Planetary Analog Samples Study for Instrument Development by Laser Mass Spectrometry

This NASA Postdoctoral Program fellowship focuses on planetary analog samples analysis using various laser mass spectrometry methods, in support of instrument development in the Planetary Environments Laboratory for current or future space missions to Mars, Ocean Worlds, and other airless bodies. Studies will take advantage of existing mass spectrometry and related laboratory facilities including commercial and prototype ion trap and TOF mass spectrometers, facility GC-MS and LC-MS, cryo-sample testing stage, and fs-laser system for instrument protocol development and sample analysis. The targeted analog samples could be from a wide range including various minerals, complex organic biosignatures, organics spiked minerals, natural collected terrestrial analogs, and beyond. The research goal should match the science objectives of NASA's current and future missions, such as method development analyzing planetary surface samples. 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 designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.