Planetary Geodesy and Geophysic

Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code
0346-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-PlanetSci
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:

  1. Research proposal
  2. Three letters of recommendation
  3. Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline
11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

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 opportunity is to conduct research in planetary geodesy and geophysics using spacecraft data, in particular imagery, altimetry, and radiometric tracking data. Data from a number of missions were previously analyzed at NASA GSFC and can be further investigated for specific geophysical questions, with updated and improved modeling. These include: MESSENGER; Magellan; GRAIL, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter; Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter; Galileo, Juno; Cassini. Simulation studies to prepare future instrument and mission concepts for gravity field or topographic mapping are also topics of interest, including to small bodies and icy satellites. The combination of various tracking measurements is especially relevant, as orbit determination software are capable of handling numerous data types simultaneously.

The selected candidate will be fully integrated into the planetary geodesy group of the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA GSFC.

Field of Science: Planetary Science

Advisors:

Erwan Mazarico
erwan.m.mazarico@nasa.gov
(301) 614-6504

 

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 npp@orau.org

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
Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree.
NPP
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