Modeling of Planetary Thermospheres and Exospheres

Modeling of Planetary Thermospheres and Exospheres

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Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code 0247-NPP-MAR
26-GSFC-Planet Sci

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

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program 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.

Research Focus The thermal structure and atmospheric escape within the transition region of planetary thermospheres and exospheres are being modeled for bodies such as Titan, Callisto, Mars, Pluto and early Moon. Theoretical models that employ principles of rarefied gas dynamics using techniques such as the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method are used to simulate the atmospheres to compare with data of the upper atmosphere from missions such as MAVEN, Cassini, Clipper and New Horizons.

Analyses of current mission data will be used to provide a basis for examining the early atmospheres such as the Moon's early volcanic atmosphere. An existing DSMC model will be updated to carry out multi-dimensional studies and to include photochemistry in the rarefied region of atmospheres. The DSMC model will be coupled with hydrodynamic, diffusion or photochemical models to consistently model the effect of non-equilibrium conditions and escape occurring in the transition region of the broader atmosphere.

Location Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science Planetary Science

Advisors
Dr. Mahmooda Sultana mahmooda.sultana
Dr. Prabal Saxena prabal.saxena

Eligibility 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; 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

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp