The Institute of Planetary Research carries out and supports research programs on the internal structure, formation and evolution of the planets and their moons, asteroids and comets of our Solar System and other planetary systems. Techniques employed include remote sensing and in-situ investigations using instruments carried on spacecrafts, astronomical observations from the ground, laboratory experiments, and theoretical modelling. The Department of Planetary Physics has a long-standing experience in developing models of the dynamics and evolution of the interior of planets and moons, with a major focus on large-scale numerical simulations of thermal convection in the mantle of rocky bodies.

As part of the DFG project "Thermal and magmatic development of Venus" in Collaboration with the University of Munster, we will use geodynamical thermal evolution models to provide predictions about the present-day level of volcanic and tectonic activity, as well as the degree of chemical heterogeneity in the interior and at the surface of Venus. Our main objectives for this project are to investigate the effects of composition on partial melting in the interior of Venus and to understand what are the consequences of crustal recycling in the presence of volatiles for chemical heterogeneities at the surface of Venus. The project will be carried out at the Department of Planetary Physics of the DLR in Berlin and in close collaboration with the Institute of Mineralogy of the University of Münster, where melting experiments on proposed compositions for Venus will be performed. Our combined experiments-numerical modeling approach will be used to make predictions for upcoming measurements for the recently selected ESA’s EnVision and NASA’s VERITAS missions.

To support our group in this exciting project that will combine melting experiments and numerical models, we are looking for a highly motivated candidate. The ideal candidate will have strong mathematical and programming skills, and experience in numerical methods for the solution of partial differential equations. Previous experience in planetary physics, thermal convection and computational fluid dynamics is welcome but not necessary. The successful candidate will focus on incorporating melting parametrizations into numerical models that will be applied to interpret current and future mission data. The student will be supported by extensive on-site expertise in planetary science and excellent computational resources.

Your tasks:

• extension of the mantle convection models to include parametrizations of partial melting of the mantle as derived from experiments and thermodynamic modelling, and application to the thermochemical evolution of Venus
• investigation of the effects of melting processes on the redistribution of heat producing elements between the mantle and crust, as well as on the melting temperature
• implementation of the effects of volatiles (H2O, CO2, S, and Cl) on the dynamics and magmatic history of the Venusian mantle
• investigation of the effects of intrusive and extrusive magmatism on the lithosphere evolution and surface mobilization on Venus
• evaluation of the effects of surface mobilization on the magmatic evolution of Venus
• interpretation of the model results, presentation of the project outcome at national and international conferences, and publication of the obtained results in peer-review journals

The opportunity to work on a PhD thesis can be offered, when the suitable qualification is given.

Applications should be submitted online and should include names and contact information of at least two references.