The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Göttingen is one of the world's leading research institutions in the field of solar physics and planetary research with around 300 employees. The interdisciplinary research focus is the investigation of the development, diversity and dynamics of planets, moons, small bodies, the sun and solar-like stars. The MPS develops and operates scientific instruments for current and future space missions (e.g. ESA, NASA), and carries out cosmochemical laboratory investigations of meteorites as well as numerical modeling on state-of-the-art supercomputers.
The Planetary Science Department at MPS invites applications for the position of a
Postdoctoral researcher (f/m/d) in Cosmochemistry
As part of the Planetary Materials research group the postdoc will investigate the history of the Solar System and the formation and differentiation of planets through laboratory analyses of extraterrestrial samples. Projects may focus on the chronology of events using short-lived and long-lived radiogenic isotope systems, the genetic relationships of planetary materials recorded in isotope anomalies, or on nebular and planetary fractionation processes recorded in mass-dependent isotope variations. The final project design will be developed according to the postdoc’s preferences. Own project ideas are explicitly encouraged.
Your Tasks
Conducting leading-edge research in isotope cosmochemistry
Obtaining and interpreting isotope data using state-of-the-art methods
Publication of the results in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences
Your Qualification
A PhD (or soon to be completed PhD) in cosmochemistry or closely related fields
Experience in operating mass-spectrometers and relevant data analysis
Ability to work in a team
Good command of spoken and written English
Additional Information
Position can be filled from September 2025, but later starting date is possible
Initial contract is for 2 years, extension may be possible depending on performance
About Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
The cosmic neighborhood of the Earth is the central topic of the research at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research: the solar system with its planets, moons and diverse small bodies like comets and asteroids, and, of course, the Sun. Based on numerical simulations and novel measurement techniques the researchers probe the deep interior of our star and investigate its gaseous envelope, the solar magnet field and high-energy particles emitted by the Sun into space. Likewise they examine the surface and the interior of the planets as well as their magnetospheres, rings and moons. Further research areas comprise comets, asteroids and planetoids. The researchers develop physical models in order to specify the crucial processes, and evaluate them in numerical simulations. In addition the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research is involved with scientific instruments in numerous missions of international space agencies.
