PhD Student in Space Science – Preparing for Europa Plume Measurements with the Mass Spectrometers on ESA's JUICE and NASA's Europa Clipper Missions

The Space Research and Planetology Division at the University of Bern is seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join its esteemed Space Science Group. Our group specializes in studying the composition of tenuous gases near solar system objects using time-of-flight mass spectrometers and determining surface compositions with advanced laser ablation techniques. Notably, we developed and built the mass spectrometer for ESA's JUICE mission and are responsible for the preparation and analysis of the measurements it will conduct once the mission arrives in the Jupiter system in July 2031. To support the missions we are involved in, we have developed a sophisticated computer model for simulating planetary atmospheres, which has been successfully applied to various solar system bodies, including Mercury, the Moon, Venus, Titan, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede, and comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
This research project focuses on preparing measurements by the mass spectrometers on board ESA's JUICE and NASA's Europa Clipper missions to study the plumes tentatively observed on Europa, one of Jupiter's icy moons. Investigating Europa's plumes is particularly exciting because these geysers offer a rare opportunity to sample subsurface liquid reservoirs that might harbor life, without needing to drill through kilometers of ice. Analyzing these plumes could provide unprecedented insights into the moon's oceanic environment, its chemical composition, and its potential habitability.

Research Project:

This PhD project will focus on modeling the complete gas phase of Europa's plumes, a critical component in determining the habitability of this ocean world in the Jupiter system. The project involves developing a physical simulation model to quantify changes in the chemical composition of Europa's plumes from their liquid reservoirs to their gas phase. The successful candidate will work with existing Monte Carlo models and newly acquired DSMC models, aiming to provide valuable insights for ESA's JUICE and NASA's Europa Clipper missions. This research is poised to significantly enhance our understanding of Europa's potential to support life and will be an integral part of the science preparation for the measurements conducted by the mass spectrometers on the JUICE mission (JUICE / NIM) and the Europa Clipper mission (Europa Clipper / MASPEX).
The selected PhD student will work closely with the JUICE / NIM team and the Europa Clipper / MASPEX team, including the potential for a research visit with our US counterparts to foster collaboration and share expertise.