Faculty of Science
Information for applicants
Post title:
Post Doctoral Research Assistant in Meteorite Sulphide Studies
Salary:
£ 25,633 – £30,607
Grade:
Academic Grade 2
Post reference:
2603
Closing date:
16/06/06
Interview date:
Late June
Information included in this pack:
Section:
1.0
2.0
3.0
The post
1.1
Post details
1.2
Job description
1.3
Person specification
Applying for the post
2.1
How to apply
2.2
Application information
Faculty information
3.1
Faculty of Science
3.2
Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute
Section 1.0: THE POST
Section 1.1: POST DETAILS
Post title:
PDRA in Meteorite Sulphide Studies
Reports to:
Professor Monica Grady
Unit and/or team:
Faculty of Science, Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute
Salary details:
£25,633 – £30,607
Location:
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes
Working hours:
Full-time
Contract type:
Fixed term, with funding for 3 years
Section 1.2: JOB DESCRIPTION
Overall job purpose
To carry out research on sulphides in reduced meteorites. The specific objectives are:
1. Identify metal and sulphide minerals in a suite of enstatite chondrites and achondrites
(aubrites), and characterise their mineralogy, mineral chemistry and structure.
2. Prepare material from opaque phases (including iron-nickel metal, sulphides, phosphides
and chromites) by focussed ion-beam milling. Determine the transition metal content of
selected opaque grains. Determine transition metal isotope systematics of the grains
(Fe, Ni, Cu initially; additional elements depending on abundances).
3. Measure the sulphur isotopic composition of the opaques by ion microprobe, to
determine isotopic fractionation between different components.
4. Measure the noble gas composition of separates from enstatite meteorites, to determine
what proportion of the gases might be directly implanted solar gases.
5. On the basis of the structural, mineralogical and isotopic data acquired, model the
enstatite parental regolith and compare (and constrain) analogous models of the
Mercurian regolith, in preparation for the forthcoming launch of Bepi-Colombo.
Section 1.3: PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications, experience and expertise
We expect applicants to possess a Ph.D. in an appropriate field such as planetary or earth
science. Furthermore the successful candidate will be computer-literate, and have experience
in analytical scanning electron microscopy.
Essential:
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Ph.D. in Earth or Planetary Science or related discipline
Extensive use of quantitative analytical SEM
Mineralogist or petrologist background
Desirable:
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Experience with Focused Ion Beam instrumentation
Knowledge of meteorites
Experience of ICP-MS
Experience of stable isotope mass spectrometry
Experience of Raman or IR spectroscopy
Personal Qualities:
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Good technical skills
Team person
Patient
Well-organised
Ability to work unsupervised
Self Motivated
Good communicator
Section 2.0: APPLYING FOR THE POST
Section 2.1: HOW TO APPLY
Application procedure
a)
Your application should include:

Completed short form application (attached)

Academic CV

Covering letter
b)
Send the above documents to:
Mrs Priya Punchihewa
Planetary & Space Sciences Research Institute
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA
to arrive by 16th June 2006
References
Three referees should be nominated, at least one of whom should be from your current or
most recent employer. Please provide full contact details in the Referee section of the
application form, including any constraints on our approaching them.
When completing the ‘Referees’ section of the application form, please ensure you specify
your Head of Department/Division/Faculty/School as your ‘current employer’, as s/he is
responsible for providing this reference or nominating an appropriate alternative referee.
Please be advised that the employing Unit at The Open University (in this case the Faculty of
Science) is responsible for requesting references from your referees.
Section 2.2: APPLICATION INFORMATION
Eligibility:
Internal/External applicants
Closing date:
16th June 2006
Pre-applications
enquiries:
If you wish to discuss this post informally, please contact
Professor Monica Grady, telephone 01908 659251 or e-mail
m.m.grady@open.ac.uk.
Shortlisting:
Shortlisting will be completed as soon as possible after the closing date.
Interviews:
Interviews will be held in late June 2006
Candidates will be required to provide their eligibility to work in the U.K.
by producing verifiable documents. Details of the required documents will
be sent to the successful candidate at the written offer of employment
stage.
Disabled
applicants:
The Open University welcomes applications from disabled people, and
information about disability is requested solely in order to make
appropriate arrangements for an interview if necessary. Disabled
applicants whose skills and experience meet the requirements of the job
will be interviewed. A map and access guide for the disabled indicating
routes to buildings, lift access and reserved parking on campus is
available on request.
Recruitment
procedures:
The appointment process reflects the University’s and the Faculty of
Science’s commitment to Equal Opportunities and the need to ensure
these principles are reflected in all aspects of the appointment procedure.
Section 3.0: UNIVERSITY AND FACULTY INFORMATION
Section 3.1: THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE
The Faculty of Science has four teaching departments: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth
Science, Physics and Astronomy; and the Planetary & Space Sciences Research Institute.
Chemistry and PSSRI have recently moved into new purpose built accommodation, which
provides modern office space, laboratories and workshops, as well as technical support
services for the Science and Technology Faculties.
The Faculty has a staff of about 320, comprising around 120 full-time academic staff (central
and regional) with the balance made up of research staff, course co-ordinators/managers,
laboratory staff, technicians, administrators and secretaries. There are also varying numbers
of research students and visitors.
The Science Curriculum
The Faculty’s curriculum is organised into four major discipline-based areas with named
awards in Geosciences, Life Sciences, Molecular Science, and Physical Science and an
interdisciplinary BSc in Natural Sciences. In recent years the faculty has pioneered a range
of short topic-based courses which have proved very popular with students both as a way into
more serious science study, for interest, and to help with key skills (eg. Maths for Science).
The Science Faculty also offers a modular masters programme leading to an MSc in Science
with two ‘strands’ – Science Studies and Frontiers in Medical Science.
For more information, please see our website at http://www.open.ac.uk/science/index.htm
Section 3.2:
PLANETARY AND SPACE SCIENCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PSSRI)
Head of Institute: Professor Ian Wright
http://pssri.open.ac.uk/
The PSSRI is probably one of the highest profile scientific research groups in the UK scientific
community having been instrumental in the development of Beagle 2, which was carried to
Mars aboard the European Mars Express spacecraft, and in the Cassini/Huygens mission,
with the successful landing of Huygens on Titan during January 14th 2005. In its joint
assessment with Earth Sciences, PSSRI gained top grading (5) in the last RAE. The group is
involved in the search for answers to basic questions about our Universe, studying all aspects
of planetary and space science including the evolution of planets and moons in our solar
system, near Earth objects such as asteroids, the early solar system, interstellar dust
particles, impact phenomena on all scales and astrobiology.
PSSRI – Space-based activities As well as a heritage in space exploration spanning Giotto
(1986), which intercepted comet Halley, through Beagle 2 to Cassini-Huygens, PSSRI has
involvement in ongoing missions including Genesis, which returned solar wind samples to
Earth (2004), Stardust, which collected cometary materials in early 2004 and will return them
to Earth (2006) and Rosetta, which will place hardware built at the Open University on the
surface of a comet in 2014.
Development over the next 5 years will involve planning for a number of future spaceflight
opportunities, including the design and construction of instrumentation for an exobiology
mission to Mars (ExoMars), preparing for a sample-return mission to Mars, a mission to
Europa, and other opportunities associated with near-Earth objects. Closer collaborations with
other groups in CEPSAR will involve investigations of an exobiological nature, volcanism on
other worlds and planetary geochemistry.
PSSRI – Ground-based activities The ground-based activities of PSSRI revolve around a
number of laboratory investigations in the fields of cosmochemistry, hypervelocity impacts,
space environmental simulation and studies of the physics and chemistry of planetary
surfaces. PSSRI has an international reputation for research into all aspects of planetary
evolution including the early solar system, interstellar grains, impacts on Earth, and
astrobiology (specifically, ‘is there life on Mars’). Analytical expertise in analysis of carbon
and oxygen isotopes has led to the provision of highly sophisticated analytical instruments for
space missions and continues to form the basis of future research. The group has a similarly
high international profile in studies of ‘space dust’ and hypervelocity research. They are also
involved with observational activities directed towards the minor bodies of the Solar System,
which is set to grow through an exploitation of the facility known as Super-WASP (see under
ARG).
Activity over the next 5 years will include the hypervelocity impact centre, which will involve
the development of commercial opportunities, planning for a sample-return mission to Mars,
as well as the analysis of samples returned from the Sun, a comet and an asteroid. Closer
collaborations with other groups in CEPSAR will include understanding of the effects of
terrestrial impacts, planetary evolution, and volcanism on other worlds.
CENTRE FOR EARTH, PLANETARY, SPACE, AND ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH
(CEPSAR)
Centre Director: Professor R.A. Spicer;
The University’s centre of research excellence in Earth, Planetary, Space, and Astronomical
Research (CEPSAR) aims to study the origins, evolution, and chemistry of materials that form
the stars and planetary bodies, the processes and natural systems that shape the
environment of our habitable world, and the essential properties of a Solar System that allows
life to develop on one of its planets. The Centre provides an enthusiastic and focused
research culture, forging collaborative alliances across disciplines, and aspires to the highest
possible research status. The goal is to co-ordinate efforts in such a way as to maximise
research outputs, to undertake first class research, and to take advantage of funding
opportunities from UK and European sources.
Current groupings within the Centre are:
Astronomy Research Group (ARG)
Planetary and Space Science Research Institute (PSSRI)
Isotope Geochemistry Group (IGG)
Volcano Dynamics Group (VDG)
Climate and Earth Systems Group (CESG)
Ecosystems Research Group (ERG)
Many members of CEPSAR have allegiances to more than one group and the structure is
intended to encourage collaborative research across these groupings whenever possible.
The Research Centre comprises 36 permanent academics, 36 research staff on fixed-term
contracts, and 61 full-time postgraduate research students mainly based in Earth Sciences,
PSSRI and Physics & Astronomy. Staff within the Centre have attracted significant external
research funding from PPARC, NERC, Wellcome Foundation, Leverhulme Trust, the EU etc.
The University is providing significant investment in the Centre with the creation of these three
chairs. Together with HEFCE SRIF1 and SRIF2 funding, the University has made significant
investment in the provision of a new £11M building with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for
planetary and space sciences research.
Section 3.3:
THE UNIVERSITY
The Open University transforms lives through education. It has become by far the largest
university in the UK, now teaching well over 200,000 people every year. We have expanded
our activities throughout Europe and our highly rated teaching materials are used by other
institutions in many parts of the world. We are consistently achieving high rankings both in
research and teaching quality assessments.
Teaching is through the provision of specially designed, high quality, materials encompassing
traditional print texts, television, video, CD-ROM, internet and electronic conferencing
together with first class personalised tuition, learning feedback and support.
The success of the Open University is due to our outstanding staff. There are around 4,500
staff plus over 7,000 Associate Lecturers. Staff and potential staff are treated solely on the
basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, colour, ethnic or national
origin, age, socio-economic background, disability, religious or political beliefs, family
circumstances, sexual orientation or other irrelevant distinction.
We are also committed to the development of our staff to their full potential through lifelong
learning, offering a range of formal and informal training and development activities to ensure
that staff are able to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities and to help meet individual
and University objectives. Our objective is that all staff undertake a minimum of 5 days
development activity in each year.
For more information see our website: http://www.open.ac.uk
Staff Development
We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your
current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of
your training and development needs. The objective is that all staff should undertake at least
five days’ development activity in each year – this may include attendance at formal courses
or other learning e.g. use of self-study material. We invest substantial time and money in our
staff development provisions and we waive fees for staff wishing to study our own courses.
Leave
The annual leave entitlement is 30 days (33 days for academic related staff) in addition to all
bank and other public holidays and an additional 3 days at Christmas when the University is
closed.
Pension Schemes
Staff have the option of contributing to a Final Salary pension scheme and the University
contributes around 14% of salary. Full details will be sent with any offer of employment but
any preliminary enquiries should be addressed to the Pensions Section, Personnel Division
(01908) 652431 or 652957.
Relocation Expenses
Staff are normally expected to live within a reasonable travelling distance of their place of
work. The University will make a grant for expenses necessarily incurred for removals and
disturbance, within certain rules and subject to a maximum payment. Full details will be sent
with any offer of employment. The removal grant does not apply on appointments of less
than two years duration.
Family Friendly Policies
 Female staff are entitled to maternity/adoption leave for a period of 26 weeks, with full
pay for the first 18 weeks, subject to minimum service conditions. Female staff have the
right to return to work at any time within 52 weeks of the maternity leave start date, again
subject to certain conditions.
 Male staff are entitled to a maximum of 10 days paid paternity leave in connection with
their wife’s/partner’s confinement in any one leave year in addition to normal leave
entitlement, again subject to certain conditions.
 Pre-School Childcare Subsidy: We have a means-tested childcare subsidy scheme.
Those eligible are provided with a Childcare Voucher that can be used as part payment
for the care of children under 5 years of age. For further information about the scheme
contact the Personnel Division on (01908) 655050.
Milton Keynes based staff
Nurseries: There are a number of nurseries in the Milton Keynes area including one on site
at Walton Hall, the Open University Children’s Centre. There is a waiting list for some age
groups in the Centre and an early application is advised. Since the Children’s Centre is
independent of the Open University, appointees cannot be guaranteed a place for their child.
For further information telephone the Centre Leader on Milton Keynes (01908) (653867).
There is also a Borough of Milton Keynes nursery at nearby Kingston where the University
has reserved places.
Facilities
 Catering facilities providing meals, snacks and drinks
 Open University Club (offering a number of club and society events, sports and social
outlets)
 Occupational Health Department (located on site at Walton Hall) provides
professional advice to individuals and managers on all work related health issues
 Natwest Bank sub branch on site at Walton Hall
 Shop selling general provision on site at Walton Hall
Local Education: Information on local schools can be obtained from the Learning and
Development Directorate, Milton Keynes Borough Council on (01908) 253489.
Smoking Policy: Please note that smoking is banned in all working areas and many of the
recreational areas.