Staff Scientist

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Job Summary

The main objective is to model Saturn’s tidal influence on Titan's cryovolcanism. We will identify key gases that might be observable from Cassini. Implications of this research for exoplanets and exomoons will be examined.

Essential Job Duties

• Model Saturn’s tidal influence on Titan to provide answers for NASA’s recently funded mission, Dragonfly.
• Predict end-members of volcanism at Titan taking into account the eccentricity of Titan’s orbit.
• Consider parameters such as: the interior structure of Titan, the tidal Q of Titan, the atmospheric escape of Titan, and finally the net outgassing expected at Titan. Specifically, the atmospheric escape of molecular nitrogen and methane has been of interest in the upper atmosphere, where volcanic volatiles would be expected to diffuse up to. The precise outgassing and volcanic processes will also be investigated, in particular desorption from clathrates, versus explosive and effusive cryovolcanism as has been suggested from Cassini images.
• Consider trace gas species that may be identified spectrally in the future. This has significant links to the putative cryovolcanic features on Titan identified by Cassini’s RADAR, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, radiometry, topography, and visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIMS) data.
• Consider the possibility of volcanism on exoplanets and exomoons and relate them to future observations.
• Conclude the investigation by summarizing the results in a publishable paper.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Planetary Science or related field.
• Python and graphics experience.
• Familiarity with Unix.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in planetary science, modeling gases in atmosphere.
• Strong record of publications in planetary science.

Required Documents

• Resume