An institute associated to

IRSOL

Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno

PhD and Postdoctoral Position in

Solar and Computational Physics

The Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno (IRSOL), an associate of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and
its Institute of Computational Science (ICS), seeks to appoint a postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) and
a postgraduate researcher as a PhD candidate (PGR) for carrying out a research project in the field of
computational solar physics. IRSOL is a small solar observatory, specialized in high precision polarimetry.
The main activities comprise polarimetry of the Sun, theoretical spectroscopy, and numerical radiation
magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the solar atmosphere. The doctoral thesis shall be carried out in
cooperation with USI/ICS or possibly with an other Swiss University (SU). We also foresee cooperation with
the Swiss Supercomputing Center (CSCS) and international partners.

Your tasks
The project foresees the post-processing of already existing, and the production of new simulation data for
carrying out research on various topics of solar physics related to future observations with large solar
telescopes and to ongoing observational programs at IRSOL. These research activities shall carry on
magnetohydrodynamic waves and turbulence, and spectroplarimetric line formation. Beyond that, and
depending on interests and skills, we plan to further develop our simulation tools and computational methods
with regard to supercomputing and the future era of exa-scale computing. We also plan for universal access
of our simulation data and analysis tools.

Your profile
We seek a PhD candidate (PGR) who holds a master diploma in physics or applied mathematics or
computational sciences. He or she should have a good background in physics and numerical methods and
be interested in astrophysics and should have experience in programming and be proficient in written and
spoken English and have excellent communication skills. Likewise are the requirements for the PDRA
position for which the candidate must hold a PhD in the field of astrophysics or computational sciences or
applied mathematics and have a strong interest in solar physics.

Further important information
The PhD will be carried out jointly at IRSOL and USI or at an alternative Swiss university (SU). The PhD
degree will be awarded by either USI under the supervision of Prof. Rolf Krause or by another SU. The
project is foreseen to be mainly carried out at IRSOL under the supervision of Dr. O. Steiner and possibly at
USI or alternative SU. There is some flexibility with regard to the workplace, which shall be mainly at IRSOL
in Locarno-Monti but can partly include USI or another SU. The project is funded by the Swiss National
Science Foundation (SNSF) for a time period of 36 months. Salary corresponds to the standards of the
SNSF.

Applications should be sent by email to Dr. O. Steiner (steiner@irsol.ch) and should include the following
material:

1. Curriculum vitae;


2. statement of research interest;


3. digital copies of the master diploma including course grades;


4. contact information for two potential professional references;


5. for the PDRA position only: digital copies of the PhD diploma and the PhD thesis.

Please quote as subject title ’PDRA position’ or ’PGR position’, respectively. Review of applications will start
soon and continue until the position is filled.
Questions concerning the advertised position should be directed to Dr. Oskar Steiner.