The Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) invites applications for a 3-year postdoctoral position in Lund, Sweden, focused on developing forecasting models for solar flares using machine learning.
Solar storms are a key research topic in solar physics and space weather. They occur when energy stored in complex solar magnetic fields is rapidly released, producing phenomena such as solar flares, energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These events can affect technological systems in space and on Earth, making improved forecasting an important scientific and societal challenge.
The project will analyze time series of solar magnetic fields in active regions, primarily using data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Based on vector magnetograms and derived parameters, datasets will be constructed and machine learning methods applied to develop solar flare prediction models. The goal is to identify magnetic properties relevant to flare production and contribute to forecasting tools for space weather services.
The successful candidate will join IRF’s Solar, Space and Atmospheric Research (STAR) programme within an international research environment (further information and application details here).