The ESA-CAS SMILE mission, due to launch imminently, will image the dayside magnetosphere for the first time in soft X-rays from solar wind charge exchange. Since X-ray emissions are expected to peak at the magnetopause, SMILE offers the possibility of remote sensing magnetopause dynamics for the first time. Through leveraging other spacecraft and ground-based instruments, these can then be linked to the effects felt within geospace and on the ground. This exciting new capability offers many possible opportunities in determining the large-scale response of the first link in the geospace processing chain that ultimately leads to space weather.

This funded PhD project is highly centred on data analysis, computer programming, and data visualisation. Experience with these will be vital. It will also leverage advanced interdisciplinary signal processing and machine learning methods, which it would be an advantage for you to have some familiarity with. Knowledge of basic plasma or space physics would also help, but is not necessarily required upon application.

This project is fully funded by the Department of Physics at Imperial College London for students with ‘home’ fee status. For more information, contact Dr Martin Archer (m.archer10@imperial.ac.uk).

Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/space-and-atmospheric-physics/postgraduate-studies/phd-opportunities/