Asteroid Threat Assessment

ORAU; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A federal research agency in California is looking for candidates passionate about asteroid threat assessment. This position involves interdisciplinary research on near earth asteroids, modeling atmospheric entry behavior, and developing probabilistic models for risk assessment. Candidates must hold a Doctoral Degree and be eligible under U.S. immigration laws. The role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to planetary science and public safety efforts.

Qualifications

• Understanding asteroid impacts and developing models for risk assessment.
• Experience in interdisciplinary research related to planetary science.
• Ability to model atmospheric entry and impact hazards.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on near earth asteroids and their properties.
• Model fragmentation and aerodynamics during asteroid entry.
• Develop models for assessing asteroid impact risks.

Skills

Planetary science

Astrophysics

Modeling

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0060-NPP-NOV26-ARC-Interdisc

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.

A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

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

Application Deadline

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

Description

Understanding the potential threat to earth due to asteroid impact is an interdisciplinary pursuit which requires studying the population of near earth asteroids and their properties, how an asteroid behaves as it passes through the earth's atmosphere and the damage caused by airbursts, ground impacts and tsunamis.

In addition, assessing this threat can require probabilistic models of the effects of impact and possible mitigation options in order fully understand the range of possible outcomes.

Opportunities exist to participate in all areas of the asteroid threat assessment. Some of the active areas of research in planetary science include observational studies of near earth asteroids, modeling their thermal emission, inferring asteroid properties from meteorites, and developing representations of the distribution of physical parameters of the entire population.

Areas of research in atmospheric entry include experiments and models to elucidate the behavior of asteroid material during atmospheric entry, modeling of fragmentation during entry, aerothermodynamics of asteroid entry, and the aerodynamics of multi-body flight.

Impact hazard research involves the creation of reduced order models that are based on detailed simulations but are computationally efficient enough to run inside a Monte Carlo framework requiring millions of evaluations. Particular hazards of interest are ground winds, overpressure, and thermal radiation produced by airburst and impact cratering events, tsunami produced by ocean impacts, and regional/global climatic changes due to large impacts.

Research related to risk modeling includes incorporation of improved reduced‑order hazard models into the Monte Carlo framework.

In addition, inclusion of mitigation options into the probabilistic asteroid impact risk model is an ongoing area of research.

Location

Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, California

Field of Science

Interdisciplinary/Other

Advisors

• Michael J Aftosmis – [e-mail] – 650.604.4499
• Jessie Dotson – [e-mail] – 650-604-2041
• Donovan L Mathias – [e-mail] – 650.604.0836

Eligibility

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://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

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.

Questions about this opportunity?

Please email [e-mail].

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.