Announcements of Opportunity
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SURF@JPL: Announcements of Opportunity
Announcements of Opportunity are posted by JPL technical staff for the SURF@JPL program. Each AO indicates whether or not it is open to non-Caltech students. If an AO is NOT open to non-Caltech students, please DO NOT contact the mentor.
Announcements of Opportunity are posted as they are received. Please check back regularly for new AO submissions!
**Students applying for JPL projects should complete a SURF@JPL application instead of a "regular" SURF application.
**Students pursuing opportunities at JPL must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.
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| Project: |
Exoplanetary Biosignatures
(JPL AO No. 14203)
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| Disciplines: | Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Planetary Science | ||||||||
| Mentor: |
Pin Chen,
(JPL),
Pin.Chen@jpl.nasa.gov, |
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| Background: | This project aims to implement a systematic modeling framework for identifying new exoplanetary signatures of life and habitability. We first model a lifeless Earth-like planet as an integrated atmosphere-ocean-rock geochemical system. We then compare this abiotic reference system’s atmospheric compositions and spectra at various geological times against what we know of the actual biogeochemical Earth to identify potential biosignatures. Moreover, we apply biogenic fluxes to the system and changes in orbital distance, star type, and planet mass to investigate resulting habitability, atmospheric composition, and spectral changes. | ||||||||
| Description: | The intern will participate in the development of a computer software suite that incorporates solid and aqueous equilibrium chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric escape to simulate atmospheric compositions and observable spectra. In particular, she/he will investigate the impact of mineral (solid equilibrium) chemistry on atmospheric composition. The investigation will involve setting up appropriate scientific scenarios and conducting computer simulation runs. It will involve some amount of code development/revision as well. | ||||||||
| References: | http://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/PChen/ | ||||||||
| Student Requirements: |
Familiarity with chemical equilibria/thermodynamics and kinetics Experience using Git for software version control Experience with scientific computing Familiarity with Python and/or Fortran |
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| Location / Safety: | Project building and/or room locations: . Student will need special safety training: . | ||||||||
| Programs: |
This AO can be done under the following programs:
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