PhD Position in NCCR Genesis: Computational chemistry–metabolism model for Venus and Enceladus

Fully funded PhD position in NCCR Genesis

The National Centre of Competence in Research NCCR Genesis is a research infrastructure project funded by SNSF focussing on exploring the emergence of life in the Universe.

Project background

This interdisciplinary research infrastructure brings together physicists, earth and planetary scientists, chemists and biologists to understand the conditions and the mechanisms that enable life to emerge. Developing reliable methods to detect reliable traces of life (biosignatures) – whether through remote sensing or direct onsite measurements – requires significant innovation. These challenges demand close collaboration across physics, biology, chemistry and the earth sciences. NCCR Genesis does not aim to provide answers in all fields, but to drive innovative research and achieve decisive progress.

Details on NCCR Genesis are available on its website: https://nccr-genesis.ch

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

NCCR Genesis is deeply committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Our aim is to cultivate a respectful and fair work culture with equal access to professional development and support for all. We strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups.

Job description

Understanding whether life exists beyond Earth is one of the central questions of modern planetary science. This PhD project will develop a computational modelling framework to investigate the habitability of planetary environments and the detectability of biosignatures. The framework will be applied to two extreme environments in our Solar System: the cloud layer of Venus and the subsurface ocean of Enceladus, both key targets of current and future life-detection missions.
The successful applicant will work closely with researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Bern to develop a modelling framework for microbial metabolisms in planetary environments. The model will combine planetary environmental chemistry with microbial metabolic networks to explore how much biomass could be sustained under different environmental conditions and whether biological activity could produce detectable chemical signatures. The framework will first be applied to an existing state-of-the-art model of the atmosphere and cloud environment of Venus with Dr Sean Jordan (ETH Zurich). It will then be adapted to the subsurface ocean and plume environment of Enceladus with Prof. Audrey Vorburger (University of Bern). The results will help assess the habitability of these environments and identify potentially detectable biosignatures, contributing to the scientific preparation of future life-detection missions such as ESA's planned L4 mission.

Your profile

You hold (or are close to completing) a Master's degree in physics, astronomy, planetary science, Earth science, computational science, chemistry or a related discipline. You have strong quantitative skills and experience in scientific programming (preferably Python). Experience in planetary science, atmospheric chemistry, geochemistry, microbiology or astrobiology is an advantage but not required. We are looking for a curious, motivated and team-oriented researcher who enjoys working across disciplines.

We offer

The position offers an international and interdisciplinary research environment at the forefront of planetary science and astrobiology, with close collaboration with researchers across the NCCR Genesis network. The successful candidate will be employed as a PhD researcher at the University of Bern and work closely with the research groups of Dr Sean Jordan at ETH Zurich and Prof. Audrey Vorburger at the University of Bern, drawing on expertise in computational modelling, atmospheric chemistry, astrobiology and planetary exploration. The project provides opportunities to publish in leading scientific journals, present at international conferences, and collaborate with researchers across a broad range of disciplines.