Heliospheric Flux Rope

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

Job summary

ORAU is offering a NASA Postdoctoral Program fellowship focused on heliophysics research related to heliospheric flux ropes. The role involves studying their spatiotemporal variations and improving modeling techniques using machine learning. Candidates must have a Doctoral Degree in a relevant field and be able to engage in complex research projects. This position is highly competitive and located in Greenbelt, Maryland, at NASA. A complete application includes a research proposal and letters of recommendation.

Qualifications

• Strong background in heliophysics or related fields.
• Experience with modeling and data analysis techniques.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Study spatiotemporal variations of heliospheric flux ropes.
• Quantify impact of flux rope evolution on structures.
• Improve machine learning architecture for solar wind data analysis.

Skills

Physics-based modeling

Machine learning

Data analysis

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0261‑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.

Heliospheric flux ropes (FRs) are dynamically evolving structures in the heliosphere. They evolve through expansion, rotation, deflection, and/or erosion due to their interactions with the prevailing local environments. This project aims to study the spatiotemporal variations of FRs, inspect the dependence of FR local deformation on the ambient environments, and quantify the impact of FR evolution on their structures and intrinsic properties. The applicant is expected to use physics-based models to define the in-situ observed FR structure (preferentially probed at multiple locations) and to quantify their evolution and erosion. In addition, to facilitate the FR research and space weather forecasting, the project aims to improve existing machine learning architecture to identify FRs and their orientations automatically using solar wind data.

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

Lan Jian
[e-mail]
[phone]

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

Degree: Doctoral Degree.

Contact

Point of Contact: Mikeala

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