Solar System Exploration: Exogenous Organics for the Origin and Early Evolution of Life

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

The origin of life on Earth (and possibly elsewhere) was either influenced by or a product of organic compounds from space. These vital compounds were delivered by comets, meteorites, and IDPs to the early Earth. Such material is delivered today. Our goal is to analyze the organics in such samples at unprecedented sensitivities. Our focus is on small organic molecules, such as amino acids, hydroxy acids, amines, purines, pyrimidines, pyridines, etc. We typically use different forms of chromatography coupled with various types of mass spectrometry to understand the structural, enantiomeric, and stable isotopic distribution of these species across a range of extraterrestrial materials—principally meteorites. We furthermore closely collaborate with field work and other laboratories to perform experiments to explore the origin of these compounds under plausible astrophysical conditions. Principally we study aqueous alteration, energetically processed ices, gas-grain reactions, and terrestrial analogs of Mars.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Astrobiology

Advisors

• Jason P. Dworkin
  Email: Jason.P.Dworkin@nasa.gov
  Phone: +1 (301) 286-8631
• Jamie Elsila Cook
  Email: Jamie.E.Cook@nasa.gov
  Phone: 301-286-9160

Eligibility

Eligibility is currently open to:

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

Qualifications

- Degree: Doctoral Degree.

Benefits

ORAU offers internships, fellowships, research opportunities, and contract positions that can provide you with invaluable experience. Download the ORAU Pathfinder mobile app and find the right opportunity to propel you along your career path!