PhD position in lunar geodynamics
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Category: Ph.D. Institution: German Aerospace Center Department: Department of Planetary Physics Location: Berlin, Germany Work arrangement: In person Duration: 3 years Can be extended: No |
Number of positions: 1 Application deadline: 2026-07-15 Start date: 2026-09-01 Official announcement: external link Inquiries: Adrien Broquet Posted: 2026-06-03 Posted by: 0000-0002-5153-303X |
Job Description
As part of the Emmy Noether DFG project granted to Dr. Adrien Broquet and that is entitled: “Geodynamic history of the Moon and Mercury revealed by their volcano-tectonic record and gravity field”, we will use orbital observations and geophysical modelling to address some fundamental questions in lunar and Hermean science. Our main objectives are to provide constraints on the timing and geospatial history of volcanism and tectonic activity and to understand why two similarly-sized worlds (Mercury and the Moon) experienced drastically different geodynamic histories. The project will strongly rely on inversions of data collected by space missions, including gravity and topography, and is highly relevant to the future of space exploration with connections to BepiColombo and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS).
We are offering you the opportunity to join us as a doctoral student.
Your tasks
- Using of gravity and topography data in the spectral range and calculation of planetary deformations using the DSP inversion code.
- Performing gravity and topography inversions using Python to determine the internal structure and thickness of the mare flows, as well as to estimate the shape of the crust prior to mare formation.
- Use of crater count statistics to reconstruct the eruption history of the maria.
- Development of a viscoelastic relaxation model for the crust of lunar basins using an existing open-source Fortran program (ALMA). This is used to calculate the Moon’s internal structure.
- Derivation of the viscosity structure of the lunar mantle based on comparisons between predicted and observed crustal structures.
- Mapping the slope of crater floors near large basins using digital elevation models to reconstruct post-impact deformations.
- Using the estimated viscoelastic relaxation to establish constraints on the origin and evolution of ridges and graben systems at the margins of large lunar basins.
Your qualifications
- Master degree in physics, geophysics, mathematics, computer science or another relevant discipline
- Solid programming skills, preferably in Python and scripting languages in UNIX/Windows environments
- Knowledge in the field of numerical geophysics and geodynamics
- Strong interest in general topics of planetary science and a distinctly interdisciplinary research environment
- Very good English skills (spoken and written)