Astrophysics: Advanced Techniques for X-Ray Spectroscopy

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA is offering Postdoctoral Fellowships in Astrophysics at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. These unique research opportunities allow highly talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA projects. Candidates with a Doctoral Degree in relevant fields are encouraged to apply. Responsibilities include fabricating cryogenic microcalorimeters and driving advancements in NASA's missions. This position requires experience in high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy technology, and applicants must meet U.S. citizenship or residency requirements.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific field.
• Experience in astrophysical research.
• Familiarity with cryogenic microcalorimeter technology.

Responsibilities

• Engage in ongoing NASA research projects.
• Fabricate and optimize cryogenic microcalorimeters.
• Support laboratory astrophysics using advanced spectrometers.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0003-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-Astrophys

How to Apply

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

Application Deadline

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

Description

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.

We have pioneered the development of cryogenic microcalorimeters for high resolution, non-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. An array in the current generation of microcalorimeters typically has 36 pixels with better than 6-eV resolution and we are now working in several directions to fabricate arrays with many more pixels (100‑1000) and with higher spectral resolution (2 eV). Some of the specific technologies we are pursuing use doped silicon, superconducting transition edge sensors, and magnetic calorimeters. We are also expanding the capability of these devices by optimizing pixel design for specific energy ranges (i.e., soft and hard x-rays). We have several cryogenic facilities that can reach 50 mK for this work and access to state-of-the-art processing facilities for device fabrication. This technology is being developed principally for space applications, but we are also using this to support a vigorous program in laboratory astrophysics using an electron beam ion trap to simulate astrophysical plasmas. This work provides some of the atomic physics data needed for modelling celestial spectra and also valuable operational and calibration experience with these very sensitive spectrometers.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Astrophysics

Advisors

• Caroline A. Kilbourne
  [e-mail]
  301-286-2469
• Frederick Scott Porter
  [e-mail]
  301-286-5016
• Maurice Andrew Leutenegger
  [e-mail]
  301-286-6410
• Simon Bandler
  [e-mail]
  301-286-1363
• Stephen James Smith
  [e-mail]
  [phone]

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.

• 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

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.