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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Job opening: Open PhD position at University of Bern, review of applications begins at the end of August 2026 and continues until the position is filled.
2. Job opening: Postdoc Position at Queen Mary University of London, the deadline for applications is 28th August 2026 (late applications cannot be considered).
3. Nominations: ESWW 2026 - Nominations Open for the International Space Weather and Space Climate Medals, deadline: 15 September 2026.
4. Tournament: Live Solar Wind Prediction Tournament and Prize Fund, join us for the official briefing September 1, 2026.
5. Solar Orbiter Activities: Solar Orbiter and Proba-3 activities around the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse.
6. Conference: UKSWSE IV – Registration deadline 3 September.
7. Conference: RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting, deadline: September 9, 2026.
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1. Job opening: Open PhD position at University of Bern, review of applications begins at the end of August 2026 and continues until the position is filled.
From: Audrey Vorburger, University of bern, <audrey.vorburger at unibe.ch>
Subject: Open PhD position at University of Bern.
PhD Position in Planetary Science and Astrobiology – University of Bern, Switzerland
Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position at the University of Bern within the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Genesis.
The project will develop a computational framework that combines planetary chemistry with microbial metabolism to investigate planetary habitability and the detectability of biosignatures. Working in collaboration with researchers at the University of Bern and ETH Zurich, the successful candidate will apply the framework to the cloud layer of Venus and the subsurface ocean of Enceladus, contributing to the scientific preparation of future planetary exploration missions like ESA's L4 mission.
Applicants should have (or be close to completing) a Master's degree in physics, astronomy, planetary science, Earth science, computational science, chemistry, or a related discipline.
Earliest start date: November 2026. Review of applications begins at the end of August 2026 and continues until the position is filled.
Further information and application instructions:
https://jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancies/phd-position-in-nccr-genesis-computational-chemistrymetabolism-model-for-venus-and-e nceladus/e9b6329b-e3eb-41a1-b4f0-4e185fb01a7c
2. Job opening: Postdoc Position at Queen Mary University of London, the deadline for applications is 28th August 2026 (late applications cannot be considered).
From: Christopher Chen, Queen Mary University of London, <christopher.chen at qmul.ac.uk>
Subject: Postdoc Position at Queen Mary University of London.
A postdoc position is available in Dr Christopher Chen’s research team at Queen Mary University of London to work on a new project supported by an STFC Small Award. The project involves the use of in situ spacecraft data and supporting theory/simulations to study a range of fundamental plasma processes in near-Earth space and how they combine to shape the environment we see. There is also scope for the postdoctoral researcher to develop their own related research interests and to collaborate with Dr Chen’s broader research team in a diverse range of cutting-edge topics. The team covers a range of topics in space, astrophysical, and plasma physics - from fundamental plasma processes and the role that they play across different systems, to applications in space weather modelling and forecasting, and uses a range of approaches - spacecraft observations, numerical simulations, plasma theory, and lab plasma experiments. There will also be substantial career development opportunities and support available.
The Space & Astrophysical Plasmas Group at QMUL covers a broad range of topics - fundamental processes such as turbulence / shocks / reconnection / instabilities / kinetics, system science such as heliospheric dynamics / coronal processes / magnetosphere dynamics, applied science in space weather modelling and prediction, and a range of approaches including involvement in space missions, large-scale numerical simulations, lab plasma experiments, and advanced machine learning techniques. Postdocs and students interact in a vibrant and supportive research environment. The group is within the Astronomy Unit which also covers Cosmology & Relativity and Exoplanets & Planet Formation, with regular interaction between the groups.
For more information about this position and to apply, please see: https://qmul-jobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/apply/10459
The deadline for applications is 28th August 2026 (late applications cannot be considered). A CV and research statement (2 pages maximum) are required for the application. The start date is flexible and the position is ready to be taken up immediately. The duration of the position is 2 years initially, with the possibility for extension.
For informal enquiries please contact Dr Christopher Chen (christopher.chen at qmul.ac.uk).
3. Nominations: ESWW 2026 - Nominations Open for the International Space Weather and Space Climate Medals, deadline: 15 September 2026.
From: Michele Piana, Università di Genova, <esww2026.loc at gmail.com>
Subject: ESWW 2026 - Nominations Open for the International Space Weather and Space Climate Medals.
We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the 2026 International Space Weather and Space Climate Medals. The three medals recognize outstanding scientific, technological, educational, and community-building contributions in the fields of Space Weather and Space Climate:Kristian Birkeland Medal,
Baron Marcel Nicolet Medal, Alexander Chizhevsky Medal, dedicated to early-career scientists.
The medal recipients will be announced during the Medal Ceremony on 2 November 2026, at the European Space Weather Week in Florence, Italy.
Each recipient will also be invited to give a lecture during a dedicated session on the following day.
Nomination deadline: 15 September 2026
Self-nominations are not permitted. Full information on the eligibility criteria, required documentation, and nomination procedure is available on the call E-SWAN and on the ESWW 2026 webpages :
https://eswan.eu/index.php?view=article&id=252:call-for-nomination&catid=2
https://esww2026.eswan.eu/calls/call-for-e-swan-medals-2026
We encourage you to circulate this announcement within your networks and to nominate deserving colleagues.
4. Tournament: Live Solar Wind Prediction Tournament and Prize Fund, join us for the official briefing September 1, 2026.
From: Tom Penlington, Trillium Technologies, <tom.penlington at trillium.tech>
Subject: Live Solar Wind Prediction Tournament and Prize Fund.
Predicting the ambient solar wind three days ahead remains one of the most significant open problems in heliophysics. This is why we are engaging the community to drive SOTA in operational conditions.
We are pleased to share the FDL Benchlab Solar Wind Prediction 2026 AI Tournament, a live operational AI competition designed to test whether machine learning systems can produce robust 72-hour ambient solar-wind forecasts under realistic forward-time constraints.
Benchlab is a Frontier Development Lab initiative in partnership with CU Boulder, Queen Mary University of London and NASA. (benchlab.live)
Key information:
True Operational Conditions: Unlike traditional static competitions, this tournament tests models inside a live, constraint-driven operational inference loop. Your workflows will run continuously to generate forecasts against future, unseen ACE solar-wind data.
Prizes & Impact: Compete for a share of a $20,000 cash prize fund. Winners will co-author a joint technical paper with the organizing committee, and the top-performing model will be integrated directly into the live operational suite.
We encourage interdisciplinary teams to combine your domain expertise in solar physics with data science to build robust prediction architectures.
Pre-register your team here: https://fdl.ai/benchlab-solar-wind-prediction-2026
For full competition details, technical requirements, and to learn more about the Benchlab ecosystem, visit the competition website. Join us for the official briefing September 1, 2026.
5. Solar Orbiter Activities: Solar Orbiter and Proba-3 activities around the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse.
From: Miho Janvier, ESA, <miho.janvier at esa.int>
Subject: Solar Orbiter and Proba-3 activities around the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse.
On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible across parts of Europe and the North Atlantic. The path of totality will cross Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and a small area of northeastern Portugal, while other parts of Europe will see a partial eclipse.
We are pleased to share the following resources on mission operations for ESA/NASA's Solar Orbiter and ESA's Proba-3 around the eclipse:
- **Solar Orbiter activities around the eclipse time:** https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/solar-orbiter/total-solar-eclipse-2026
- **Proba-3 activities around the eclipse time:** https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/proba-3/total-solar-eclipse-2026
- **General ESA-led eclipse activities:** https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Join_ESA_for_a_total_solar_eclipse_on_12_August_2026
6. Conference: UKSWSE IV – Registration deadline 3 September.
From: Oliver Allanson, University of Birmingham, <o.d.allanson at bham.ac.uk>
Subject: UKSWSE IV – Registration deadline 3 September.
Registration is open for UK Space Weather & Space Environment Meeting IV: Space as a Global Endeavour, 14-17 September 2026 at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Final Registration Deadline: 3 September 2026.
Please see: https://iop.eventsair.com/ukswse2026/registration for full registration details and rates.
This will again be a hybrid meeting that allows for full participation and presentation both in-person and online.
Programme is available at https://iop.eventsair.com/ukswse2026/programme.
7. Conference: RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting, deadline: September 9, 2026.
From: Suman Chakraborty, Northumbria University, <suman.chakraborty at northumbria.ac.uk>
Subject: Abstract Submission | RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting | Deadline: September 9, 2026.
We are pleased to invite abstract submissions for the upcoming RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting:
"How Does Solar Wind Control Earth's Radiation Belt Dynamics?"
Date: Friday, 16 October 2026
Venue: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
This meeting will bring together the community working across observations, modelling, and theory to synthesise our understanding of how solar wind variability controls radiation belt dynamics. Sessions will cover:
1. Solar-terrestrial coupling and radiation belt response
2. Wave-particle interactions and the solar wind connection
3. Modelling and future directions
We welcome contributions from researchers at all career stages working across all aspects of solar wind-radiation belt coupling, including observations, theory, and modelling. Both oral and poster presentations are welcome.
Abstract submission deadline: 9 September 2026
Submit your abstract here: https://forms.gle/Ya4yEVAUtigWgDgs9Please share this announcement with anyone in your network who may be interested.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- ------