Sweden-PhD Positions in Astrobiology

Stockholm University, Sweden

The university is going to take up 8 graduate students who want to undertake a Ph. D. course in Astrobiology. 2 of the students will be affiliated with each of the above-named departments, but will take a great part of their courses with their fellow astrobiologists from the graduate school.

Astrobiology is a new and rapidly expanding field. It tries to find answers to e.g. the following questions (the list is by no means exhaustive):

• What are we actually defining as life ? Where does physics and chemistry end in the evolution of life and biology begin ?
• Which are the conditions for life to emerge on planets and remain there ? Is or was life on other planets (Mars) or their satellites such as (Titan) possible ?
• To which extent can building stones of bio molecules (amino acids carbohydrates) be formed in the interstellar medium ?
• How do simple molecules evolve into complex bio polymers (proteins, RNA, DNA) and to which extent is this development affected by influences from space ?
• Which molecular components of cells were formed first: enzymes, genes or membranes ?
• What can life forms in extreme environments tell us about life in early stages of our planet (and possibly other ones) ?
• Which role did impacts of small and large objects (meteorites, comets) have on the evolution on Earth ?
• How should scientists search for life on other planets? What are the pitfalls of the various approaches, and what evidence would be considered conclusive ?

To clarify these questions multi-disciplinary and multi-method scientific approaches are necessary. Therefore, Astrobiology comprises the subjects of astronomy, chemistry, biology, paleontology, geology, physics and many of their sub disciplines. At Stockholm University, the following departments will be engaged in teaching and research in the field of Astrobiology:

• Stockholm Observatory
• Geology and Geochemistry
• Molecular Biology and Functional Genomics
• Physics

Applying students can voice their preference for one or more departments on the application form. Application is open to students of all nationalities. To be eligible for the graduate programme, you must have fulfilled the formal requirements for entry into the PhD programme at the relevant department at Stockholm University, or have an equivalent international qualification by 1 September 2006.

We offer:

• work in an exciting and fast growing interdisciplinary field of science.
• affiliation to internationally competitive work groups.
• specially tailored courses in the field of astrobiology.
• possibility of research visits to other leading astrobiology institutions.

Deadline for the application is May 15 2006. For instructions on how to apply please click here. The expected starting dates for the PhD positions lie in the range September-October 2006. The positions have durations of up to four years of full time studies, but may be extended to five years through teaching at the undergraduate level. The graduate programme is arranged such that the PhD course work will be concentrated to the beginning of the four (or five) year period. General information on graduate studies in Stockholm can be found here .

For further details please visit official website