Author: Minna M E Palmroth

Applications are invited for postdoctoral research positions as Nordic Postdoctoral Plasma Fellows (NORPPA Fellows) at the University of Helsinki, Finland. The selected fellows will lead an independent research program on a topic that has strong synergy with space physics research and/or plasma astrophysics conducted in Helsinki. We anticipate being able to offer multiple positions.

A successful applicant will work in a vibrant research environment with theoretical, observational, and computational research on space and astrophysical plasmas. The research of plasmas at the University of Helsinki is supported by numerous grants, including 3 ERC grants and the Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence. The fellow will conduct research under the mentorship of professors in space physics (Minna Palmroth; https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/vlasiator) and astrophysics (Joonas Nättilä; http://natj.github.io/group/).

Application process: The initial appointment will be for 2 years, with an anticipated renewal for a total of 4 years. The start date is flexible. The applicant should have a Ph.D. in space physics, computational physics, plasma physics, astrophysics, or a related field (by the appointment date).  Applicants should submit a CV with the list of publications, a research statement (max. 3 pages), and arrange for three reference letters to be sent directly by the referees. The research statement should summarize past research achievements and describe the planned research program. All application material should be sent to hewan.zewde(at)helsinki.fi with the subject title “NORPPA Fellowship Application 2023” by November 15, 2023. The University of Helsinki fosters equality, diversity, inclusion, and workplace well-being.

Helsinki: Finland has been selected as the happiest country six times and is one of the safest locations worldwide. We enjoy beautiful nature and the cleanest air in the world. Helsinki is an international city with many cultural and recreational activities and outstanding services for families and children.

Salary & Benefits:

The annual salary will be according to the University of Helsinki salary rules, including comprehensive occupational health care access. The fellows will also have ample travel funds and access to exceptional computing resources, including the pre-exascale supercomputer LUMI and a new, dedicated local computing cluster. In addition, the position includes a paid five weeks of vacation per year, paid sick leave, and an option for a paid 6-month parental leave (per parent).

Links:

https://blogs.helsinki.fi/spacephysics/

http://natj.github.io/group/

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/information-arriving-international-staff

https://research.csc.fi/lumi-access

The Space Physics Group of the University of Helsinki is a leading European group specialised both in computational modelling and in spacecraft observations. We have developed the global magnetospheric beyond-MHD simulation Vlasiator.

We have recently completed the first 6-dimensional runs of the entire magnetosphere-ionosphere system, offering high-resolution results both from the 3D real space as well as from the 3D velocity space. Our first runs show how the ion-kinetic physics at small scales lead to global reconfigurations, and vice versa. We can also study how changes in the ionosphere influence ion-kinetic physics within the magnetosphere.

We are excited to open two positions, as follows:

(1) A postdoctoral fellow position for a 2-year project, with a possibility of extension pending funding situation and performance. The postdoctoral fellow will focus on the 3D reconnection process within the simulation, looking both at the dayside and tail reconnection which occur simultaneously in the same simulation box.

(2) A PhD student will study the same processes as the postdoctoral fellow. This position is for four years, which is the nominal length of a Finnish PhD thesis project. The PhD student will write original papers that will comprise the thesis.

Prior knowledge and useful skills: Physics of magnetic reconnection, model development and/or data analysis, Python.

We offer a position in a dynamic and international research group, with a possibility to network and to develop as a researcher. We are innovative, high-spirited and a welcoming community. Finland is the happiest country in the world offering a great environment fostering equality, equality of opportunities, the world’s best schooling system, vacations, and possibilities for work-family balance.

The positions are available immediately. We start reviewing the applications on 14 November, but the positions will remain open until filled. Interviews are held in Nov-Dec.

 For more information, please visit:

http://helsinki.fi/vlasiator

http://blogs.helsinki.fi/spacephysics/

https://www.helsinki.fi/sustainable-space

For specifics about the position, contact Minna Palmroth (minna.palmroth(at)helsinki.fi). Interested candidates should send their informal application, CV, list of publications, and a maximum of three names to act as references to Hewan.Zewde(at)helsinki.fi by 11 Nov 2022, and cc minna.palmroth(at)helsinki.fi. 

The Space Physics Group of the University of Helsinki is a leading European space physics group specialised both in computational modelling of space plasmas and in spacecraft observations. We are the leading host for the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, where our target is to understand the space environment to be able to build more durable small satellites for the future. The Centre of Excellence is essentially a space programme to build and launch three nanosatellites, each of which has both an ambitious science programme as well as a technology demonstration payload. The Space Physics group is also a home to the novel Vlasiator code, providing an unprecedented view of the global solar wind – magnetosphere – ionosphere system at ion kinetic scales.

Continue reading “JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Fellow Position in Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland (remote work possible)”

The Space Physics Group of the University of Helsinki is a leading European space physics group specialised both in computational modelling of space plasmas and in spacecraft observations. In particular we are the PI institute for the global magnetospheric beyond-MHD simulation Vlasiator.

We have recently completed the first 6-dimensional runs of the entire magnetosphere, offering high-resolution results both from the 3D real space as well as from the 3D velocity space, revealing the first glimpses at what the ion-kinetic global magnetosphere looks like. We are excited to open a postdoctoral fellow position for a 2-year project, funded by the prestigious European Research Council. The postdoctoral fellow will focus on the 3D reconnection process within the simulation, looking both at the dayside and tail reconnection which occur simultaneously in the same simulation box.

Continue reading “JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Fellow Position in Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland (remote work possible)”

Continue reading “WE ARE HIRING: Two Postdoctoral Fellow Positions (remote work possible)”

The Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics is a leading European space physics group specialised in modelling of space plasmas. We develop the novel global hybrid-Vlasov simulation Vlasiator to investigate the near-Earth space in ion kinetic scales utilising hybrid-Vlasov methods.

We are now opening a postdoctoral fellow position for a 3-year project funded by the Academy of Finland. The postdoctoral fellow will focus on developing Vlasiator and modelling space plasmas. Prior knowledge in at least one of the following areas is required: GPU technologies, high-performance computing, parallelisation algorithms, C++. Other useful skills include: plasma physics, Python supercomputer environments, version control.

Continue reading “WE ARE HIRING: A Postdoctoral Fellow Position in Space Physics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland”

Faculty of Science invites applicants for an Assistant professor/Associate Professor/Professor position in space physics. Deadline for applications is 15 February 2018.

For more information please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/open-positions/assistant-professorassociate-professorprofessor-space-physics

The post is tied to our new Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space.

Introductory video for the Master’s programme in particle Physics and Astrophysical Sciences shows what we do and how exciting it is to work and study at the University of Helsinki! See more at: