PhD position in numerical modeling of asteroid evolution

PhD Position in Numerical Modeling of Asteroid Evolution

Join the University of Bern’s Space Research and Planetary Sciences team to work on the RAMSES mission, focusing on numerical modeling of collisional processes and tidal effects on the near‑Earth asteroid Apophis.

• Develop and apply state‑of‑the‑art simulation tools for the formation and long‑term collisional evolution of Apophis.
• Simulate crater formation and regolith processes on small bodies.
• Investigate tidal deformation and surface reshaping during the 2029 Earth flyby.
• Integrate observational constraints from mission data into physically consistent models.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of PhD students, postdocs, and software engineers.

• Master's degree in astrophysics, astronomy, planetary science, or a related field.
• Strong background in numerical modeling and computational methods.
• Experience with SPH / N-body simulations, granular physics, or geophysical modeling is an advantage.
• Programming skills in Python, Julia, C/C++, or similar.
• Interest in planetary science, astronomy, and small‑body research.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an international team.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Fully funded PhD position (salary per Swiss university guidelines, including a 13th month).
• Annual gross salary for 2026: 50'042 Swiss francs.
• Participation in a cutting‑edge ESA mission with high scientific impact.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art computational resources.
• International collaborative research environment.
• Opportunities for conference participation and scientific networking.

• Start date:
  
  1 September 2026 (or by arrangement).
• Employment relationship: 100 % fixed‑term.
• Institution:
  Space Research and Planetary Sciences, University of Bern.

Please submit the following documents:

• Letter of motivation (max 2 pages).
• Detailed CV, including a list of publications if applicable.
• BSc and MSc degree details, including transcripts.
• Names and email addresses of two referees who can provide letters of recommendation.

Deadline: 30 June 2026. Applications after this date will be considered depending on availability.

The application shall be sent to PD Dr. Martin Jutzi (martin.jutzi).

University of Bern is an equal‑opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and under‑represented minorities.