Astrophysics: Gamma-Ray Astronomy

ORAU

Greenbelt (MD)

On-site

USD 50,000 - 70,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A leading federal research agency is seeking scientists for the NASA Postdoctoral Program, focusing on gamma-ray astrophysics. The successful candidates will participate in significant research efforts involving the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and innovative instrumentation for gamma-ray detection. Applicants must have a Doctoral Degree in a relevant field. This position will be based at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, offering unique research opportunities within a vibrant scientific community.

Qualifications

Degree in relevant scientific fields required.
Experience in gamma-ray physics or astrophysics preferred.

Responsibilities

Engage in ongoing NASA research projects.
Conduct research in gamma-ray astrophysics and related fields.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Overview

Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0028-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 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

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.

A continuing research program in medium- and high-energy gamma-ray astronomy focuses on increasing our knowledge of the nature and origin of Galactic and extragalactic gamma rays. The work includes instrument development, data analysis, and theoretical studies. Scientific research covers Galactic diffuse radiation, pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, solar flares, molecular clouds, normal galaxies, active galactic nuclei, and extragalactic diffuse radiation. The results will help us understand high-energy processes in the Sun, in celestial objects, in the interstellar medium, and in extragalactic space.

The efforts concentrate on two projects. The first involves participation in the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope mission, with an international collaboration of particle physicists and astrophysicists. This includes simulations, development of data analysis techniques, and science analysis. The second is the development of new instrumentation for gamma-ray astrophysics with three thrusts: 1) Advanced Energetic Pair Telescope (AdEPT) for gamma-ray polarimetry in the 2-200 MeV range; 2) AMEGO, a Compton scattering and pair conversion instrument; and 3) BurstCube, a CubeSat to detect gamma-ray transients in the 10 keV to 1 MeV range.

Location: Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science: Astrophysics

Advisors

Tonia Venters — tonia.m.venters@nasa.gov — 301-614-5546
Elizabeth Hays — Elizabeth.A.Hays@nasa.gov — 301-286-0345
Judith Racusin — Judith.Racusin@nasa.gov — 301-286-4664
Julie McEnery — Julie.E.McEnery@nasa.gov — 301-286-1632
Jeremy S. Perkins — jeremy.s.perkins@nasa.gov — 301-286-3463
Regina Caputo — regina.caputo@nasa.gov — 301-286-0072
Carolyn Kierans — carolyn.a.kierans@nasa.gov — (301) 286-7628
Tyler Parsotan — tyler.parsotan@nasa.gov — 301.286.4678
Nicholas Cannady — nicholas.w.cannady@nasa.gov — 301.286.6546

A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control. Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States.

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