NASA Postdoctoral Program: Identifying Solar Wind Source Regions Using EUV/FUV Spectroscopy and Multi-Instrument Solar Observations

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 position focuses on identifying the sources of solar wind in the solar atmosphere through analysis of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and far ultraviolet (FUV) spectra from space-based instruments such as Hinode/EIS, IRIS, and Solar Orbiter/SPICE, supplemented with contextual observations including magnetograms and EUV images. A key component involves measuring plasma composition (elemental abundances) to connect coronal plasma signatures to in situ solar wind measurements. The project may also involve comparing remote-sensing observations with in situ spacecraft measurements or coronagraph images. Through collaboration with mission scientists and the use of state-of-the-art solar physics analysis tools, the participant will gain hands-on experience in data processing, spectral analysis, plasma diagnostics, and interpretation techniques, enhancing understanding of solar atmospheric dynamics, plasma composition, and processes that drive the solar wind.