Venus Geodesy and Geophysics

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA invites applications for a NASA Postdoctoral Program fellowship focused on Venus gravity field, lithosphere, and interior structure. The selected candidate will contribute to geodetic analyses and geophysical modeling, collaborating with the Planetary Geodesy group at NASA GSFC and interacting with VERITAS mission teams.

The program supports one- to three-year research fellowships across NASA centers and affiliated institutes, emphasizing space science and planetary geodesy projects.

Qualifications

• Candidates should have an engineering or science Ph.D. in a relevant field and have relevant experience to the proposed project.

Responsibilities

• Investigate Venus gravity field, lithosphere, interior structure, and geologic evolution using observations and modeling.
• Develop methods for recovering Venus gravity field parameters from future spacecraft tracking data.
• Collaborate with NASA GSFC Planetary Geodesy group and interact with mission teams such as VERITAS.

Education

Ph.D. in a relevant field

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0344-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-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.

Description

This research will support advancing our understanding of Venus’ gravity field, lithosphere, interior structure, and geologic evolution through the analysis of existing observations, the development of new measurement approaches, and geophysical modeling. The selected candidate will be able to work a broad range of research directions.

Possible projects include: orbit determination and geodetic analysis using Magellan data; simulations and methodological development for recovery of Venus gravity field parameters from future spacecraft tracking; investigation of atmospheric properties through spacecraft drag or radio occultation measurements. Research projects can also focus on geophysical interpretation of gravity, topography, and related datasets to constrain crustal thickness, elastic lithosphere properties, mantle dynamics, and the formation and evolution of distinctive geological features such as coronae. More theoretical studies of Venus’ long-term evolution, rotation and orientation dynamics, and tidal response, are also of interest.

The selected candidate will work with the Planetary Geodesy group at NASA GSFC and will be able to interact with spacecraft mission teams such as VERITAS.

Field of Science:

Planetary Science

Advisors

• Erwan Mazarico
• [e-mail]
• [phone]

Citizenship / 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; 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]

Qualifications

Candidates should have an engineering or science Ph.D. in a relevant field and have relevant experience to the proposed project.

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.