Space Science: Protoplanetary Disk Chemistry

ORAU; California (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ORAU is offering a unique opportunity through the NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) in California, where scientists engage in competitive fellowships aimed at advancing NASA’s missions in astrophysics and related fields. Candidates will work on developing chemo-dynamical models to understand protoplanetary disks and their role in planet formation.

Eligibility is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and eligible foreign nationals. Applicants must submit a research proposal along with recommendation letters and official doctoral transcripts. Applications are due by 11/1/2026.

Qualifications

• Degree must be a Doctoral Degree.
• Research proposal required.
• Three letters of recommendation needed.

Responsibilities

• Develop chemo-dynamical models for protoplanetary disks.
• Interpret observational data from facilities using developed models.
• Incorporate results from laboratory experiments and quantum chemical theory.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Overview

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.

Description

As part of an ongoing effort at NASA's Ames Research Center, protoplanetary disk thermo-chemical and dynamical models are being used to understand the evolution of disks to form planets, predict line emission and interpret disk observations. One of the main goals is to determine the role of aromatic chemistry and photolysis in disk evolution, in the chemical inventory available for planet formation, and in influencing disk lifetimes and planet formation timescales. The principal task is to develop chemo-dynamical models by expanding on existing work to incorporate results from new, targeted laboratory experiments and quantum chemical theory, and to construct a new chemical network to study organics in disks. Interpreting observational data from ground and space-based facilities using the developed models will also be a key aspect of the work.

Location

Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

Field of Science: Astrophysics

Advisors

Uma Gorti
[e-mail]
650-604-3385

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

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

Reference Code

0052-NPP-NOV26-ARC-Astrophys

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

Point of Contact

Mikeala

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

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.