NASA Postdoctoral Program - Subsystems development for the Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths

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 the Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter-wavelengths (ASTHROS), a 2.5-m balloon-borne observatory featuring cryogenic superconducting heterodyne array spectrometers. The project will make the first detailed spectrally resolved high spatial resolution 3D map of ionized gas in Galactic and extra-galactic star forming regions via simultaneous observations of fine structure lines of ionized nitrogen. The goal is to understand how different stellar feedback mechanisms affect ionized gas over a wide range of spatial scales in the Milky Way and other galaxies. Postdoctoral researchers are sought to assist in all phases of design, fabrication, integration and testing (I&T), and flight preparation of different components and systems of the ASTHROS terahertz radio-telescope. Candidates should work well in a dynamic team of scientists and engineers under tight schedules, with experience or interest in areas including RF control electronics and software, FPGAs, Command & Data Handling systems, integration and characterization of terahertz components and subsystems, I&T of submillimeter-wave/terahertz instruments, and mechanical/thermal design. The position is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, under the advisement of Dr. Jose V. Siles.