Microgravity Science and Technology

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0027-NPP-MAR
26-GRC-Interdisc

Final date to receive applications: 3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly‑talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or a NASA‑affiliated research institute. These one‑to‑three‑year fellowships are competitive and designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

This opportunity focuses on the use of reduced‑gravity environments for advancing science and enabling technologies for space exploration in combustion science, fluid physics, and biological/medical systems research. NASA Glenn Research Center provides a world‑class suite of ground‑based microgravity facilities, including a 2.2‑second drop tower, a 5‑second zero‑gravity facility, and access to reduced‑gravity aircraft. Work involves
1) developing longer‑duration space‑flight experiments for the International Space Station,
2) conducting enabling research for missions to the Moon and Mars, and
3) performing experiments where reduced gravity provides unique insights into physical phenomena of interest to NASA. Focus areas include high‑pressure combustion, spacecraft fire safety, advanced life‑support systems, and space physiology, with research spanning high‑pressure combustion, supercritical phase transitions, supercritical water oxidation, colloids, material flammability, flame spread, aerosol dynamics, smoke detection, boiling, and heat transfer. In biological and medical systems, work involves developing robust biomedical sensors for astronaut health monitoring and reducing mission risk, using computational modeling to assess physiological effects and predict medical needs.

State‑of‑the‑art laboratories support development of diagnostic techniques and instruments for space and microgravity environments, advancing processes and equipment for both robotic and long‑duration manned missions.

Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Interdisciplinary/Other

• David Urban, David.
  
  L.Urban, 216‑433‑2835
• Jerry Myers, Jerry.
  
  G.Myers, 216‑433‑2864

Please email npp

Mikeala

• Citizenship:
  Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) or U.S. Citizen
• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree