Heliophysics Science: Electrodynamic Processes and Waves Ionosphere and Magnetosphere

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0323-NPP-NOV
26-GSFC-Heliophys

Final date to receive applications

11/1/2026 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 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 importance of DC and wave electric field measurements gathered on satellites and sounding rockets in the ionosphere and magnetosphere has long been recognized as critical to understanding fundamental physical phenomena in space. When combined with observations of magnetic fields, current densities, plasma number densities and temperatures, energetic particles, and neutral dynamics, vector observations of DC/AC electric fields provide not only essential tools for space physics exploration but also unprecedented local in situ measurements of key ionospheric and magnetospheric processes.

The electrodynamics of the ionosphere and magnetosphere are being investigated by electric and magnetic field experiments on rockets and satellites that use in situ probes with high‑quantitative accuracies. These observations provide the necessary data to further our understanding of the role of fundamental processes in space, including the interactive coupling between the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and the neutral atmosphere that is inherent to the space environments of the Earth and other planets.

Heliophysics Science

• Robert Pfaff – Robert.
  
  F.Pfaff, 240‑247‑7865
• Doug Rowland – Douglas.
  
  E.Rowland, (301) 286‑6659
• Aaron Breneman – aaron.w.breneman, 651‑295‑4922

• 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

Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent in the physical sciences or relevant engineering applicable to space physics research in the general fields of heliophysics and/or planetary physics. Experience with the analysis of experimental data is a highly valued attribute, though not necessarily a requirement.

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree

Mikeala