Experimental Studies of the Chemical Composition and Geological Processes of Icy 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 opportunity focuses on icy worlds, which are intriguing targets in the search for evidence of life beyond our own planet. A robust understanding of how icy materials behave under planetary conditions is essential for informing models and planning observations to optimize the science return of missions. The focus of this research group is on putative materials that are of relevance to ocean worlds (e.g. clathrate hydrates, organic co-crystals, and frozen brines), whose many fundamental properties remain largely unconstrained to date. Selected NPP fellows will help conduct research regarding the crystal structures, phase transition/behavior, heat capacity, thermal stability and reaction of these materials using a complementary suite of in-house analytical techniques, including spectroscopies (infrared, Raman, UV), powder X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Interested candidates with significant laboratory experience and familiarity with the experimental techniques are encouraged to apply, especially those with expertise in crystallography and structure solution.