Research Associate in Space & Planetary Physics

Location: South Kensington Campus

About the role: We are seeking a Research Associate in space & planetary physics to make important contributions to understanding the innermost planet: Mercury. You will work both independently and as part of UK and international teams tied to the high-profile ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission. You will analyse new data from the two spacecraft in orbit around Mercury, revealing how energy flows through space around the planet and constraining the electrical conductivity of the crust and mantle, which may become central to resolving the mystery of why Mercury has such a large iron core.

What you would be doing: You will combine new in situ measurements by the BepiColombo spacecraft with theory and modelling, using computational techniques and commonly used software packages. You will regularly interact with other space and planetary scientists at Imperial College London, other members of the UK “Planet Mercury” team, and the wider BepiColombo team. You will present your results at conferences and via peer-reviewed publications.

What we are looking for:

• A PhD in Space/Planetary Physics or a closely related discipline
• Experience in the analysis of spacecraft data, theory, or numerical modelling
• A track record of original research that includes peer-reviewed publications
• Excellent communication skills

What we can offer you:

• Membership of the new UK Planet Mercury team and BepiColombo science team as the mission enters its exciting science phase
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package.
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further Information

This is a full-time position with an anticipated start date of October 2026. There is flexibility in this start date, if appropriate.

You will join a research group that has extensive science heritage through major involvement in the past Cassini-Huygens mission and the ongoing JUICE mission.

We play an active role in the definition of future missions spanning space and planetary physics.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.

Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, we navigate some of the world’s toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.

As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you’ll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.

This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you’ll join us at Imperial.

Our culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination and creating an inclusive working environment. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity and innovation.

Advert information