Computational, Analytical and Experimental Thermodynamics to Investigate the Presence, Stability, and Implications of Organic Matter in Ocean Worlds

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. This specific postdoctoral research opportunity focuses on ocean worlds such as Europa, Enceladus, Titan and Ceres. The research involves developing thermodynamic tools and experiments to predict the concentrations and identity of complex organic molecules that could exist in the deep oceans, residual brines and rocky interiors of these worlds. The postdoc will characterize the inventory and stability of organic compounds representative of those in the interiors of ocean worlds, obtaining thermodynamic properties such as densities and heat capacities of insoluble organic matter through experimental, analytical and computational methods. The successful candidate will use a suite of experimental, analytical and numerical techniques, including pressurized calorimeters, Raman and infrared spectrometers, and thermodynamic and geophysical models to accurately constrain the physical and chemical properties of organic matter, minerals and geologic fluids plausibly present in ocean world oceans. The postdoc would be directly advised by JPL scientists and is expected to collaborate, publish and present their research widely.