Heliophysics Science: Heliophysics: Solar Wind Connections with Magnetized Plasmas and Gases

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

Job summary

ORAU is offering a unique opportunity through the NASA Postdoctoral Program for talented scientists to engage in research at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The fellowship focuses on heliophysics, engaging candidates in projects that involve analyzing data sets, conducting modeling experiments, and developing new instruments. Candidates must have a Doctoral Degree and meet eligibility requirements for U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

Qualifications

• Eligibility requires a Doctoral Degree.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident.
• Experience in heliophysics or related fields is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Engage in NASA research projects at a NASA Center.
• Analyze existing data sets and conduct modeling experiments.
• Develop new instruments for ongoing research.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0029-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.

Orbiting spacecraft observations are complemented by sounding rockets, ground‑based observations, and modeling to diagnose and understand the ionization, heating, and flow of gases, driven by solar wind electromagnetic and kinetic energy fluxes connected via magnetic fields to ionospheres and atmospheres. Spacecraft data sets used include those from Wind, Polar, Geotail, Cluster, FAST, IMAGE, THEMIS, IBEX, and soon, MMS. Energy fluxes are traced from regions producing reconnected magnetic fields, into structured ionospheric flows and dissipation mechanisms. Resulting plasma outflows are tracked through the global circulation, where they provide feedback by mass loading and pressurizing those flows. For example, plasmaspheric material convects to the dayside magnetopause where in active times it dominates the plasma density and loads reconnection. We also explore the behavior of magnetized plasmas through our Global Ion Kinetic simulations, using single particle trajectory tracing, kinetic modeling, and multifluid magnetohydrodynamic models. Opportunities exist to develop new instruments, analyze existing data sets, and conduct modeling experiments.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

• Mei‑Ching Fok – [e-mail] (301‑286‑1083)
• David Gary Sibeck – [e-mail] (301‑286‑5998)
• George V. Khazanov – [e-mail] (301‑286‑9742)

Eligibility

Applications with 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
• 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: Doctoral Degree.

Contact

Questions about this opportunity? Please email [e-mail]. Point of Contact: Mikeala.