Spectroscopic Lidars Planetary and Earth Science Remote Sensing

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.

This fellowship focuses on the development of laser‑based sensors and instruments for future planetary science applications. Fellows will work where engineering and science meet to design, prototype, and test next‑generation lidar systems that can measure surface volatiles and atmospheric trace gases on the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies.

• Develop prototype instrumentation and spaceflight hardware.
• Collaborate with the team to develop potential mission concepts.
• Conduct state‑of‑the‑art sensor and detector evaluation in the laboratory.
• Integrate detectors (e.g., Hg Cd Te  avalanche photodiodes) with existing lidar systems to extend wavelength coverage.
• Study trace‑gas spectroscopy to select optimal absorption lines.
• Field‑test the instrument on remote targets.
• Analyze and present measurement results.
• Learn the entire instrument development cycle, from concept through flight qualification and in‑space operation.

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.).

• 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 a valid EAD card and I‑485 or I‑589 forms in pending status.

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted 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)..

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

Planetary Science.

• Xiaoli Sun – xiaoli.sun-1, 301‑614‑6732
• Daniel Cremons – daniel.cremons, 301‑614‑6722

11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone.