Astrophysics: Instrumentation -Contrast Imaging

Astrophysics:
Instrumentation for High-Contrast Imaging

Join to apply for the Astrophysics:
Instrumentation for High-Contrast Imaging role at ORAU

Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0040-NPP-MAR
26-GSFC-Astrophys

Application: Submit through Zintellect; refer to the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for details. A complete application includes a research proposal, three letters of recommendation, and official doctoral transcripts.

Final date to receive applications: 3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description: The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will seek to directly image and characterize Earth‑like exoplanets orbiting nearby Sun‑like stars, which requires optical instrumentation capable of suppressing starlight by up to ten orders of magnitude at visible wavelengths. We are developing a range of direct imaging technologies relevant to HWO, including coronagraphs, deformable mirrors, integral field spectroscopy, photon‑counting detectors, wavefront sensing & control, and image post‑processing algorithms.

We have created the Exoplanet Spectroscopy Technologies (Exo Spec) in‑air testbed to carry out system‑level demonstrations using these technologies.

Location: Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science: Astrophysics

Advisors:

• Mike Mc Elwain – michael.w.mcelwain,
• Neil T Zimmerman – neil.t.zimmerman,
• Tyler
  
  D. Groff – tyler.d.groff,
• Christopher Stark – christopher.c.stark,
• Scott Will – scott.d.will,

Eligibility: 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)..

Eligibility Requirements:

• US Citizen; US Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR);
  Foreign National eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status;
  Applicant for LPR, asylee, or refugee in the United States with a valid EAD card and I‑485 or I‑589 pending status.
• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp.