Exploring the Astrobiology and Organic Chemistry Potential of Enceladus, Europa, Titan and/or Mars

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

Current funded research focuses on hypervelocity impacts of ice grains for Enceladus and/or Europa. Ocean worlds such as Enceladus and Europa represent high-priority targets for astrobiology-focused missions. Cassini demonstrated the detection of salts and organics in hypervelocity plume flythroughs using impact ionization mass spectrometry with its Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) instrument, and current and future payloads under development could search for biosignatures in plume and ejected particles with the same technique. However, until recently no equivalent laboratory measurements have reproduced the physics of an ice grain impact onto a spaceborne dust detector such as CDA or Europa Clipper’s Surface DUst Analyzer (SUDA) instrument using relevant compositions. At JPL/Caltech we have a new experimental system called the Hypervelocity Ice grain Impact Validation Experiment (HIIVE) that more closely replicates the hypervelocity sampling process, and will set the standard for SUDA data interpretation by establishing a direct link between the observed mass spectra and ice grain composition.

Requirements

• Current funded research focuses on hypervelocity impacts of ice grains for Enceladus and/or Europa.
• Candidates should have a recent Ph.D. in chemistry, geochemistry, physics or a related discipline in planetary science or astrobiology.
• Candidates are encouraged to develop a project proposal that enables them to gain experience in a new or tangential field to their previous expertise.
• Must have a recent Ph.D. in chemistry, geochemistry, physics or a related discipline in planetary science or astrobiology.

Qualifications

• Recent Ph.D. in chemistry, geochemistry, physics or a related discipline in planetary science or astrobiology.
• Experience in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, mass spectrometry, IR/Raman spectroscopy, cryogens and/or vacuum systems is not required but may be preferred.
• Interested candidates should develop a project proposal that enables them to gain experience in a new or tangential field to their previous expertise.

Skills

Not specified

Benefits

Not specified

Pay

Not specified

Schedule

Not specified

Contact Information

Point of Contact: Mikeala

Email: npp@orau.org

Phone: (818) 354-2416