[IGSMAIL-8519] Open PhD Positions at AIUB, Bern, Switzerland

[Rolf Dach]

Author: Rolf Dach

Open PhD Positions at the Astronomical Institute of the
University of Bern for ITRF4future project
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The Satellite geodesy research group of the Astronomical Institute
of the University of Bern (AIUB) offers two positions for

                       PhD CANDIDATES.

The reliable and stable realization of the terrestrial reference frame
is an essential task in the global geodesy because it forms the basis
for monitoring the system Earth. In a new joint project between
Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut of the Technical University
of Munich (DGFI-TUM) and AIUB we are targeting to improve in particular
the scale realization in future ITRF solutions. This is in particular
important for many applications, like the measurement of the sea level
rise.

One of the PhD candidates will focus on the scale in the GNSS solution.
The disclosure of the pre-launch satellite antenna calibration for the
Galileo and GPS Block IIIA satellites allowed for the first time to
obtain a scale contributions for the ITRF from GNSS technique.
Nevertheless, there remain a number of questions, e.g., how orbit
modelling deficiencies map into the scale or why there are discrepancies
between the GNSS-, VLBI-, and SLR-derived scale realization.

The other PhD candidate will assess different solutions for the ITRF –
starting from the most recent solutions for the ITRF2020 by the three
IERS combination centers. With the progress of the project new ITRF
solutions become available generated by the DFGI-TUM partner that
should be included as well. Finally the influence of different ITRF
solutions on orbits from altimeter satellites will be derived allowing
even the use of altimeter measurements for a quality control.

Both PhD topics are currently subject of working groups established by
the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). It demonstrates on one
hand the importance of this work. On the other hand, the working groups
will allow an international exchange of the PhD candidates supported by
the supervisors.


The complete position description is available at
https://www.bernese.unibe.ch/Stellen/stelle2411.pdf


Please circulate this information within your institute.


With best regards

Rolf Dach