Postdoctoral fellowship in cosmochemistry and planetary sciences

Globe Institute
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
University of Copenhagen 

The Centre for Star and Planet Formation at the Globe Institute is offering a postdoctoral fellowship in the field of cosmochemistry and planetary sciences. The fellowship is available from June 1 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Centre for Star and Planet Formation (Starplan) is a multidisciplinary research centre focused on understanding the formation of planetary systems, including the Solar System, using a multidisciplinary approach that combines astronomy, astrophysics and cosmochemistry. The main focus of this research position is centred on elucidating the processes leading to the formation of the Solar System, including the accretion and differentiation of rocky planets using a range of analytical techniques with a primary focus on innovative isotope geochemistry approaches for investigation of extra-terrestrial material. Research topics include identification of the precursor matter to terrestrial planets and probe how its composition varied and was modified in space and time, determination of the disk environment where the primordial population of planetesimals seeds formed and assessment of the role of thermal processing and outward recycling in modifying inner disk matter.

Further information on the Institute is linked at https://globe.ku.dk and about Starplan at https://globe.ku.dk/research/starplan/.  

Profile
We seek highly-motivated individual with a strong background in isotope geochemistry and/or planetary geology to join a dynamic group to pursue innovative research and take full advantage of the multidisciplinary environment the centre offers, including state-of-the-art geochemistry and isotope facilities. These include amongst other instrumentation thermal-ionization (Thermo Scientific Triton) and multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma (Thermo Scientific Neptune and Neoma) mass spectrometers as well as ultra-clean laboratories for dedicated use of the section members. The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• You have a PhD in Earth and planetary sciences or related field.
• Strong scientific track record demonstrated by high-quality publications in peer reviewed international journals as first author in the field of planetary sciences and cosmochemistry.
• The candidate should be able to conduct independent and creative research, and show good inter-personal and communication skills.
• Strong background in mass spectrometry or related analytical techniques.
• You are excellent in written and oral communication in English.
• You have experience in research collaborations and have demonstrated enthusiasm, motivation, flexibility and confidence.

Place of employment 
The place of employment is at the Centre for Star and Planet Formation, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment. Our research facilities include modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure.

Terms of employment 
The employment as postdoc is a full time and fixed-term position for 3 years and the starting date for employment is June 1 2025 or soon thereafter. Salary, pension and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Currently, the monthly salary starts at DKK 35,715 kr/approx. EUR 4,788 (April 2025-level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The University of Copenhagen will pay an additional 18.07 % to your pension fund. 

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years. 

The position is covered by the “Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at the Universities” of June 28, 2013. 

Questions 
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Martin Schiller (schiller@sund.ku.dk).

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure 
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of PhD certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

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

Application deadline: 1st April 2025, 23.59 p.m. CET.

The further process 
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself. 

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.