Astrophysics: Direct Exoplanet and Disk Imaging JWST

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0235-NPP-NOV
26-GSFC-Astrophys

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).

A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

About 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.

The direct detection of exoplanets and circumstellar disks using high-contrast imaging requires the suppression of starlight using novel hardware, observations, and data processing. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is NASA’s newest astrophysics flagship mission and carries multiple instruments capable of new breakthroughs in direct imaging. The JWST Project Office is at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, thereby offering unique opportunities for collaboration with experts in JWST instruments, operations, and observations.

We seek a postdoctoral candidate with experience and/or interest in using JWST to study exoplanets and circumstellar disks via direct imaging. We anticipate the candidate will work on one or more projects to:

• Develop techniques for JWST direct imaging data analyses.
• Apply these techniques to data from approved or archival JWST GO programs, GTO programs, and/or ERS observations.
• Analyze the direct imaging results to discover and characterize wide-orbit exoplanets, place new constraints on this population, and study circumstellar disk properties.
• Pursue additional JWST direct imaging observations via the JWST GO program.

We also anticipate opportunities to combine JWST direct imaging observations and analyses with data from other space and ground-based facilities.

Qualifications for this opportunity include a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, or a related discipline. Prior experience with high-contrast imaging and post-processing techniques and interest in exoplanets and circumstellar disks are desirable.

Interested applicants should reach out to at least one of the advisors listed here in advance of the Final date to receive applications to express interest and discuss potential research projects.

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Astrophysics

• Joshua Schlieder – joshua.e.schlieder,
• Knicole
  
  D. Colon – knicole.colon,
• Mike McElwain – Michael.
  
  W.McElwain,
• Christopher Stark – christopher.c.stark,

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.
• 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.

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)..

Please email npp.

Mikeala