Heliophysics Science: Global Magnetospheric Simulation

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A federal aerospace research organization in Maryland seeks talented scientists for the NASA Postdoctoral Program. This role offers one- to three-year competitive fellowships focused on ongoing research in heliophysics and global magnetosphere simulations. Candidates must hold a PhD and have strong research skills. Responsibilities include developing techniques in magnetohydrodynamics and collaborating with experienced NASA advisors. The post is based at the Goddard Space Flight Center, offering unique opportunities in space science.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field and strong analytical skills required.
• Experience in magnetohydrodynamics and global simulations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on terrestrial magnetosphere simulations.
• Develop techniques for global MHD code.
• Collaborate with NASA researchers and contribute to mission advancements.

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0030-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-HelioSci

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.

Current research focuses on developing the next generation of global simulations of the terrestrial magnetosphere and on intercalibrating existing simulation codes against themselves, data-based global models (e.g., those due to Tsyganenko), and against direct spacecraft observations. World-class research capabilities exist in all of these areas. A long-range objective is to develop global magnetosphere simulations, which allow for a quantitatively correct description of the terrestrial magnetosphere system. The principal new techniques in global magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code development include the construction of a finite element; a fully adaptive grid global MHD magnetospheric code, which will allow us to test the limits of MHD methods to modeling the global magnetosphere and on a longer timescale; and the use of hybrid and kinetic code patches to regions of the global MHD code where MHD is not applicable.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

Alex Glocer – [e-mail] – 301-286-9475

Lutz Rastaetter – [e-mail] – 301-286-1085

Hyunju Kim Connor – [e-mail] – 301.286.7417

Christopher Bard – [e-mail]

Eligibility Requirements

• 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 a valid EAD card and I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States.

Questions

Please email [e-mail]