Postdoctoral Fellow in Prebiotic Chemistry at Planetary Interfaces

Paul Scherrer Institut PSI -
Villigen PSI, AG

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Your tasks

You design, construct and commission reactors, sources and sampling interfaces for investigating chemistry under planetary analogue conditions, with particular emphasis on gas–solid interfaces, plasma chemistry, photochemistry and sulfur chemistry
You plan and carry out experiments using reactive gas mixtures in contact with inorganic materials relevant to the early Earth and rocky planets, investigating the formation, transformation and stability of prebiotic molecules
You combine reactor experiments with molecular-beam sampling, mass spectrometry and advanced photoionization methods, including PEPICO spectroscopy, to identify products and reactive intermediates that reveal reaction mechanisms
You develop and pursue complementary research directions in the Reaction Dynamics (PSI) and Experimental Planetology (ETHZ) groups, coordinating activities across PSI, ETH Zurich, EPFL and the wider NCCR Genesis network
You analyze and interpret experimental data, publish your findings in peer-reviewed journals and present your work at international conferences

Your profile

PhD degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, physics, geochemistry, planetary sciences or a related discipline
Experience in designing, constructing, and operating complex experimental setups
Experience in one or more of the following areas: reactor development, vacuum technology, gas handling, plasma or photochemical experiments, high-temperature chemistry, mass spectrometry or advanced spectroscopy
Ability to translate broad scientific questions into robust experiments and to pursue parallel research directions with independence
Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and the ability to work constructively across institutions and scientific disciplines

We offer

You will join an interdisciplinary research environment connecting the Reaction Dynamics Group at PSI with the Experimental Planetology group at ETH Zurich, while benefiting from close collaboration across the broader NCCR Genesis community. You will help establish new experimental capabilities for investigating how planetary environments, interfaces and energetic processes generate and transform prebiotic molecules.

The position offers access to PSI’s advanced laboratory and large-scale research infrastructure, opportunities to establish collaborations across Switzerland and internationally, and considerable scope to shape new experimental directions in an emerging research field.

Our institution is based on interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from a motivating work environment, in addition to personal development possibilities. We will support you with modern employment conditions and on-site infrastructure to combine work and family life or other personal interests.

Your employment contract is limited to 2 years.

For further information, please contact Dr András Bödi, e-mail [email protected], Dr Patrick Hemberger, e-mail [email protected] or Prof. Dr Paolo A. Sossi, e-mail [email protected].

Please submit your application online by 31 August 2026 (including list of publications and addresses of referees) for the position as a Postdoctoral Fellow (Index-Nr. 6413-29310).

Paul Scherrer Institut, Human Resources Management, Mariusz Prus, 5232 Villigen PSI, Schweiz

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