Research and Innovation Associate - ICARUS

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 30 September 2029

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About the Role 

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the ICARUS project: Investigating Changes in Asteroid Regolith and Understanding Solar-driven Volatile Release in Near-Sun Asteroids. 

This role focuses on experimental petrology and high-resolution geochemical analysis to investigate how intense solar heating drives gas release and surface evolution in active near-Sun asteroids, with particular emphasis on asteroid [3200] Phaethon. The project combines cyclic heating experiments on meteorites with advanced analytical techniques, including SEM, Raman, near-IR spectroscopy, and impact ionisation mass spectrometry, to generate the essential ground-truth datasets required to interpret in-situ measurements from the DESTINY+ mission.

The successful candidate will lead laboratory-based research, contributing to experimental design, data acquisition, quantitative analysis, and interpretation, collaborating with international partners in Germany and Japan. This is primarily a research role with scope for limited teaching in line with institutional policy.

The successful candidate will be line managed by Dr Martin D. Suttle (OUPPS (Open University People Profile System) who serves as PI on the ICARUS project. 

Key Responsibilities
Research and Scholarship

• Design and conduct high-temperature cyclic heating experiments on meteorites to replicate the thermal evolution of near-Sun asteroids (using TGA-MS).
• Perform quantitative, high-resolution geochemical and mineralogical analysis using SEM-EDS, EMPA, Raman spectroscopy and near-IR spectroscopy.
• Analyse experimental data to quantify volatile release mechanisms and mineralogical changes, drawing conclusions relevant to the evolution of near-Sun asteroids.
• Prepare and analyse samples for hypervelocity impact ionisation mass spectrometry, generating ground-truth data for direct comparison with DESTINY+ DDA instrument measurements.
• Contribute to high-impact publications, conference presentations, and outreach activities communicating key findings.
• Maintain expertise in planetary science, meteoritics, experimental petrology, and analytical methods to inform ongoing research.

Teaching and Learning Support (optional)

• Provide limited support for OU undergraduate teaching in Physical Sciences (remote/online), if requested, for up to 6.25 hours per week.
• Participate in mentoring and training of postgraduate students in laboratory techniques and data analysis. 

Communication and Networking

• Communicate complex scientific concepts to colleagues, collaborators, and public audiences, including potentially in school-age outreach events.
• Liaise with international project partners, including remote meetings with collaborators in Japan and Germany, occasionally outside standard office hours (approx. once every two months).
• Build and maintain internal and external networks to support collaboration, knowledge exchange, and funding opportunities.

Project and Resource Management

• Plan and manage laboratory workflows, experimental schedules, and use of analytical facilities in collaboration with technical staff and the Project Lead.
• Ensure safe use of laboratories and analytical instruments in accordance with institutional health and safety standards.
• Maintain rigorous records of experimental procedures, datasets, and results to ensure reproducibility and compliance with project requirements.

About You

Essential:

• PhD (or submitted PhD thesis) in planetary science, geochemistry, meteoritics, experimental petrology, physics or a closely related field.
• Strong laboratory-based analytical skills in mass spectrometry complemented by proficiency in at least three of the following techniques: SEM, EMPA, Raman spectroscopy, near-IR spectroscopy, TGA, XRD, and/or TEM. Ideally applied to the study of meteorite or planetary analogue materials.
• Proven ability to design, execute, and interpret complex laboratory experiments independently.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including a track record of publishing research in high-impact journals as lead author.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally for collaborative work and conferences. 

Desirable:

• Experience in experimental petrology, including high-temperature or cyclic heating studies of meteorites or terrestrial analogue materials.
• Familiarity with hypervelocity dust impact experiments or metallized particle coating techniques.
• Experience with numerical modelling and scientific programming (preferably in Python).
• Willingness to contribute to limited teaching, supervision, or outreach activities.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working Arrangements

• Predominantly office and laboratory-based, at The Open University, Milton Keynes. As such the candidate is expected to be in-office (Tuesday–Thursday, 09:00-16:00) at Milton Keynes.
• Flexible working from home permitted on Mondays and Fridays outside of essential lab-based work and work trips.
• Occasional participation in remote meetings at unconventional hours (e.g., 01:00-08:00), linked to international space mission collaborations, expected not more than once every two months.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

If shortlisted, we anticipate interviews taking place W/C 13th July.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications has been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented. If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 1500 words and should outline how your skills and experience to date meet the essential and desirable criteria listed above) 

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Closing date: 11:59pm on Wednesday 24^th June 2026