Space weather has a significant impact on the performance and reliability of space-based and ground-based technological systems. It can cause significant disruptions to modern communication and navigation systems, leading to increased security risks, economic losses and reduced quality of life.

The Department of Space Weather Observations of the newly founded Institute for Solar-Terrestrial Physics investigates and applies ionosphere measurement and inversion techniques using ground and space borne sensors. The observational data are used to reconstruct the temporally varying 3D electron density distribution of the geo-plasma environment by means of data fusion, reconstruction and assimilation techniques.

Your mission is in the field of applied research and contributes to the scientific and technical understanding of the interactions between space weather and our infrastructure (on the ground and in space). The CALLISTO spectrometer is a programmable heterodyne receiver ('Compound Astronomical Low frequency Low cost Instrument for Spectroscopy and Transportable Observatory'). The main applications are observation of solar radio bursts as well as rfi-monitoring. A network has been established, wherein DLR operates three types of receivers in different spectral ranges. All data is continuously transferred from the measurement sites to a server. In addition, DLR intends to install a riometer at high latitudes as part of the SIGN network (‚Solar Ionospheric Global Network‘) for further investigating particle precipitation. Your work will support operators of critical infrastructures and services in the fields of navigation, communications, aviation, space exploration and the electricity grid.

Your tasks will specifically include:

• Investigation of Solar Radio Bursts (SRB) and Radio Frequency Interferences (RFI) and its hazard potential in different frequency bands (HF, VHF/UHF, L-band).
• Development of near-real-time algorithms for the detection and categorization of SRBs, as well as derivation of CME shock velocities, if applicable.
• Investigation of the dynamics of particle precipitation in the ionosphere (REPs, SPEs, PCA)
• Effects of solar proton events (SPEs) / polar cap absorption (PCA) events on radio communication or radio wave propagation.
• Analysis of Relativistic Electron Precipitation (REP) to understand Van Allen radiation belt dynamics and geomagnetic storm propagation.
• Establishment and extension of the SIGN measurement network (in particular Callisto, Riometer)
• Verification of methods for the calibration (hard-/software-based) of the corresponding measuring instruments
• Presentation of research results to the international scientific community and continuous exchange of experience with other international teams working in the field of space weather
• Project tasks

You will bring your excellent skills to a nationally and internationally successful as well as highly motivated research team with many years of scientific expertise in ionospheric and space weather research. Here you will experience a very good working atmosphere at a well-equipped and modern research location in a beautiful and attractive region of Germany.