ES-2409 – PHD STUDENT IN PROSPECTING STRATEGY AND SAMPLING FOR SPACE RESOURCES

How will you contribute?

As part of a new phase of growth for ESRIC, supported by the FNR PEARL programme “Solutions for the Sustainable and Responsible Uses of Space Resources”, we are seeking a PhD Candidate to join our dynamic team. You will be a part of the team focusing on prospecting and collecting regolith. This research will complement other areas of activity currently in ESRIC, including resource characterisation, beneficiation and production of water, oxygen and metals from lunar regolith.

In this PhD project, you will combine terrestrial mineral exploration strategy with extraterrestrial prospecting strategy to design prospecting mission concepts and sampling strategies. You will review current sampling mission approaches, develop a strategy for extraterrestrial samples and design and build a regolith size classification system for the Moon or Mars. You will explore the limits of precision for separation of fine particles (e.g. <50 micron) for small samples and propose novel methods for separation of particles by size that could be used for small sample sizes on early prospecting missions. Current suggestions are often based on sieves and screens, which have significant limitations under lunar environmental conditions and with dry, abrasive particles. Possible techniques to explore in this project include vibrational segregation. You will evaluate critically potential candidate technologies and use this as a basis for your experimental system. You will use advanced imaging (e.g. XCT) and/or high speed imaging to analyse the efficiency of the system and to optimise experimental conditions. You will explore the effects of particle size and shape using idealised particle mixtures, in addition to using lunar regolith simulants. The goal of this research is to generate operating guidelines for small-scale particle size classification technology and to produce a concept that can be developed as a payload.

As a PhD student within LIST, you will have the following responsibilities:

• Follow and advance a research plan in agreement with your supervisor(s)
• Know the state of the art on the research topic of the thesis to be undertaken
• Manage the daily research work allowing you to deepen your knowledge of your research field
• Contribute to the preparation of progress reports on research for funding bodies and key stakeholders as required
• Contribute to the overall activities of ESRIC as required
• Actively collaborate with other researchers (ESRIC or external) and participate in group meetings, meetings with academic and non-academic collaborators
• Contribute to the drafting and submitting of papers to peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings
• Contribute to the creation of intellectual property rights (patents, licences, etc.)
• Prepare posters and presentations for conferences
• Present your work at local, national and international meetings with guidance and prior internal review
• Defend your thesis within the required time frame

Fixed term contract | 14+22+12 months I Belvaux

Are you passionate about space resources? So are we! Come and join us

The European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) is a joint initiative of the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). ESRIC’s mission is to be an internationally recognized centre of expertise for scientific, technical, business and economic aspects related to the use of space resources for human and robotic exploration, as well as for a future in-space economy.

You’d like to contribute as a researcher? Join us!

ESRIC is conducting activities in three main areas: Research and testing facilities, Business support and incubation, and Community management.

The primary objective of ESRIC is to research, develop and improve the understanding and performance of processes enabling the utilization of space resources with an initial focus on the Moon.

To find out more about ESRIC activities: www.esric.lu

Is your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

As to join us, you will have the following profile:

Person description

• Masters degree in Chemical, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, Physics or Geoscience
• Experience of carrying out supervised research projects
• Experience of working in a laboratory
• Experience of building or modifying experimental systems
• Knowledge of the terrestrial resources sector is considered an advantage
• Collaborative skills, initiative, and with capacity to work in an interdisciplinary and multicultural environment
• Publications and/or conference papers are considered an asset
• Excellent command of English is a requirement