2 x PhD candidates in Satellite Geodesy 100 %
Publication date:
05 March 2025Workload:
100%- Place of work:Bern
Job summary
The University of Bern's AIUB seeks two PhD candidates. This is a unique chance to contribute to global geodesy and work with leaders in the field.
Tasks
- One candidate will focus on GNSS scale solutions and satellite antenna calibration.
- The other will assess ITRF solutions and their impact on altimeter satellite orbits.
- Both projects emphasize international cooperation in geodesy research.
Skills
- Candidates should have a master's in astronomy, geodesy, or physics.
- Experience in GNSS data processing is a plus.
- Fluency in English is required.
Is this helpful?
The satellite geodesy research group of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB) offers two positions for PhD CANDIDATES.
The reliable and stable realization of the terrestrial reference frame is an essential task in the global geodesy because it forms the basis for monitoring the system Earth. In a new joint project between Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut of the Technical University of Munich (DGFI-TUM) and AIUB we are targeting to improve in particular the scale realization in future ITRF solutions. This is particularly important for many applications, like the measurement of the sea level rise.
One of the PhD candidates will focus on the scale in the GNSS solution. The disclosure of the pre-launch satellite antenna calibration for the Galileo and GPS Block IIIA satellites allowed for the first time to obtain a scale contributions for the ITRF from GNSS technique. Nevertheless, there remain a number of questions, e.g., how orbit modelling deficiencies map into the scale or why there are discrepancies between the GNSS-, VLBI-, and SLR-derived scale realization.
The other PhD candidate will assess different solutions for the ITRF – starting from the most recent solutions for the ITRF2020 by the three IERS combination centers. With the progress of the project new ITRF solutions become available generated by the DFGI-TUM partner that should be included as well. Finally the influence of different ITRF solutions on orbits from altimeter satellites will be derived allowing even the use of altimeter measurements for a quality control.
Both PhD topics are currently the subject of working groups established by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) which demonstrates both the importance of this work and the emphasis on international cooperation which is inherent in the topics and which will be supported by the supervisors.
The candidate is expected to have successfully completed a master thesis (diploma / “Lizentiat”) preferably in astronomy, geodesy, physics, or a related topic. Experience in GNSS data processing or in using the Bernese GNSS Software package, and in computer science (coding in modern Fortran, C++, Perl, and/or Python) are not a requirement, but an advantage. The candidate should be able to speak and write English fluently.
Applications (including CV, university diploma copies, record of study, possible references and a motivation letter which should express a preference for one or the other PhD topic with an explanatory statement) should be received as soon as possible but no later than 28. March 2025 at the following address:
Prof Dr. Rolf Dach
Leiter Satellitengeodäsie Gruppe Astronomisches Institut Universität Bern
Sidlerstrasse 5
CH-3012 Bern
Schweiz
Phone: ++41 31 684 85 93
E-mail: E-Mail schreiben
Informal enquiries may be obtained at the above address as well.
The University of Bern is an equal opportunity employer and encourages in particular women to apply for open positions.
