Research Fellow in Numerical Simulation of Asteroid Dynamos

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Are you a talented researcher looking for your next opportunity? Do you have an established background in geophysics, computational fluid dynamics or applied mathematics and an interest in applying your skills to understand the dynamics and evolution of asteroids early in the solar system? Do you want to further your career in one of the UK’s leading research-intensive Universities? 

We are seeking a Research Fellow to fulfil a key role in a project investigating the generation of magnetic fields within the cores of asteroids early in the solar system. In this role you will focus on performing and analysing numerical simulations of proposed scenarios of dynamo action in asteroid cores. You will be based in the Deep Earth Research Group within the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Leeds and work closely with Prof Jon Mound and  Prof Chris Davies , and Dr James Bryson at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford. This work is funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) grant “The first self-consistent dynamical simulations of asteroid dynamos.”

The magnetic behaviour of planetary bodies provides unique information on their formation, structure, and dynamics. Over the last ~15 years, dozens of meteorites have been found to carry primary remanent magnetisations imparted by fields generated within asteroids during the early solar system. By tying these observations to physical models of asteroid behaviour, you will unlock a variety of insights into the nature and evolution of these building blocks of the terrestrial planets. 

You will use theoretical scaling laws to relate the magnetic field history of these bodies to their thermochemical evolution. Existing scaling laws were derived to explain Earth’s present-day magnetic field, which operates in a different geometry and is powered in a different way than the early dynamos of small planetary bodies; these differences are known to alter dynamo behaviour. Therefore, working with Prof Mound and Prof Davies, you will construct and analyse the first suite of numerical simulations tailored to the relevant physical system, produce new scaling laws, and perform a novel calibration of planetesimal thermochemical evolution models. You will work with Dr James Bryson to compare your theoretical results to meteorite magnetisation records to obtain robust and reliable insights into the large-scale and long-term evolution of the first planetary bodies to form in our solar system. 

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Professor Jon Mound , Associate Professor in Geophysics

Email: [email protected]

Professor Chris Davies ,Professor of Theoretical Geophysics

Email: [email protected]  

Location:  Leeds - Main Campus
Faculty/Service:  Faculty of Environment
School/Institute:  School of Earth and Environment
Section:  Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics (IGT)
Category:  Research
Grade:  Grade 7
Salary:  £37,099 to £44,263 per annum
Working Time:  37.5 hours
Post Type:  Full Time
Contract Type:  Fixed Term (for 36 months – the post is required to complete a specific task or time limited work)
Release Date:  Monday 08 January 2024
Closing Date:  Monday 05 February 2024
Reference:  ENVEE1708
Downloads:  Candidate Brief