Chemistry in Star-Forming Regions

Chemistry in Star-Forming Regions – ORAU

Organization
:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code
: 0040-NPP-MAR
26-JPL-Cosmochem
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.

Description
Molecules are important tracers, not only of chemical composition but also physical conditions. In addition, they regulate the heating and cooling of gas, and control its ionization balance. They therefore play a crucial role in the star formation process, and in the evolution of protostellar disks.
Theoretical astrochemistry at JPL uses sophisticated chemical networks to model the chemistry of gas and ices in protostellar disks and molecular cloud cores. The emphasis is on the observational signatures of the different stages of evolution, and on the development of complex organic or pre-biotic chemistry. There are close interactions with both the hydrodynamical modeling group and with observers at the lab.
Refs:
Woods, P. & Willacy, K. (2007) Benzene formation in the inner regions of protostellar disks, ApJ, 655 L49;
Willacy, K. (2007) Chemistry of multiply deuterated molecules in protoplanetary disks I. The outer disk, ApJ, 660, 441.

Location
:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Field of Science
:
Cosmochemistry

Advisors

• Karen Willacy – karen.willacya.gov, 818‑354‑3467

Eligibility Requirements

• Doctoral degree.

Eligibility

• 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.

US Federal Hiring Policy – 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)..

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp.

Point of Contact:
Mikeala.

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).