Experimental Investigations in Cosmology and Astrophysics

ORAU; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

ORAU, in partnership with NASA, offers a unique opportunity for postdoctoral researchers in astrophysics. The program focuses on engaging talented scientists in ongoing NASA projects, with positions available at NASA Centers or affiliated research institutes.

Eligible candidates include U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with a doctoral degree. The research involves experimental investigations in cosmology, specifically focusing on CMB measurements and analyzing flight data from the SPHEREx satellite.

Interested applicants should prepare a research proposal and submit three letters of recommendation.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizens or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) or eligible foreign nationals.
• Doctoral degree required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in astrophysics related to NASA projects.
• Engage in experimental investigations and measurements of CMB polarization.
• Participate in development projects for CMB detector technologies.

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0275-NPP-NOV26-JPL-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

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.

Prof. Bock's research involves experimental investigations in cosmology and astrophysics. Current research opportunities include measurements of CMB polarization with BICEP Array, which is carrying out a field‑leading search for a characteristic B-mode polarization signal from inflation through observations from the South Pole. Detectors are the enabling capability for CMB measurements, and applicants may participate in the development of focal plane arrays for the CMB Stage 4 project as well as the development of new detector technologies at the JPL Micro Devices Laboratory. The SPHEREx satellite offers opportunities in the analysis of flight data focused on constraining inflationary non‑Gaussianity and assessments of the extra‑galactic background light through sensitive measurements of background fluctuations. SPHEREx data also may be used for investigations over the full sky in near‑infrared spectroscopy. Applicants can participate in the TIME line mapping instrument that is conducting mm‑wave observations to measure the clustering amplitude of the CO and C+ emission lines from high redshifts.

Field of Science

• Astrophysics

Advisors

James Bock
[e-mail]
[phone]

Eligibility

Applications from 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.

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

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.

Questions and Point of Contact

Questions about this opportunity? Please email [e-mail].

Point of Contact: Mikeala