PhD Studentship in Space Instrumentation (MicroADS mission) (2018)

What you get

The PhD studentship will include a 3 year tax-free stipend at standard postgraduate rates (currently £14,940 per year) and fees as follows: (a) UK/EU applicants, full fees; (b) overseas applicants, a contribution of up to £12,000 towards overseas fees in some cases.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

About the PhD Studentship

You will work on developing the MicroADS instrument hardware and on board instrument software, with the exact split between these activities determined by your aptitude and the instrument’s needs.  Your work will include development and characterisation of the instrument optics, electronics, and interfaces with spacecraft systems.  The PhD requires a strong practical/experimental background in physics and/or spacecraft engineering.  

About the Space Research Group

The Space Research Group conducts fundamental and applied work in a variety of areas related to space science, spacecraft engineering, and high performance hardware for terrestrial environments.  The group is particularly well known for its world-leading contributions in: X-ray spectrometers for astronomy and planetary science; e^- spectrometers for space plasma physics; radioisotope microbatteries; compound semiconductor material physics; spacecraft GNC systems; and extreme environment instrumentation.  The Space Research Group is entrepreneurial, business-focused, and committed to the highest quality of scientific research.

About the PhD supervisor

The PhD will be supervised by Prof. Anna M. Barnett.  Prof. Barnett is Professor of Space Research and Director of the Sussex Space Research Group.  She is an experimental physicist with internationally recognised expertise in detector physics and instrumentation for space science and extreme terrestrial environments (high temperature, intense radiation).  As of April 2018, Prof. Barnett holds research funding totalling >£2M in value.  She has won numerous prizes and awards including the 2016 Philip Leverhulme Prize, and she is the youngest person ever awarded a Personal Chair at University of Sussex (equivalent to a US Full Professor with Tenure).

Eligibility

Applications are invited from individuals with a good Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Physics, Spacecraft Engineering, or a comparable subject.  A strong practical background and a deep work ethic are required. 

University of Sussex is committed to equality and diversity.  Applications are welcomed from all.

Deadline

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the University of Sussex Postgraduate Admissions System at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply .  Please indicate on the form that you wish to be supervised by Prof. Anna M. Barnett.  Please do include a full CV, covering letter, and one page statement explaining your motivation for wishing to undertake a PhD in space instrumentation.  A research proposal is not required.

Contact us

Informal enquiries about the position are welcome and may be addressed to Prof. Anna M. Barnett (Anna.Barnett@sussex.ac.uk).