Atmospheric Molecular Spectroscopy in of Earth and Planetary Science

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.

• High‑resolution molecular spectroscopy of atmospheric species, including spectral data acquisition and analysis of rotational and vibrational molecular transitions in the infrared and near‑visible region using a state‑of‑the‑art Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) at JPL and the McMath‑Pierce FTS archive at Kitt Peak.
• Characterization of spectroscopic line parameters and cross‑sections for atmospheric molecules such as CH4, NH3, hydrocarbons (CxHy), and nitriles (Cx Hy Nz ) across temperatures from 80 K to 1000 K.
• Measurements of collision‑induced absorption to provide additional atmospheric opacity sources.
• Precision modeling of telluric absorption features to enable extreme precision radial velocity (EPRV) measurements in the search for Earth‑analogs in habitable zones.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Planetary Science

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a relevant field.
• U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident (LPR), foreign national eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa, or applicant for LPR, asylee, or refugee in the United States with a valid EAD card and a pending I‑485 or I‑589 form.
• Applications from citizens of designated countries are not accepted unless they are legal permanent residents of the United States. The list of designated countries is available at https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..
• Mandatory drug testing, random drug testing, and testing prior to fellowship appointment may be required.

Email: npp

Point of Contact:
Mikeala