Research Associate (Planet Mercury)
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Research Associate (Planet Mercury)
[Employer hidden — view at passion-project.co.uk], Leicester
Full-time, fixed term contract for 36 months
Grade 7 - £39,906 to £46,049 per annum, pro-rata if part-time
Advert closes midnight on: 31 May 2026
About the role
This STFC-funded Research and Innovation Associate (RIA) position represents an exciting opportunity to join the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo instrument team at the [Employer hidden]. We will soon be receiving the first data back from Mercury via the UK’s only PI instrument: the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS) (Emma Bunce PI). This post is one of three positions now available via STFC Large Grant funding to the “Planet Mercury: Origins, Evolution, and Interactions” consortium between the [Employer hidden], Open University and Imperial College.
The successful candidate will work with Emma Bunce and will be located at Space Park Leicester. This represents a fantastic opportunity to develop your career analysing data from a live space mission, working with the research team both within the individual Institutions, the Planet Mercury consortium, and with the wider international MIXS team.
About you
You will hold a PhD in planetary magnetosphere physics or space plasma physics, with particular expertise in magnetosphere-surface coupling, spacecraft data analysis, and/or remote sensing techniques. A strong publication record, evidence of independent research capability, and experience working within collaborative research environments are essential. Proficiency in Python and a solid grasp of magnetosphere processes, especially those relevant to Mercury, will be key to your success in this role.
Additional information
For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Emma Bunce on [contact hidden]