and apply simulation pipelines and tools to integrate radiometric tracking, laser ranging and optical camera data, especially from the CHANCES instrument, into the determination of RAMSES’s trajectory and Apophis’s geodetic parameters.
Responsibilities
Develop simulation pipelines for deep‑space data processing.
Integrate multi‑instrument data (radiometric tracking, laser ranging, optical camera) for trajectory and geodetic parameter determination.
Apply and extend the in‑house Bernese GNSS Software for deep‑space probe data.
Contribute to interpretation of mission data and publication of results.
Qualifications
Completed master thesis (diploma/“Lizentiat”/Master) in astronomy, geodesy, physics, or related field.
Experience in orbit and gravity‑field determination from satellite data is an advantage.
Background in computer science (coding in Fortran90, C++, or Perl) is beneficial.
Fluent in spoken and written English.
Benefits and Compensation
Fully funded PhD position with salary following University of Bern guidelines.
Participation in the high‑impact ESA RAMSES mission.
Access to state‑of‑the‑art computational resources.
Collaborative, international research environment.
Opportunities for conference participation and scientific networking.
Annual gross salary for 2026: 50 042 Swiss francs, including the 13th month salary.
Application Process Deadline: 30 June 2026. After this date, applications will be considered depending on availability.
Required documents:
A letter of motivation (max 2 pages), describing research interests and skills.
A detailed CV, with a list of publications if applicable.
Details of BSc and MSc degrees, including Transcripts of Records with course grades.
Names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.
Send your application to Dr. Daniel Arnold (daniel.arnold@unibe.ch).
The University of Bern is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and under‑represented minorities.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
PhD position space geodesy for asteroids Arbeitgeber: CAS in Medication Safety University of Bern
Als Software Engineer Java/DevOps (m/w/d) für Enterprise Application Integration in Bern profitieren Sie von einer gesunden Unternehmenskultur und einem teamorientierten Arbeitsumfeld, das interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit fördert. Die zentrale Lage in Bern ermöglicht Ihnen nicht nur eine hervorragende Erreichbarkeit, sondern auch Zugang zu vielfältigen Freizeitmöglichkeiten. Zudem bieten wir Ihnen die Chance zur kontinuierlichen Weiterbildung und persönlichen Entwicklung in einem dynamischen und innovativen Team.
Kontaktdaten:
CAS in Medication Safety University of Bern Recruiting-Team
