Heliophysics Science: Electrodynamic Processes and Waves in the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere

ORAU

Greenbelt (MD)

On-site

USD 60,000 - 80,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

A leading space research organization is offering a postdoctoral fellowship through the NASA Postdoctoral Program. Candidates will engage in research related to heliophysics and planetary physics. A PhD or equivalent in relevant fields is required, alongside strong data analysis skills. The program lasts one to three years and aims to advance NASA's missions in space science. Applications are open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and eligible foreign nationals with a J-1 visa.

Qualifications

Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent in the physical sciences.
Experience with analysis of experimental data is highly valued.

Responsibilities

Engage in ongoing NASA research projects.
Investigate the electrodynamics of the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

Skills

Data analysis

Collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent in physical sciences or relevant engineering

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0323-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-Heliophys

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.

The importance of DC and wave electric field measurements gathered on satellites and sounding rockets in the ionosphere and magnetosphere has long been recognized as critical to understanding fundamental physical phenomena in space. When combined with observations of magnetic fields, current densities, plasma number densities and temperatures, energetic particles, and neutral dynamics, vector observations of DC/AC electric fields provide not only essential tools for space physics exploration but also unprecedented local in situ measurements of key ionospheric and magnetospheric processes.

The electrodynamics of the ionosphere and magnetosphere are being investigated by electric and magnetic field experiments on rockets and satellites that use in situ probes with high‑quantitative accuracies. These observations provide the necessary data to further our understanding of the role of fundamental processes in space, including the interactive coupling between the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and the neutral atmosphere that is inherent to the space environments of the Earth and other planets.

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

Robert Pfaff – Robert.F.Pfaff@nasa.gov, 240‑247‑7865
Doug Rowland – Douglas.E.Rowland@nasa.gov, (301) 286‑6659
Aaron Breneman – aaron.w.breneman@nasa.gov, 651‑295‑4922

Eligibility

U.S. Citizens
U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status
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

Qualifications

Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent in the physical sciences or relevant engineering applicable to space physics research in the general fields of heliophysics and/or planetary physics. Experience with the analysis of experimental data is a highly valued attribute, though not necessarily a requirement.

Eligibility Requirements