Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) | Detecting exoplanets through magnetic star-planet interaction

Scientist Göttingen

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Job Code: Innere: Ilin/Postdoc. research 2/09/2026

Job Offer from September 17, 2026

The Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Göttingen is one of the world's leading research institutions in the field of solar physics and planetary research, with around 300 employees. The interdisciplinary research focus is the investigation of the development, diversity and dynamics of planets, moons, small bodies, the Sun, and solar-like stars. The MPS develops and operates scientific instruments for current and future space missions (e.g., ESA, NASA), and carries out cosmochemical laboratory investigations of meteorites as well as numerical modeling on state-of-the-art supercomputers.

The Department Solar & Stellar Interiors at MPS invites applications for the position of a Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) to detect exoplanets through magnetic star-planet interaction.

In recent years, exoplanetary science has undergone a major shift -- moving from exoplanet detection towards understanding star-planet systems as a whole, including the host star, interplanetary medium and galactic context. Specifically, tidal and magnetic interactions between planets and their host stars have been recognized to be able to modulate the evolution of both, including the atmospheric evolution of the planet and its habitability. The newly established ERC StG project PLANETARE seeks a postdoctoral researcher with a background in stellar magnetism and/or exoplanetary science to develop novel ways of detecting and characterizing the mutual influence of stars and planets, with a focus on the influence of planets in short orbits on the magnetism of their host stars. At the core of the project is a new way to find exoplanets: detecting them through their magnetic interaction with the host star. This position develops the detection method itself, i.e., the statistics, the search, and the physical model behind it.

The position

• Develop new statistical techniques to identify signatures of planet-induced flaring
• Identify young stars and search them for planet-induced flaring using archival and upcoming Kepler, TESS, and PLATO observations
• Measure how the strength and frequency of planet-induced flaring change as systems age
• Develop a forward model of the magnetic feedback loop between planet and star

The derived occurrence rates of planet-induced flaring constrain the prevalence of interaction; the modeling of the evolution and mechanism will be built on the largest survey for planet-induced flaring to date. You will work closely with a second postdoc within a small, newly formed team of two postdocs and a PhD student, led by the PI (Ekaterina Ilin). Group members are supported to lead their own papers and proposals, and to present at international meetings in both the stellar and exoplanet communities.

Your qualification

• A PhD in physics or astrophysics (PhD must be awarded by the start date)
• Experience with statistical inference and/or modelling of stellar magnetic fields
• The ability to work in a team
• A good command of the English language

Additional information

• Start date between January and October 2027
• Duration: 4 years
• Remuneration is according to EG 13 TVöD-Bund
• Application deadline is October 30, 2026 (interviews in late November / early December 2026)

We look forward to receiving your informative application documents (cover letter, CV, references, certificates). Please submit these via our application portal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Ekaterina Ilin.

The Max Planck Society endeavours to achieve gender equality and diversity. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.