The Centre for Plasma Astrophysics (CPA) of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) accepts applications for one postodoctoral position within the framework of the SWIFF consortium funded by the European Commission within the FP7 program (swiff.eu). SWIFF encompasses 7 centers in 5 European countries.
The activities will focus on the development of physical-mathematical models, algorithm and software to study multiple scale processes in the solar corona (flares, CMEs), the propagation of the solar wind and its disturbances and the study of the magnetosphere and its connection with solar activity. The work will be theoretical, focusing on linking different fluid models (e.g. Hall MHD or twi fluid with MHD) and fluid with kinetic models. The work will be based on the extensive previous expertise in the field of high performance computing, space science and its application to space weather at the CPA and within the SWIFF consortium.
The selected candidates will have expertise in at least one of the following areas:
Solar physics, Magnetospheric physics,Solar wind,Expertise on computer programming with C, C++ or Fortran,Plasma physics, astrophysics or space physics, Numerical methods for fluid dynamics, MHD and kinetic physics particle in cell methods.
The researchers will have access to large parallel computer facilities and to a stimulating research environment within the CPA and the SWIFF consortium. The researchers will be employed by the K.U.Leuven, but collaborations with other centers of SWIFF are encouraged. The work place is Leuven, a historic university town (our university is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1425) located just 20 minutes from the center of Brussel and 15 minutes from the Brussel airport, making it easily reachable to international travelers. Leuven is an international city located in the Flemish (Dutch speaking) part of Belgium where English and French are spoken routinely in all places (from University and public offices to shops and entertainment venues).
Scholarship Application Deadline:2011-05-28
Further Scholarship Information and Application
