Postdoctoral Researcher (Modeler), Melwani Daswani Lab
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Category: Postdocs and fellowships Institution: Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) Location: Tokyo, Japan Work arrangement: In person Duration: 1 Can be extended: Yes Salary: ¥353,000 - ¥550,000 |
Number of positions: 1 Application deadline: 2026-06-15 Official announcement: external link Reference code: D126041217 Inquiries: Mohit Melwani Daswani Posted: 2026-05-31 Posted by: 0000-0001-7007-4222 |
Job Description
Background of the recruitment and description of the project
- The laboratory of Associate Professor Mohit Melwani Daswani at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) seeks a motivated postdoctoral researcher to develop and apply thermodynamic models of organic matter stability and water–rock–organic interactions in planetary interiors. The group's research focuses on ocean worlds (including icy moons of the outer solar system and carbon-rich dwarf planets) as well as rocky planetary bodies, and aims to constrain habitability conditions over geological timescales.
Work content and job description
- The researcher will construct and extend thermodynamic databases for organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and related astrochemically relevant species, and will apply computational numerical models (e.g., Gibbs free energy minimization to model phase equilibria and reaction energetics) under relevant pressure–temperature conditions. A central component of the role is integrating experimentally measured thermodynamic properties (heat capacity functions, decomposition enthalpies, and phase boundaries produced by the lab's calorimetry program) into modeling workflows, so that predictions and experiments are tightly coupled. Alternatively, or in combination, the researcher may develop reactive transport models of water–rock and water–rock–organic interactions with applications to ocean world geochemistry, small bodies, early Mars paleoclimate, exoplanets, or related systems.
- The researcher will collaborate closely with an experimental postdoctoral researcher in the same group, and should be comfortable translating between measured quantities and model inputs, contributing to experimental design from a modeling perspective, and co-authoring publications across both experimental and computational themes. Researchers with backgrounds in geochemistry, planetary science, physical chemistry, or closely related fields are welcome to apply.
- Communication at ELSI is conducted in English. Full support for research activities in Japan is provided for international appointees.
Assigned department
- Existing departments
- Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)