PhD fellowships in n Cosmochemistry and Early Solar System Processes

The Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, invites applications for several PhD fellowships in cosmochemistry and early Solar System evolution at the Centre for Star and Planet Formation.

Start date is (expected to be) July 15, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Chondrules are millimetre-sized igneous objects that formed throughout the lifetime of the protoplanetary disk and represent the main building blocks of chondritic meteorites. Because they formed in different regions of the disk and over several million years, chondrules provide time-resolved records of the chemical and isotopic evolution of solid material during planet formation.

The aim of the PhD projects is to constrain the nucleosynthetic composition of chondrules in order to quantify radial transport and mixing of solids during the ~5 Myr lifetime of the solar protoplanetary disk. The projects will focus on high-precision silicon, iron, and magnesium isotope analyses of individual chondrules, with particular emphasis on isotopic relationships between chondrule cores and their igneous or dusty rims. These core–rim systematics provide a direct means of tracing dust recycling and mass transport between inner and outer disk reservoirs.

A key aspect of the work will be the study of chondrules from recently identified ungrouped carbonaceous chondrites, which are thought to sample previously unsampled regions or evolutionary pathways of the disk. By combining isotopic data with petrographic and chronological constraints, the projects will assess how efficiently material was transported and mixed across the disk and how the nucleosynthetic composition of primary disk solids evolved through time.

Together, these PhD projects will provide new constraints on protoplanetary disk dynamics and the nature of the material that ultimately accreted to form asteroids and terrestrial planets.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in cosmochemistry, planetary science, or early Solar System evolution.

Applicants should have a background in one or more of the following fields:

• Geochemistry or cosmochemistry
• Geology or planetary science
• Physics, chemistry, or Earth science with a strong quantitative component

Experience with isotope geochemistry, clean-lab work, mass spectrometry, or meteoritics is an advantage, but not a requirement.

Our group and research- and what do we offer?

The PhD projects will be carried out at the Centre for Star and Planet Formation, part of the Globe Institute. The Centre is an internationally recognised research environment dedicated to understanding the formation and early evolution of planetary systems, combining expertise in cosmochemistry, astrophysics, geophysics, and planetary science.

The Centre hosts a unique and comprehensive infrastructure for high-precision isotope geochemistry and cosmochemical research. This includes state-of-the-art clean laboratory facilities, advanced sample preparation and imaging laboratories, and a world-class suite of mass spectrometers for isotope analysis, including multiple MC-ICPMS and TIMS instruments. These facilities enable high-precision measurements of nucleosynthetic and radiogenic isotope systems in meteorites and their components at the highest international level.

In addition, the Centre has access to curated meteorite collections, advanced microscopy and micro-sampling facilities, and strong in-house expertise in petrography, chronology, and isotope systematics. The research environment is highly international and collaborative, with close links to leading research groups worldwide and frequent opportunities for research stays abroad.

The Centre for Star and Planet Formation offers a stimulating and interdisciplinary environment, where PhD students are trained at the interface between laboratory-based cosmochemistry and fundamental questions of planet formation. Students benefit from close supervision, access to cutting-edge infrastructure, and an active scientific community engaged in frontier research on the origin of planetary systems.

Principal supervisor is Prof. Martin Bizzarro (bizzarro@sund.ku.dk)

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Earth and Planetary Sciences. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in planetary sciences
• Good language skills

Application and Assessment Procedure

 Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is 5 March 2026, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held in week 17.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.