"Fully Funded 4-Year PhD Position in Solar and Heliophysics"

The Space Physics Group at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD position in solar and heliophysics. The position is part of the newly funded Research Council of Finland project, Early Evolution of Magnetic Sheaths and their Space-Weather Impact on near-Sun Planets (EMSWIP), led by Dr. Ranadeep Sarkar. The preferred start date is February 2026, but later dates are negotiable.

Project Background

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are massive eruptions of magnetized plasma from the Sun that can cause severe space weather disturbances in planetary environments. These eruptions are often accompanied by turbulent sheath regions—zones of compressed plasma and magnetic fields formed between the CME-driven shock and the CME itself. While sheath regions are known to play a major role in driving geomagnetic storms on Earth, their impact on the inner planets, particularly Mercury and Venus, remains poorly understood. Sheaths are challenging to study due to their complex and multi-scale structure and their possible extended formation from the low solar corona to inter-planetary space. Most existing global MHD models are largely limited by their lower boundary at 0.1 astronomical unit and inaccuracies in CME flux-rope initialization techniques.

To address these challenges, the EMSWIP project aims to develop an advanced Sun-to-planet modeling framework that captures the full evolution of CMEs and their sheath regions from the solar corona to planetary environments, validated through data from latest missions such as BepiColombo, Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, and PUNCH. EMSWIP is expected to significantly deepen our understanding of the early evolution of CMEs and their sheath regions, as well as their space weather effects on unmagnetized or weakly magnetized planets, paving the way to uncover how similar processes shape planetary atmospheres beyond our solar system.

Role of the Doctoral Researcher

Based on the selected candidate’s expertise and interests, the PhD work could contribute to several aspects of the project, including analyzing near-Sun observations of CMEs and shocks, running three-dimensional numerical simulations to model the Sun-to-planet evolution of CMEs and their sheath regions, assessing their impact on planetary environments, and validating the model results with in-situ measurements.

Requirements

• MSc (or equivalent) in space physics, astrophysics, or a related discipline completed by the time of appointment,
• Strong interest in solar physics, space weather, or plasma modeling
• Programming experience (e.g., Python or equivalent),
• Some background in solar data analysis or simulations is helpful, but not mandatory.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English

The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. If the candidate does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately (www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-in-a-nutshell). The requirements for pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki can be found at https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/eligibility-and-educational-documents.

What we offer

The University of Helsinki offers the appointee a first-class research and teaching environment as well as the preconditions necessary for international cooperation (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-university-helsinki).

The Space Physics Group at the University of Helsinki is one of Europe's leading research teams in space plasma physics, with expertise spanning both observational studies and theoretical or computational modeling. It offers an international and collaborative work environment that values equality, diversity, inclusion, and well-being. Group members have ample opportunities to develop both technical and transferable skills—including programming, data visualization, communication, networking, and leadership.

The starting salary of the doctoral researcher will be ca. 2600-2800 euros/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. Furthermore, the University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. International staff is supported in relocating to Finland (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome).

How to Apply

Applications should include (all documents should be in English):

• A motivation letter (max 1 page)
• A curriculum vitae (including academic record)
• Transcript of academic records (BSc and MSc)
• Contact details for at least two academic references.

The deadline for submission is 24th November 2025.

Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki recruitment system via the button “Apply now”.

For informal inquiries or questions about the position, feel free to contact Dr. Ranadeep Sarkar (ranadeep.sarkar@helsinki.fi).

If you have questions related to the recruitment system, please contact HR Specialist Laura Karppinen (laura.karppinen@helsinki.fi).

A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions.

Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University.

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