Moon Interior Structure from Gravity Analysis

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0348-NPP-NOV
26-GSFC-Planet Sci

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. This project will focus on the analysis of Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) data to improve our understanding of the Moon's interior structure.

The selected candidate will use data from these two lunar missions to focus on gravity field determination for the Moon, with the main topics being high-resolution gravity field models for modeling the structure of the Moon's crust, and time-variable gravity to probe the structure of the Moon's deep interior. The project will consist of both data analysis and interpretation of the results.

The latter consists of developing methods to determine lateral and vertical density variations in the Moon's crust using novel constraint techniques, as well as modeling of the Moon's deep interior. The selected candidate will work with the Planetary Geodesy group at NASA GSFC.

Planetary Science

Erwan Mazarico
erwan.m.mazarico

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)..

• 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. at the time of application with
  1) a valid EAD card and
  2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.

Candidates should have an engineering or science Ph.D. in a relevant field and have relevant experience to the proposed project.

Mikeala

Please email npp