Astrophysics: Cosmic Microwave Background and Diffuse Galactic Emission

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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 are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

The Observational Cosmology Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center has several active projects to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and diffuse galactic and extragalactic emission at decimeter through sub‑millimeter wavelengths. These include development of suborbital balloon payloads (PIPER, EXCLAIM, Dust Buster), mission‑concept development for future space missions (PIXIE, Phoenix, PICO), and analysis of archival data to model galactic emission from synchrotron, dust, and so‑called anomalous microwave emission.

• Measurements of CMB polarization to search for evidence of an inflationary epoch in the early universe
• Measurements of distortions from the CMB blackbody spectrum to determine the energy budget of the universe and search for new physics beyond the Standard Model
• Measurements of far‑IR emission lines to determine the star formation history of the universe
• Measurements of polarized emission from interstellar dust to determine its composition and emission mechanisms
• Models of diffuse synchrotron emission to determine the origin of the observed radio synchrotron background

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Astrophysics

• Alan J. Kogut – alan.j.kogut – 301‑286‑0853
• Eric Switzer – eric.r.switzer – 301‑614‑0921
• Thomas M Essinger‑Hileman – thomas.m.essinger-hileman – 301‑286‑3693

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.
• U.S. Citizens, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), foreign nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status, and applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. with a valid EAD card and I‑485 or I‑589 forms in pending status.
• Applications from citizens of designated countries are not accepted at this time, unless they are legal permanent residents of the United States.