Fixed-term contract for 2 years with modern employment conditions.
The role
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## Your tasks ##
You design, construct and commission reactors, sources and sampling interfaces for investigating chemistry under planetary analogue conditions, with particular emphasis on gas-solid interfaces, plasma chemistry, photochemistry and sulfur chemistry
You plan and carry out experiments using reactive gas mixtures in contact with inorganic materials relevant to the early Earth and rocky planets, investigating the formation, transformation and stability of prebiotic molecules
You combine reactor experiments with molecular-beam sampling, mass spectrometry and advanced photoionization methods, including PEPICO spectroscopy, to identify products and reactive intermediates that reveal reaction mechanisms
You develop and pursue complementary research directions in the Reaction Dynamics (PSI) and Experimental Planetology (ETHZ) groups, coordinating activities across PSI, ETH Zurich, EPFL and the wider NCCR Genesis network
You analyze and interpret experimental data, publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals and present your work at international conferences
01You design, construct and commission reactors, sources and sampling interfaces for investigating chemistry under planetary analogue conditions, with particular emphasis on gas-solid interfaces, plasma chemistry, photochemistry and sulfur chemistry
02You plan and carry out experiments using reactive gas mixtures in contact with inorganic materials relevant to the early Earth and rocky planets, investigating the formation, transformation and stability of prebiotic molecules
03You combine reactor experiments with molecular-beam sampling, mass spectrometry and advanced photoionization methods, including PEPICO spectroscopy, to identify products and reactive intermediates that reveal reaction mechanisms
04You develop and pursue complementary research directions in the Reaction Dynamics (PSI) and Experimental Planetology (ETHZ) groups, coordinating activities across PSI, ETH Zurich, EPFL and the wider NCCR Genesis network
05You analyze and interpret experimental data, publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals and present your work at international conferences
Requirements
↳PhD degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, geochemistry, planetary sciences or a related discipline
↳Experience in designing, constructing, and operating complex experimental setups
↳Experience in one or more of the following areas: reactor development, vacuum technology, gas handling, plasma or photochemical experiments, high-temperature chemistry, mass spectrometry or advanced spectroscopy
↳Ability to translate broad scientific questions into robust experiments and to pursue parallel research directions with independence
↳Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and the ability to work constructively across institutions and scientific disciplines
Benefits
＋You will join an interdisciplinary research environment connecting the Reaction Dynamics Group at PSI with the Experimental Planetology group at ETH Zurich, while benefiting from close collaboration across the broader NCCR Genesis community.
＋You will help establish new experimental capabilities for investigating how planetary environments, interfaces and energetic processes generate and transform prebiotic molecules.
＋The position offers access to PSI-s advanced laboratory and large-scale research infrastructure, opportunities to establish collaborations across Switzerland and internationally, and considerable scope to shape new experimental directions in an emerging research field.
＋Our institution is based on interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration.
＋You will profit from a motivating work environment, in addition to personal development possibilities.
＋We will support you with modern employment conditions and on-site infrastructure to combine work and family life or other personal interests.
Tech stack
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mass spectrometryPEPICO spectroscopyreactor developmentvacuum technologygas handlingplasma chemistryphotochemistry
