Interband Cascade Optical Frequency Comb Spectroscopy of C-H Bonds

ORAU; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA invites applications for researchers to work on mid-infrared optical frequency combs and mode-locked lasers aimed at future Earth and planetary science missions. Applicants should hold a Ph.D.

in electrical engineering or closely related field, with experience in semiconductor laser device modelling, fabrication and laser spectroscopy.

Qualifications

• Recent Ph.D. in electrical engineering or a closely related field.
• Experience with semiconductor laser device modelling, fabrication, and laser spectroscopy.
• Doctoral degree required.

Responsibilities

• Design of the interband cascade lasers.
• Device microfabrication.
• Test and characterization.
• Integration into a dual frequency comb spectroscopy instrument.

Skills

semiconductor laser device modelling

laser spectroscopy

Education

Ph.D. in electrical engineering

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0177-NPP-NOV26-JPL-PlanetSci

Application Deadline

11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program

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.

Job Description

Our team is working on the development of a new generation of mid‑infrared optical frequency combs and mode‑locked lasers for future Earth and planetary science missions. These combs, based on a new class of semiconductor lasers, will provide enhanced sensitivity and higher spectral resolution spectrometers.

Responsibilities

• Design of the interband cascade lasers.
• Device microfabrication.
• Test and characterization.
• Integration into a dual frequency comb spectroscopy instrument.

Qualifications

• Recent Ph.D. in electrical engineering or a closely related field.
• Experience with semiconductor laser device modelling, fabrication, and laser spectroscopy.
• Doctoral degree required.
• Citizenship or residency eligibility:
  • U.S. Citizens
  • U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
  • Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status
  • Applicants who are 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.

Location

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Field of Science

Planetary Science

Advisor

Mahmood Bagheri – [e-mail] – 818‑354‑0413