Astrophysics: Far-Infrared, Submillimeter, and Millimeter-wave Instruments Astronomy

Astrophysics:
Far-Infrared, Submillimeter, and Millimeter-wave Instruments for Astronomy

Join to apply for the Astrophysics:
Far-Infrared, Submillimeter, and Millimeter-wave Instruments for Astronomy role at ORAU
.

Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code
0097-NPP-MAR
26-GSFC-Astrophys

How To Apply
All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements:

How to Apply

| NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org).

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

Description
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 at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Responsibilities
This work focuses on ultrasensitive detector design, fabrication, characterization, and integration into instruments for ground-based, airborne, and space-based astrophysical investigations. Current research focuses primarily on the development of large-format arrays of sensitive bolometers using superconducting transition edge sensors. We also have investigated single pixel optimization, including operation at very low powers for ultrasensitive (NEP~10^-19 W/Hz^0.5), novel noise suppression methods, and polarization sensitivity.

Recent efforts include the development of hot electron bolometers, microwave kinetic inductance detectors, and novel microstrip spectrometers. As a key portion of our detector development activities, our group is heavily involved in deploying instruments for suborbital observations. Instruments currently under development include the balloon-borne projects PIPER (Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer), a 0.5-2mm wavelength camera for CMB polarimetry and EXCLAIM (EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping), a submillimeter intensity mapping experiment operating from 0.5-0.7mm.

We also build instruments based on these detectors for ground-based observatories, including the GISMO-2 dual-band (1.15 and 2mm wavelength) camera for the 30m Millimeter Radio Telescope. Finally, technology development for large format bolometer arrays and for MKID-based instruments for mid- and far-infrared imaging and spectroscopy are being intensively pursued and offer unique opportunities for postdoctoral research.

Location
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science
Astrophysics

Advisors
Thomas M Essinger-Hileman – thomas.m.essinger-hileman –
Jason Glenn – jason.glenn –
Alan J. Kogut – Alan.

J.Kogut –
Erin

C. Smith – erin.c.smith –
Eric Switzer – Eric.

R.Switzer –
Karwan Rostem – karwan.rostem –

Eligibility
Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Eligibility is currently open to:

• U.S. Citizens
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with
  1) a valid EAD card and
  2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp

Eligibility Requirements
Degree:
Doctoral Degree