PhD thesis projects offered
All partner institutes in the Solar System School (Institute for Astrophysics and Geophysics, Geoscience Center, and Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research) may offer and support PhD projects in the Solar System School. The PhD topics are as diverse as the research fields of the participating partner institutions. The topics include all areas of our own Solar system (the Sun and its planets and minor bodies), embedded in the wider geo- and astrophysical context, and extend to other stars and their planetary systems. Correspondingly, the following disciplines in geo- and astrophysics are represented in the Solar System School: Earth and planetary sciences, Solar and stellar physics, helioseismology, asteroseismology, and to some extent extra-solar planets. Since the methods of research comprise instrumentation development, calibration and improvement , ground- and space-based observations, remote-sensing or in-situ measurements in space exploration missions, data analysis and interpretation, numerical simulations and theoretical modeling, some projects may additionally require good skills in programming, in mathematics, or in engineering.
The following list gives an overview of the variety of research topics, but is not necessarily complete. Further projects may yet become available: This list still is updated from time to time. Please check the list again before submitting your application. Applications may be submitted between 1 August and 1 October.
Open PhD Projects
Development of various analysis tools, processing pipelines, and data enhancement procedures for ESA's upcoming space weather mission
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Analyzing the high spatial resolution solar Ca II H and K emission data obtained by the SUNRISE mission and building a model of other stars more active than the Sun
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Understanding the sources of the solar brightness variations in the UV
more
Understanding the formation and evolution of planets from micron-sized dust grains to fully-formed planets
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Experimental petrology or geochemistry
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Investigating the history of the Solar System and the formation and differentiation of planets through laboratory analyses of extraterrestrial samples
more
The magnetic field in the solar atmosphere exceeds the geomagnetic field strength by four orders of magnitude. It greatly influences the processes of energy transport within the solar atmosphere, and dominates the morphology of the solar chromosphere and corona. Kinetic energy from convective motions in the Sun can be efficiently stored in magnetic fields and subsequently released - to heat the solar corona to several million degrees or to blast off coronal mass ejections.
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Hydrodynamic simulations of near surface convection and waves in the Sun and stars
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Part time researcher / graduate student position in Cometary Science at TU Braunschweig in Prof. Agarwal’s group, deadline 18 September 2024, see https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/igep/job-posting
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For PhD students whose project is already funded and who are applying for admission to the IMPRS, or for applicants who want to bring their own funding and their own project idea to the IMPRS.
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The Solar Lower Atmosphere and Magnetism (SLAM) group covers many exciting subjects in solar physics, focussing on the development and testing of highly novel solar instrumentation, reduction and analysis of highest quality solar observations, or improving and developing advanced techniques for the analysis of solar observations.
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In the "Solar and Stellar Interiors" department, Laurent Gizon, Jesper Schou, Aaron Birch, Robert Cameron and others offer PhD projects in solar physics and astrophysics. Helioseismology and asteroseismology are used as important tools to study the oscillating Sun and stars.
more
Understanding the formation and evolution of planets from micron-sized dust grains to fully-formed planets
more
Experimental petrology or geochemistry
more
Investigating the history of the Solar System and the formation and differentiation of planets through laboratory analyses of extraterrestrial samples
more
Part time researcher / graduate student position in Cometary Science at TU Braunschweig in Prof. Agarwal’s group, deadline 18 September 2024, see https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/en/igep/job-posting
more
Development of various analysis tools, processing pipelines, and data enhancement procedures for ESA's upcoming space weather mission
more
Analyzing the high spatial resolution solar Ca II H and K emission data obtained by the SUNRISE mission and building a model of other stars more active than the Sun
more
Understanding the sources of the solar brightness variations in the UV
more
The magnetic field in the solar atmosphere exceeds the geomagnetic field strength by four orders of magnitude. It greatly influences the processes of energy transport within the solar atmosphere, and dominates the morphology of the solar chromosphere and corona. Kinetic energy from convective motions in the Sun can be efficiently stored in magnetic fields and subsequently released - to heat the solar corona to several million degrees or to blast off coronal mass ejections.
more
The Solar Lower Atmosphere and Magnetism (SLAM) group covers many exciting subjects in solar physics, focussing on the development and testing of highly novel solar instrumentation, reduction and analysis of highest quality solar observations, or improving and developing advanced techniques for the analysis of solar observations.
more
Hydrodynamic simulations of near surface convection and waves in the Sun and stars
more
In the "Solar and Stellar Interiors" department, Laurent Gizon, Jesper Schou, Aaron Birch, Robert Cameron and others offer PhD projects in solar physics and astrophysics. Helioseismology and asteroseismology are used as important tools to study the oscillating Sun and stars.
more
