Inorganic and ductile thermoelectric materials for development of efficient thermal blankets and powering sensors

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

Surviving lunar winters is a challenging endeavor for long-duration lunar surface exploration activities. Several thermal protection technologies including advanced radio isotopes and material composites have been proposed to survive extreme conditions. Establishing continual presence on the lunar surface requires surviving harsh conditions of lunar nights. As such, there is an urgent need for the development of efficient, rugged, and lightweight thermal blankets for the Artemis and follow-on lunar missions.

Thermoelectric devices, being solid-state with no moving parts, are extremely reliable, noise-free, and low-maintenance devices, which can provide consistent cooling and or generate power depending upon the mode of operation. Flexibility, weight, and thermoelectric performance are key parameters in developing efficient thermal blankets for thermal management solutions or electrical power generation from fluctuating thermal environments in lunar missions.

Requirements

• A Ph.D. in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or Physics

Qualifications

Candidates with relevant backgrounds and interest in this research area are encouraged to apply.

Skills

Not specified

Benefits

Not specified

Pay

Not specified

Schedule

Not specified

Contact Information

Narasimha Prasad
narasimha.s.prasad@nasa.gov
(757) 864-9403

Location

Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

Field of Science

Technology Development

Eligibility

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status;
• 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

Questions

Please email npp@orau.org