The Earth and Planetary Magnetism Group have a vacancy within their experimental fluid mechanics and MHD laboratory. We seek a motivated scientist with an interest in participating in ongoing experiments, and in developing research interests of their own. Present facilities include a water laboratory and the ability to perform liquid metal experiments.

Experiments are aimed at understanding the rapidly rotating regime of Earth’s core dynamics, in the presence of magnetic fields. Future experiments will include current-driven flows (Dean flow) in both non-rotating and rapidly-rotating regimes.

Details of work can be found at http://www.epm.ethz.ch/mfece.

The position is nominally for 2 years, with a possibility of subsequent renewal subject to funding constraints.
ETH Zurich offers excellent work conditions at the heart of Europe. Interested candidates should send a CV (including publication list), a statement of research interests and the names of 3 referees to Andrew Jackson

ajackson(at)ethz.ch

.

Andrew Jackson

ETH Zürich
Institut für Geophysik
Sonneggstrasse 5
CH-8092 Zürich
Switzerland

The von Karman Sodium (VKS) experiment is one of the three sodium laboratory experiments that have observed dynamo action. Moreover, when a small rotation is imparted to the experiment, a variety of dynamical regimes are observed, ranging from reversals, to oscillations or chaotic behaviours, following a universal scaling law comparable to cosmic field regimes. This makes VKS a unique tool to understand the origin of this scaling law, and the dynamo mechanism involved.

However, the detailed way of how these mechanisms work in the VKS dynamo is still subject to controversy. We propose to share a post doc between 3 teams of different labex, to tackle this problem through dedicated numerical simulations and data analysis. The results will be used to improve the models currently used for modelling of astrophysical magnetic fields.

Further Information: Postdoc Description (pdf)

Dates:

• — beginning in June-July 2013 (negotiable)
• — duration = 1 year (+1 year extension)

Please contact

Caroline Nore
Professeur à l’Université Paris Sud 11,
Membre de l’Institut Universitaire de France LIMSI-CNRS, batiment 508,
BP 133 91403 ORSAY cedex
tél: 01 69 85 80 90/
fax: 01 69 85 80 88
http://www.limsi.fr/Individu/nore
http://www.masterpam.u-psud.fr/

Applications are invited for two three-year postdoctoral research positions in the area of Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The positions are available to work on two projects within an STFC consolidated grant to study the behaviour of complex magnetic fields in the solar corona. Topics will include studying the importance of the complex topology magnetic carpet on the dynamics and heating of coronal loops, and determining the constraints that govern the relaxation of coronal magnetic fields.

The successful candidates will join a young and growing MHD group at Dundee that currently consists of three permanent members of staff (Prof G Hornig, Drs D Pontin and A Wilmot-Smith) and three PhD students. The group has access to a large Beowulf parallel computer. The projects are funded as part of a Consortium that also includes Dr A Yeates at the University of Durham. Further details about our group in Dundee can be found here:

http://www.maths.dundee.ac.uk/mhd/

The ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of MHD and will have extensive experience in either one or both of the following: (i) computational MHD/hydrodynamics and code development, (ii) mathematical modelling of plasmas or fluids. Experience in solar physics observations would also be beneficial. Applicants must hold a PhD in solar physics, plasma physics or applied mathematics by the start of the project.

The positions are available for three years, from April 1st 2013. The starting salary will be on Grade 7 of the UK Universities’ pay scale, typically around £29,249.

The formal advert will appear in the near future. Interested parties are encouraged to contact us (at e.g. dpontin(at)maths.dundee.ac.uk) to make us aware of their interest, and for further details.

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Dr David Pontin

Division of Mathematics
University of Dundee
Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland