NASA Postdoctoral Program - Laboratory Astrophysics: experimental, theoretical, modeling, and/or database research

The NASA Postdoctoral Program 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 Astrophysics research at NASA Ames Research Center, supporting two broad science themes: The PAH Universe, and From Nano-grains to Carbonaceous Dust Grains. The research generates laboratory experimental and quantum computational data to interpret observations from NASA missions including JWST. Research areas include production and characterization of cosmic molecules, ions, and solid-phase analogs of cosmic grains, spectral characterization using advanced techniques, optical constant determination, database development, and JWST observation analysis. Candidates will work with complementary databases including PAHdb, OCdb, and Nanograindb to study spectral signatures from carbon in the interstellar medium, molecular clouds, planetary nebulae, protoplanetary disks, exoplanets, and galaxies.