Astrophysics: Far-Infrared, Submillimeter, and Millimeter-wave Instruments for Astronomy

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

Job summary

ORAU is offering a postdoctoral position focusing on ultrasensitive detector design and astrophysical investigations at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Candidates should possess a Doctoral Degree and submit a research proposal along with three recommendation letters. The position involves instrument development for projects like PIPER and EXCLAIM, contributing to ground-based and suborbital observations. Applications are open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain foreign nationals.

Qualifications

• Research proposal submission required.
• Three letters of recommendation are mandatory.
• Official doctoral transcript documents are needed.

Responsibilities

• Focus on ultrasensitive detector design and fabrication.
• Integrate detectors into instruments for astrophysical investigations.
• Develop large-format arrays of sensitive bolometers.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0097-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-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 includes:

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

Application Deadline

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

Description

This work focuses on ultrasensitive detector design, fabrication, characterization, and integration into instruments for ground-based, airborne, and space-based astrophysical investigations. Current research primarily involves the development of large-format arrays of sensitive bolometers using superconducting transition edge sensors. We also investigate single-pixel optimization, including operation at very low powers for ultrasensitive NEP~10^-19 W/Hz^0.5, novel noise suppression methods, and polarization sensitivity. Recent efforts include the development of hot electron bolometers, microwave kinetic inductance detectors, and microstrip spectrometers.

As a key portion of our detector development activities, our group is heavily involved in deploying instruments for suborbital observations. Instruments under development include the balloon-borne projects PIPER (Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer), a 0.5–2 mm wavelength camera for CMB polarimetry, and EXCLAIM (EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping), a submillimeter intensity mapping experiment operating from 0.5–0.7 mm. We also build instruments based on these detectors for ground-based observatories, including the GISMO-2 dual-band (1.15 and 2 mm wavelength) camera for the 30 m Millimeter Radio Telescope. Technology development for large-format bolometer arrays and MKID-based instruments for mid- and far-infrared imaging and spectroscopy is being intensively pursued and offers unique opportunities for postdoctoral research.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Astrophysics

Advisors

• Thomas M. Essinger-Hileman – [e-mail] – 301.286.3693
• Jason Glenn – [e-mail] – 301.286.4591
• Alan J. Kogut – [e-mail] – 301.286.0853
• Erin C. Smith – [e-mail] – 301.286.7793
• Eric Switzer – [e-mail] – 301.614.0921
• Karwan Rostem – [e-mail] – 301.286.0308

Eligibility

Applications are open to:

• U.S. Citizens
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status
• Applicants who are LPR applicants, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with a valid EAD card and I‑485 or I‑589 forms pending

Applications from citizens of 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 Requirements

• Doctoral Degree