Post-Doctoral Fellow, Physics

Postdoctoral Researcher Position

The Colorado School of Mines seeks a postdoctoral researcher to take a leadership role on the POEMMA Balloon with Radio (P ), a NASA super-pressure balloon (SPB) mission designed to study high-energy cosmic particles via multi-messenger detection. In this position, you will join an international collaboration and lead efforts to develop, integrate, and operate critical payload components, with a particular focus on simulation, payload calibration, and the Cherenkov camera system.

You will also participate in field testing, launch, and flight operations, as well as conduct physics analyses that contribute to the mission's scientific objectives.

Key Responsibilities over the full appointment:

• Assembly and integration
• Take a major role in the integration of the Cherenkov camera
• Testing & Operations
• Participate in payload integration activities
• Take a lead role in organizing the calibration of the payload
• Take a lead role in ground-based field testing of the instrument
• Collaborate with the international team during launch and flight operations, providing real-time monitoring and technical expertise.
• Research & Analysis
• Take a lead role in Cherenkov simulation and integration in Offline software
• Conduct a physics analysis project related to the P  mission or space-based multi-messenger observations (e.g., stratospheric Cherenkov telescope data, earth-skimming neutrino simulations).
• Present results at international conferences and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaboration & Mentorship
• Work closely with the broader P  collaboration, which includes NASA, universities, and research institutions worldwide.
• Provide mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students involved in mission-related projects.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD (or anticipated completion by start date) in Physics, Astrophysics, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience with experimental astrophysics or instrumentation.
• Demonstrated experience with physics/detector simulation and reconstruction software.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, for scientific publications and presentations.

Preferred/Desirable

Qualifications:

• Prior experience with super-pressure balloon experiments or high-altitude balloon instrumentation.
• Hands-on expertise in fluorescence/Cherenkov telescope hardware.
• Familiarity with data analysis for stratospheric Cherenkov telescopes and/or earth-skimming neutrino simulations.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary, international team environment.

Appointment & Benefits:

• This is a full-time, 1-year appointment with the possibility of renewal for up to two additional years, contingent upon performance and available funding.
• This position has the possibility of flexible work location; however, regular travel to the Colorado School of Mines for hardware work and meetings is expected. Extensive travel for integration, testing, launch, and conferences is required for the position.
• The start date is flexible; target summer or early fall 2026.

About Mines & Golden, CO:

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines' scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that's manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 "Very High Activity" research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world's problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Annual Rate: $65,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate's education, training and experience as well as the position's scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

In addition to the amazing benefits mentioned below, Mines continues to…