Postdoctoral Research Associate in Planetary Atmospheric Science

This postdoctoral position at the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy focuses on planetary atmospheric science, leveraging data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and other observational platforms. The role involves studying the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, with a focus on their elemental composition, banded structures, and temporal variability. The successful candidate will use radiative transfer and retrieval tools (e.g., NEMESIS) to derive climatological parameters and contribute to preparing for future missions like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and ESA’s JUICE mission. The position is funded by an ERC Advanced Grant and offers a collaborative environment under the leadership of Professor Leigh Fletcher.

• Analyse infrared and microwave spectra from JWST, ground-based telescopes, and Juno observations to derive climatological parameters such as temperatures, winds, composition, and clouds.
• Develop and apply radiative transfer and retrieval tools (e.g., NEMESIS) to invert spectral data and address key research questions about giant planet atmospheres.
• Compare atmospheric structures and variability across Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, focusing on elemental and isotopic composition, banded structures, and temporal changes.
• Collaborate with the JWSTVoyager team to prepare for future missions, including data from the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and ESA’s JUICE mission.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at international conferences.
• Engage in independent research and contribute to the development of data processing tools and methodologies.