National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Homepage: http://english.nssc.cas.cn/about/introduction/

The Planetary Science Group at the National Space Science Center (NSSC) in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), invites applications for 2 postdoctoral positions in the field of planetary science. Here is an introduction about our institute: http://english.nssc.cas.cn/about/introduction/

China is entering a new era of deep space exploration, with multiple ambitious missions planned over the next 5 years. The Chang’e-6 mission has successfully returned samples from the far side of the Moon, and the Chang’e-7 mission is scheduled for launch this year in 2026. Read more about Chang’e-7 here: https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article/11/2/nwad329/7503932. Tianwen-2 – Asteroid sample return mission was launched in May 2025 and will start to explore asteroid Kamo`oalewa (2016HO3) summer this year.

In parallel, China’s planetary exploration program is rapidly progressing, with upcoming missions including: Tianwen-3 – Mars sample return mission and Tianwen-4 – Exploration of the Jupiter system.

The Planetary Science Group at NSSC is deeply involved in the scientific planning and execution of these missions. We are official science team members of most of them. Our research areas include planetary geology, remote sensing, spectroscopy, and sample analysis, etc. We focus on topics such as the evolution of the Moon and the Earth–Moon system, the geological history and habitability of terrestrial planets, and the composition and development of small solar system bodies including asteroid and icy moons.

Our team currently includes 14 members:
3 Professors, 5 Associate Professors, and 6 Postdoctoral Researchers.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a background in planetary science or related fields to join our dynamic and growing team. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, contribute to active and upcoming missions, and collaborate with national and international partners.

Requirement: Ph.D. in planetary science and related field, fluent in English speaking.
Length: 2-3 years.
Salary: (35,000-50,000€/year) per year.

If you are interested, please send your CV to Prof. Steve Yang Liu. Email: yangliu@nssc.ac.cn