Postdoctoral Researcher in Exoplanet Atmosphere Characterisation

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on the atmospheric characterisation of temperate terrestrial exoplanets and the search for life within the Exoplanets and Habitability Group led by Prof. Sascha P. Quanz at ETH Zurich. The two-year position is embedded in the NCCR Genesis, the National Centre of Competence in Research on the emergence of life in the Universe , and closely connected to the ETH-led LIFE space mission .

LIFE is a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer to directly detect and spectroscopically characterise dozens of temperate terrestrial exoplanets around nearby stars. The successful candidate will join the LIFE Science Team and work closely with researchers and students at ETH Zurich and across the wider LIFE collaboration.

A central goal of LIFE is to characterise the atmospheres of temperate terrestrial exoplanets and ultimately assess their habitability and possible signs of life. Understanding which atmospheric properties can be robustly inferred from mid-infrared observations is also essential for translating LIFE's science goals into science requirements and corresponding instrument-performance requirements.

Our group has developed the atmospheric retrieval framework pyRetLIFE and has so far investigated mainly Earth-like planets and classical atmospheric biosignature gases. An important next step is to broaden this work towards the diversity of potentially habitable and inhabited worlds: different atmospheric compositions and climates, non-Earth-like biospheres, non-standard biosignatures, and the abiotic scenarios against which potential signs of life need to be interpreted.

While atmospheric retrievals might be an important starting point, the project may also involve complementary atmospheric modelling or alternative inference approaches, including machine learning and AI. Possible focus points for personal research performed by the successful applicant include (but are not restricted to) how to characterise diverse planetary atmospheres, how to distinguish biological interpretations from plausible abiotic alternatives, and how these results can inform the science and instrument requirements of LIFE.

• Develop and pursue research on the characterisation of temperate terrestrial exoplanet atmospheres and the search for signs of life in the context of the LIFE mission
• Investigate atmospheric scenarios beyond modern Earth analogues; this may include non-Earth-like biospheres, non-standard biosignatures and/or relevant abiotic alternatives
• Use and further develop atmospheric retrieval and/or complementary modelling and inference approaches, potentially including ML/AI methods
• In close collaboration with the LIFE Science Team and LIFE Instrument Science Team, translate atmospheric-characterisation results into science requirements and related instrument-performance requirements for LIFE
• Contribute new scientific ideas to the development of the LIFE science case and interact with the broader LIFE collaboration
• Work closely with and provide scientific mentoring to PhD and undergraduate students pursuing related projects

• PhD in astrophysics, planetary science, atmospheric science, physics or a closely related field, completed by the start date
• Experience with atmospheric retrievals and a strong background in exoplanet atmospheric modelling and characterisation
• Good understanding of the major scientific questions surrounding exoplanet habitability, biosignatures and the search for life
• Strong scientific programming skills; experience with radiative-transfer, photochemical, climate or general-circulation models is welcome
• Experience with machine-learning or AI approaches for atmospheric inference is welcome but not required
• Ability and interest to work across disciplinary boundaries and interact with the broader exoplanet, atmospheric-science and astrobiology communities
• Willingness to work closely with PhD and undergraduate students and provide scientific mentoring and guidance on their research projects
• Scientific independence, curiosity and a collaborative approach to research

• A collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment within the Exoplanets and Habitability Group and the LIFE Space Mission team at ETH Zurich, with close links to the international LIFE collaboration
• An active community within the NCCR Genesis, spanning astrophysics, planetary science,…