ABOUT THE ROLE
Applications are invited for two 2-year positions as Postdoctoral Research Associate in Space physics. These are funded to support the research of the Royal Society University Research Fellowship “Thermal, suprathermal, and energetic particle dynamics in space plasmas” (URF\R1\231710, PI Dr Luca Franci). Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will support the Principal Investigator by initiating, developing and conducting high-quality research relevant to understanding cross-scale energy transfer and dissipation and particle energization in collisionless turbulent plasmas, focusing on the role of plasma turbulence, magnetic reconnection, kinetic physics and instabilities, and wave-particle interactions. Two different categories of profiles will be considered: one with knowledge/expertise in supercomputing and state-of-the-art numerical modelling, and one with knowledge/expertise in the analysis and interpretation of in-situ spacecraft measurements.
The project focuses on a comprehensive investigation into the fundamental physics behind the particle dynamics in the heliosphere and aims at addressing the long-standing opening issue: How is energy transferred between fields and particles in turbulent plasmas?
It combines in-situ measurements of fields and particles by Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe, Magnetospheric Multiscale, and Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe with state-of-the-art numerical modelling using Hall-MHD, hybrid, and fully kinetic simulations plus an innovative combination of those to tackle four specific themes:
1. How does turbulence lead to energy dissipation into particle thermal energy?
2. How does turbulence define particle heating and acceleration to suprathermal energies?
3. How does turbulence energise and accelerate energetic particles?
4. How are particles with different energies transported in the turbulent expanding solar wind?
ABOUT THE TEAM
You will work primarily with Dr Luca Franci (the PI), in close collaboration with other leading scientists based at Northumbria University and in other institutions both in the UK and overseas. Dr Franci’s team will also include two PhD students and another Postdoctoral Research Associate funded by the same project.
You will join the Solar and Space Physics research group, which is a strong, diverse, inclusive and supportive group. It currently includes eight holders of personal research fellowship (funded by the Royal Society and UK research councils) and thus it is perfectly placed to provide advice and support to postdoctoral research fellows planning to apply for similar independent fellowships. Further details about the research group can be found here: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/mathematics-physics-and-electrical-engineering/research/solar-and-space-physics/ ABOUT YOU Applicants should hold a PhD in space physics or a closely related area and have demonstrable specialist expert knowledge in numerical modelling and/or in situ spacecraft observations of space plasmas.