Postdoctoral position in lunar magnetism

Data from the Apollo era and Lunar Prospector (1998-1999) is being augmented with more recent data from Kaguya (2007) and especially LADEE (2014) to create a more comprehensive model of the long-established connection between crustal magnetism at the antipodes of the Moon's youngest basins and the anomalously fresh surface materials found at these points, built up into brighter, sometimes beautiful swirl formations. (Animation from lunar crustal thickness maps from GRAIL (2012) by the Science Visualization Studio at the Goddard Space Flight Center [NASA/GSFC].

The Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) is inviting applications for a postdoctoral position in the broad field of lunar magnetism. This one-year position (renewable for a second year) aims to decipher the origin of crustal magnetism by modeling spacecraft-derived magnetic field data.

Potential research projects include modeling the direction of crustal magnetization, comparisons of derived crustal magnetization with measured properties of lunar samples, and correlations between magnetic anomalies and GRAIL gravity. 

As part of a larger project, the applicant will have the opportunity to collaborate with paleomagneticists at CEREGE (Aix en Provence) and geodynamo modelers at ISTerre (Grenoble).

To apply, please provide a CV, publication list, contact information of two references, and a 2-page letter that motivates the applicant's interest in the topic and that describes prior relevant research experience. Please respond by email to Mark Wieczorek (wieczor@ipgp.fr) before March 23, 2015.

Mark Wieczorek

IPGP Planetary and Space Sciences

University of Sorbonne

Paris Cité

email: wieczor@ipgp.fr

Tel: +33 (0)1 57 27 53 08

web: www.ipgp.fr/~wieczor