High Contrast Imaging with JWST, Roman Coronagraph and the Habitable Worlds Observatory

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

Participate to the development, implementation and validation of wavefront sensing and data-processing techniques for the state-of-the-art space-based coronagraphs and high contrast imaging instruments. Evaluate the impact on observatory and instrument design, observing strategies and observatory efficiency. Help with the preparation, data processing and analysis of high-contrast imaging observations (JWST and Roman Coronagraph).

Requirements

• 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 a valid EAD card and I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status
• Research interests aligned with the field of Astrophysics

Qualifications

Advances in software techniques can complement advances in hardware technology to improve performance and reduce the risk to mission goals for the Roman Coronagraph and the future direct imaging flagship HWO. Furthermore, it has been recognized that testing model-based techniques on Roman is an essential step toward demonstrating model-based techniques for the future Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Skills

• Software Techniques
• Data Processing
• Observing Strategies
• Instrument Design

Benefits

JPL postdoctoral fellows can apply for observing time on the Palomar 5-meter telescope, equipped with optical and near-infrared imagers, spectrographs, and an adaptive optics system. They also have access to high-performance computing resources to support their research.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $90,000 per year.

Schedule

The schedule for this position is full-time, 40 hours per week.