Luleå University of Technology

Northern Sweden is a European space region with several major players collaborating in space technology and space science. Luleå University of Technology (LTU) provides research and education, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) focuses on space plasma research and instrument development, and EISCAT Scientific Association carries out radar observations of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), with its facility Esrange, provides services and infrastructure for access to space.

The Division of Space Technology of the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering at LTU is located in Kiruna, adjacent to IRF and the EISCAT headquarters. The division offers a number of Master Degree programs in Space Science and Technology. The division conducts research in the areas of atmospheric and planetary science and space systems. The Space Systems group focuses on payloads, spacecraft and launchers for technology demonstration and utilisation as well as space applications and exploration in the upper atmosphere, Earth orbit and planetary space. The research and education activities are supported by high-quality infrastructure such as laboratory facilities for space propulsion, nano satellites, asteroid engineering, and spacecraft avionics.

Homepage: https://www.ltu.se/?l=en

Luleå University of Technology is looking for a highly-motivated PhD student to join the Asteroid Engineering Laboratory located on the Space Campus in Kiruna, Sweden.

The successful candidate will carry out laboratory experiments on asteroid simulants and meteorites with the ultimate goal to understand the mechanisms that destroy asteroids close to the Sun, and how the destruction process affects the near-Earth asteroid population. The primary tool for the experimental work is the new Space and High-Irradiation Near-Sun Simulator (SHINeS), which is used for assessing how irradiation comparable to that found close to the Sun affects materials resembling those found on asteroids. The successful candidate will also contribute to the development of an analytical and/or numerical model of the destruction process that will be included in evolutionary models of the near-Earth asteroid population.

The position is fully funded for 4 years.

The application deadline is June 26, 2023 CEST.

More information and application guidelines available through https://www.ltu.se/ltu/Lediga-jobb?l=en&rmpage=job&rmjob=6939&rmlang=UK