Organisation/Company: CNRS
Department: Physique des Interactions Ioniques et Moléculaires
Research Field: Astronomy
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Country: France
Application Deadline: 26 Nov 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Hours Per Week: 35
Offer Starting Date: 1 Feb 2025
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
This job, for which Aix-Marseille Université will be the employer, concerns the study of the impact of space weathering on analogs simulating solar system bodies to look at the possible transformation of organic matter in mineral matrices.
This project aims to experimentally investigate the fate of organic matter on the surface of early bodies (asteroids, Mars) and to define biases for the detection of organic matter in mineral matrices. The particularity of the project is to use in-house analogs, synthesized over the course of the ORGAMISS ANR project, which are mixtures of organics and minerals that have reacted under aqueous alteration simulating carbon-rich asteroids or Mars surface.
Responsibilities
Perform irradiation experiments (ultra-violet - ions) on these already synthesized analogs (and make new ones) and carefully follow their evolution.
Use infrared spectroscopy for comparison with remote observations of planetary surfaces to help refine the interpretation of spectra and make some predictions on the state of the organic matter. The analogs will also be measured with spare instruments of Mars missions (like OMEGA in collaboration) to allow direct comparison.
Create a database of the samples that could be used for space mission data.
Interpret results and lead the writing of publications.
The candidate will join the team of the project ORGAMISS within the ASTRO team of the PIIM laboratory in Marseille (France), and work in collaboration with the IAS laboratory in Orsay (Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale- France) and LISA laboratory in Créteil (Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmospheriques-France).
Budgets are available for travels between labs and conferences.
Minimum Requirements
At the time of recruitment, a PhD in astrochemistry, planetary sciences, chemistry or a closely related field will be required, with knowledge of and familiarity with spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV, Raman) and experimental work. Skills for experiments and/or analytics during the PhD or postdoctoral positions are also required. Join a CV with a description of research interests, a publication list, and email addresses of 2-3 referees as a single PDF.
Additional Comments
This project concerns the origin and chemical evolution of the extraterrestrial organic matter in past or present aqueous environments of solar system bodies. Primitive bodies of our solar system, such as comets and asteroids are organic-rich and their studies can give significant information on the nature of organic matter delivered to planets and satellites of the solar system. But, primitive bodies and planetary surfaces such as Mars are overall affected by space weathering (ultra-violet light, cosmic rays), due to a lack (or negligible) atmosphere. For organic matter detection in Solar System bodies, it is of prime importance to know to what extent space weathering will interfere with their detectability and subdue the organic matter signatures. This subject is in line with the sample return from asteroids (Hayabusa 2, Osirix-Rex), the current and future mission on Mars (Curiosity-ExoMars), and the observations of small solar system bodies (for example Ceres and the TNOs), especially with the new opportunities given by JWST. More information on the project is available at: Project Information .
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