Laboratory Studies of Astrophysical Ices and Organic Compounds

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 laboratory studies at the Ices, Ice Irradiation, and Organics Laboratory for Astrobiology (I3OLAB) studying the composition, evolution, and the physical and chemical properties of interstellar and planetary materials. The research focuses on the evolution of astrophysical ices on interstellar grains in dense molecular clouds, on grains in protoplanetary disks, in comets, and on the surface of icy worlds in our Solar System and their interaction with energetic radiation. The program is particularly interested in how radiation processes lead to the formation of organic residues which contain a large variety of organic molecules including compounds of astrobiological interest. Fellows will use analytical techniques including infrared spectroscopy and microscopy, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, fluorescence microscopy, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy to analyze samples and provide information to interpret astronomical observations, extraterrestrial samples, and guide instrument development for future missions.