PhD Researcher – Magnetopause Dynamics & Space Weather (SMILE Mission)
About the Role
The ESA-CAS SMILE mission is about to change how we observe the magnetosphere. For the first time, the dayside magnetosphere will be imaged in soft X-rays from solar wind charge exchange — and since emissions are expected to peak at the magnetopause, SMILE opens the door to remote sensing magnetopause dynamics like never before.
This fully funded PhD project sits right at the heart of that mission. You'll combine SMILE data with other spacecraft and ground-based instruments to trace how magnetopause dynamics cascade into space weather effects felt across geospace — and on the ground.
What You'll Be Doing
Analysing data from the SMILE mission and complementary instruments
Programming and building data visualisation tools
Applying signal processing and machine learning methods to space physics data
Contributing to our understanding of the first link in the geospace processing chain
What They're Looking For
Strong data analysis and programming skills (essential)
Familiarity with signal processing or ML methods (advantageous)
Basic knowledge of plasma or space physics (helpful, not required)
Funding
Fully funded by the Department of Physics, Imperial College London. Open to students with home fee status (UK).
Contact
Dr Martin Archer — m.archer10@imperial.ac.uk
