Heliophysics Science: Solar Theory and Computational Studies

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.

Description

Our research is focused on understanding the solar origins of space weather and other energetic solar phenomena, through a combination of data interpretation, theory, and numerical simulations. A key goal of our studies is to decipher how magnetic reconnection operates in the Sun's atmosphere, and its essential role in nearly all manifestations of solar activity including the formation and structure of the solar wind. We work closely with colleagues specializing in data collection and analysis to ensure the best possible closure between the latest observations and our theoretical models. Ongoing investigations in this wide-ranging program include the formation and evolution of filament channels; the initiation and propagation of coronal mass ejections; the role of reconnection in chromospheric and coronal jets; coronal heating by nanoflares; the condensation and dynamics of prominence plasmas; flare reconnection; the dynamic interaction between closed and open magnetic flux on the Sun; coronal interchange reconnection and heliospheric current sheet dynamics; and the physics of flux cancellation.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

• James A Klimchuk
  James.A.Klimchuk@nasa.gov
  301-286-9060
• Judy Karpen
  Judith.T.Karpen@nasa.gov
  301-286-0065
• Peter MacNeice
  Peter.J.MacNeice@nasa.gov
  301-286-2061
• Aleida Higginson
  Aleida.K.Higginson@nasa.gov
  301-653-2373
• James E. Leake
  james.e.leake@nasa.gov

Qualifications

• Doctoral Degree
• U.S. Citizenship, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status, or applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Benefits

• One- to three-year fellowships
• Competitive research opportunities
• Engagement in ongoing NASA research projects
• Access to advanced facilities and resources

Pay

Salary range: $65,000 - $75,000 per year

Schedule

Full-time

Contact

For questions about this opportunity, please email npp@orau.org