Solar System Exploration: Grain Catalysis in the Protosolar Nebula

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers fellowships 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 fellowships are competitive and designed to advance NASA missions in space and Earth science, aeronautics, and astrobiology.

Location at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with eligibility open to U.S. citizens, LPRs, and eligible visa nationals.

Qualifications

• Eligibility requires a Doctoral Degree.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0157-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-Astrophys

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.

The origin of life on Earth (and possibly elsewhere) was either influenced by or a product of organic compounds from space. These vital compounds were delivered by comets, meteorites, and IDPs to the early Earth. Such material is delivered today. To understand the results of analyses of organics in natural samples and help us interpret their significance, we perform laboratory experiments to simulate processes, which we suspect contribute to the formation of these organics. In the laboratory, we simulate gas-grain Fischer-Tropsch and Haber-Bosch type reactions catalyzed by synthetic mineral grains and ground minerals, which are similar to those in the proto-Solar nebula. These produce a variety of organic compounds, including amines, nitriles, alkanes, alkynes, amino acids, lipid-like species, alcohols, amines, and amides. These reactions deposit significant amounts of carbonaceous matter onto the grain surfaces and these coatings have been shown to trap noble gases. We believe that such coated grains were incorporated into forming solar system planetesimals, were modified by internal heating and hydration processes and then accreted to the ancient Earth. Thus, we are striving to realistically simulate exogenous processes and characterize the organic material of pre-biotic interest produced therein, including the ratios of trapped noble gases and compare this data to authentic extraterrestrial samples to constrain their formation conditions and their potential impact on the origin of life.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Astrophysics

Advisors

Joseph Andrew Nuth

[e-mail]

301-286-9467

Natasha Johnson

[e-mail]

301-286-3919

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; and,
• 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

Questions about this opportunity?

Please email [e-mail]

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.