PhD in Theoretical Astrophysics

The Max Planck Research Group "The formation of planetary building blocks" at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg is seeking excellent candidates for a PhD in Theoretical Astrophysics.

The question of how planets are formed is one of the key open questions of modern astronomy. In the last 15 years hundreds of extrasolar planets have been detected around nearby stars, and also hundreds of planetary birthplaces - the gas disks surrounding young stars - have been found and studied in detail. To obtain an understanding of these often rather cryptic observations of these planetary birthplaces, detailed numerical modeling of the first stages of planet formation is required and must be compared to these observations. This is the objective of the research done in this Max Planck research group (see group web site).

One of the main open questions in this research project is what happens when two solid bodies (i.e. planetary building blocks) collide with each other at high speeds. Will they break up? Will they stick? Will they compactify or otherwise modify each other? The answers to these questions are being investigated in two laboratories in Germany: one in Braunschweig (www.igep.tu-bs.de/forschung/planetenentstehung) and one in Munster. The objective of the PhD project advertized here is to analyze the results of these experiments and put them into a theoretical framework. In our research group we are developing numerical models of the collisional growth of solids in protoplanetary disks, starting from small sub-micron sized "soot" particles all the way to Earth-size planets. This is an immensely complex problem, spanning a mass range of 40 factors of ten. By implementing the physics of collisions from these laboratories into our models we will be able to make more realistic models of this complex growth process than was possible before.

The PhD project will involve (a) numerical physics modeling, (b) the development of analytical models of collisional outcomes, (c) direct collaboration with the laboratories (ample travel opportunities to these lab teams are available, including the possibility to experience hands-on work for a few weeks in these laboratories if desired) and (d) collaboration with radiative transfer specialists to make predictions for actual astronomical observations.

A strong physics knowledge is required. Also an affinity with computer programming is a prerequisite. A lack of astronomy background is not a problem (enrolling in the IMPRS program at our institute will solve this).

Any potential candidate is encouraged to simply ask questions by emailing either Dr. C.P. Dullemond (group leader) at dullemon@mpia.de or Prof. Dr. Th. Henning (institute director) at henning@mpia.de.

Applications should be directed to:

and should include a letter of interest, a CV, a list of marks of university examinations, a (current draft of) the masters thesis, and the email addresses of two senior scientists who would be willing to answer questions.

Applications can be sent both by post or by email. There is no strict deadline, but any applications sent in by December 15, 2009 are assured to receive consideration. The position could start as early as January 1, 2010 and is for three years. Salary is according to TVoD E13/2. The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer.