Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

ORAU is offering a unique research opportunity in gravitational wave astrophysics at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The NASA Postdoctoral Program invites highly talented scientists to contribute to ongoing research projects, including those focused on the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. Applicants must hold a Doctoral Degree and should be prepared to conduct independent research. This position is ideal for candidates with strong astrophysics background and excellent data analysis skills. Applications are due by November 1, 2026.

Qualifications

• PhD in Astrophysics or related field.
• Ability to conduct independent research.
• Excellent communication skills for collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Engage in gravitational wave research.
• Collaborate on LISA mission projects.
• Conduct data analysis and modeling.

Skills

Research proposal writing

Astrophysics knowledge

Computational methods

Data analysis

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Overview

Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code
0031-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.

Description
The gravitational wave astrophysics group at NASA/GSFC works in the burgeoning field of gravitational wave astronomy and astrophysics. Predicted by general relativity, gravitational waves are disturbances in spacetime produced by the motion of massive compact objects such as black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs. Since the first detection in 2015, facilities around the globe have detected hundreds of events yielding new insights into these objects, their environments and provenance, and the underlying physics of gravity itself.

Two major areas of research in the group are Computational Astrophysics and development of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. Computational Astrophysics applies powerful modern computing technology to simulate the complex interactions of compact objects and their environments and predict the gravitational and electromagnetic signals that current and future instruments will detect. LISA is a space-based gravitational wave detector under development through a partnership of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) that will study gravitational waves in the source-rich milliHertz frequency band when it launches in the mid-2030s. Expected LISA sources include the inspiral and merger of supermassive black hole binaries at high redshift, continuous GW emission from compact binaries in the Milky Way, and capture of compact objects by massive black holes.

Research opportunities in the gravitational wave astrophysics group include LISA mission design, LISA instrument technology, LISA data analysis development, investigations of strong gravity environments using both numerical relativity and analytic approximation methods, and astrophysics of gravitational wave sources. Interdisciplinary research projects are strongly encouraged.

Location
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science:

Astrophysics

Advisors

• James Thorpe
  [e-mail]
  301-286-5382
• Demosthenes Kazanas
  [e-mail]
  301-286-7680
• Jeremy Schnittman
  [e-mail]
  301-286-8069
• Scott C. Noble
  [e-mail]
  [phone]
• Ann Hornschemeier Cardiff
  [e-mail]
  301-286-7632
• Ryan DeRosa
  [e-mail]
  301-286-2704
• Jacob Slutsky
  [e-mail]
  301-286-2285

Note: 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

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
Please email [e-mail]

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.