Staring sun: Using disc-integrated solar spectra to model stellar activity exoplanet

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0269-NPP-NOV
26-JPL-Astrophys

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).

A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

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

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.

Our group uses high resolution ground-based optical and near-infrared solar spectra to diagnose and model different manifestations of stellar activity. Nearby sun-like stars are a crucial sample of targets for future NASA flagship direct imaging missions, as these are the prime candidates for directly imaging exo-Earths. Surveying these stars with ground-based extremely precise radial velocity (EPRV) measurements is critical in this pursuit, as EPRVs provide the necessary planet masses and detections to support future imaging missions such as the Habitable-Worlds Observatory (HWO).

However, detection of a true Earth analog via Doppler EPRV measurements is currently beyond our reach, buried beneath a wealth of systematic stellar noise, Earth's atmosphere, and instrumental limits. This project focuses on using solar spectra from a variety of EPRV instruments to better understand the connection between physical processes in the solar photosphere and the high resolution EPRV spectra at a variety of timescales (daily to yearly).

The data to be analyzed will be from a combination of facilities, including the Keck Planet Finder (KPF), PARVI, and NEID instruments, each of which has (or will soon have) a dedicated solar feed that delivers hundreds of daily disc-integrated spectra to the instrument.

The successful applicant will work closely with a team of field-leading exoplanet detection experts to analyze high resolution spectroscopic data of the Sun from a variety of ground-based optical and near-infrared facilities. The research will focus on leveraging a library of high-resolution spectra of the Sun to derive and test different spectroscopic measurement metrics and techniques aimed at identifying stellar activity signals in radial velocity time series.

Astrophysics

Samuel Halverson

samuel.halversona.gov

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 is currently open to:

• 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

Please email npp

Mikeala

• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.