Astrophysics: Cosmic Microwave Background and Diffuse Galactic Emission

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA is offering the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. This program provides one- to three-year fellowships for highly talented scientists to engage in critical research projects in astrophysics. Eligible candidates include U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Notable projects involve groundbreaking measurements related to the cosmic microwave background and other critical astrophysical phenomena. The position provides unique research opportunities to advance NASA’s missions.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizens, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and specific foreign nationals eligible for J-1 visa.
• Applications from citizens of designated countries not accepted unless legal permanent residents.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to ongoing NASA research projects at various centers.
• Engage in unique research opportunities within the astrophysics field.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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 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.

Research Opportunities

The Observational Cosmology Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center has several active projects to measure the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and diffuse galactic and extragalactic emission at decimeter through sub‑millimeter wavelengths. These include development of suborbital balloon payloads (PIPER, EXCLAIM, Dust Buster), mission‑concept development for future space missions (PIXIE, Phoenix, PICO), and analysis of archival data to model galactic emission from synchrotron, dust, and so‑called anomalous microwave emission.

Scientific Goals

• Measurements of CMB polarization to search for evidence of an inflationary epoch in the early universe
• Measurements of distortions from the CMB blackbody spectrum to determine the energy budget of the universe and search for new physics beyond the Standard Model
• Measurements of far‑IR emission lines to determine the star formation history of the universe
• Measurements of polarized emission from interstellar dust to determine its composition and emission mechanisms
• Models of diffuse synchrotron emission to determine the origin of the observed radio synchrotron background

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Astrophysics

Advisors

• Alan J. Kogut – [e-mail] – 301‑286‑0853
• Eric Switzer – [e-mail] – 301‑614‑0921
• Thomas M Essinger‑Hileman – [e-mail] – 301‑286‑3693

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.
• 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. with a valid EAD card and I‑485 or I‑589 forms in pending status.
• Applications from citizens of designated countries are not accepted at this time, unless they are legal permanent residents of the United States.