Job Description
Direct Imaging of Circumstellar Disks & Exoplanets
1 month ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code 0149-NPP-NOV25-JPL-Astrophys
How To Apply 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
Application Deadline 11/1/2025 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description 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: Circumstellar disks are an integral component of planetary systems. They
provide the raw material and host environment for planet formation, and
persist into mature planetary systems as debris from ongoing collisions of
remnant planetesimals. Their internal structure can show the dynamic
imprint of any planets within. We are conducting observational research on
circumstellar disks with the goals of imaging new systems; understanding
their structure, dust properties, and evolution via multiwavelength
observations; and searching for associated planets. Recent imaging data
from the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and the
Atacama Large Millimeter Array, combined with infrared spectral energy
distributions from the Spitzer Space Telescope and Herschel Space Observatory,
are compared with numerical models to derive disk properties. Supporting
data is obtained with large groundbased telescopes such as Keck and Palomar.
Related research includes preparatory work for disk imaging with the coronagraph
instrument on the Roman Space Telescope, scheduled for launch by spring 2027.
Working with the Roman Coronagraph Community Participation team, we are modeling
the likely size and brightness of never-before-imaged debris disks around bright stars.
The goal of this work is to support target selection for community surveys of
warm debris disks and exozodical dust with the Roman Coronagraph, followed by
development of observing sequences for execution during the first few years of
the mission. Additional related research is being conducted on performance goals
and technology issues for the future Habitable Worlds Observatory, and updates &
improvements to the website
JPL has a dynamic environment for exoplanet research with NASA's Exoplanet
Exploration Program Office, JPL's Exoplanet Discovery and Science research group,
the Roman Coronagraph Instrument team, access to the Palomar 5m telescope, and
collaborations with local exoplanet researchers at the Caltech Astronomy Department
and the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute. Candidates with interests in
protoplanetary and debris disks, exoplanet direct imaging, or high contrast
observation techniques are encouraged to apply.
Location: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, California
Field of Science: Astrophysics
Advisors: Karl R. Stapelfeldt
karl.r.stapelfeldt@jpl.nasa.gov
818.354.9608
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:
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; and,
- 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
Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org
Point of Contact Mikeala
Eligibility Requirements Seniority level
Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Job function
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