Phasing Habitable Worlds Observatory Mirror

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0288-NPP-NOV
26-JPL-Tech Dev

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 an affiliated research institute. Fellowships range from one to three years and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Habitable World Observatory (HWO) is a flagship mission intended to identify potentially habitable exoplanets and examine their atmospheres. The mission uses a segmented telescope with precision alignment and control techniques, including edge sensors, laser metrology, and advanced control loops.

• Collaborate with the HWO team at JPL, GSFC, Keck, and partner organizations.
• Model the Keck telescope, its adaptive optics system, control systems, and a science instrument.
• Develop and test algorithms and instrumentation on a ground‑based segmented telescope to validate models of the system’s performance.
• Propose and evaluate wavefront sensing and control architectures for HWO.

A Ph.D. in astronomy, optical sciences, or a related field. Experience in phasing segmented telescopes through modeling or practice, or optical modeling of wavefront sensing and control aspects.

• Citizenship:
  Legal Permanent Resident or U.S. Citizen.
• Degree:
  Doctoral Degree.

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp