Job Reference: –
Application deadline: 03 December 2024
Starting date:  Spring 2025
Where: University of Geneva (Switzerland)
Duration of the contract:  2+1 years
Salary: –

Job Tasks 

The researchers will join the group of Prof. Adrien Leleu that focuses on the characterisation of the architecture of resonant exoplanetary systems, with strong collaboration with Prof. Xavier Dumusque and Dr. Jean-Baptiste Delisle. The team of Prof. Leleu combines space-based photometry from the Kepler/K2, TESS, and CHEOPS space missions to discover new compact multi-planetary systems and characterise them by observing and modelling the dynamical interactions between the planets (keywords: Transit Timing Variations – TTVs, photo-dynamical models). The team is also strongly involved in the preparation of the upcoming ESA mission PLATO.

The successful applicant will work on:

• The vetting and characterisation of multi-planetary systems candidates in long photometric time-series identified by RIVERS: RIVERS searches for planetary candidates in the lightcurve of ~200,000 Kepler targets and ~140,000 TESS targets, and will be used for the PLATO mission. The vetting of these candidates consists in defining and applying criteria on individual candidates and the coherence of the system in which they are embedded. The characterisation of each system is then done using photo-dynamical models.
• The definition and calibration of robustness criteria for the masses obtained by TTVs and RVs (radial velocities), in the framework of the preparation for the PLATO mission. These criteria could rely on the trial of different sets of priors and/or noise models for each time series. These criteria will then be calibrated using well characterised systems, preferably characterised by both RVs and TTVs.

Overall the exoplanet group is composed of about 40 PhD students and postdocs, and 11 faculty members, specialised in radial-velocity measurements, transit photometry, exoplanet atmosphere characterization, direct imaging as well as instrumentation. The exoplanet group is also part of the Switzerland-wide network PlanetS (http://nccr-planets.ch/), specialised in all different fields of planetary sciences with a large focus on exoplanets.

Profile’s requirements 

The applicant should have obtained their PhD less than 5 years before the start of this contract.

Relevant experience:

• time series analysis (photometry, radial velocity)
• statistics (vetting, model comparison, etc.)
• orbital dynamics/TTVs.

Prior experience in the two latter is not necessary but a plus, and the candidate should be interested in learning those during the Postdoc.

Women and candidates from underrepresented groups in Astronomy are strongly encouraged to apply. Flexible work options and family friendly work hours are possible at the University of Geneva.

How to apply 

Applications (concatenated in a single PDF file) must contain:

• A cover letter including a short (2 pages max) research statement describing relevant experience, past achievements and future projects, as well as interest in the topic;
• A curriculum vitae;
• A publication list and specific contributions to each article.
• Names, positions and e-mail addresses of up to three persons of reference that could be contacted.

Applications shall be sent to Prof. A. Leleu (adrien.leleu@unige.ch), with c.c. to Prof. Xavier Dumusque (Xavier.Dumusque@unige.ch) and Dr Jean-Baptiste Delisle (Jean-Baptiste.Delisle@unige.ch) no later than December 3rd, 2024.

For more information about the position, interested candidates should directly contact Prof. A. Leleu.