Space Science: Protoplanetary Disk Chemistry

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

As part of an ongoing effort at NASA's Ames Research Center, protoplanetary disk thermo-chemical and dynamical models are being used to understand the evolution of disks to form planets, predict line emission and interpret disk observations. One of the main goals is to determine the role of aromatic chemistry and photolysis: in disk evolution, in the chemical inventory available for planet formation, and in influencing disk lifetimes and planet formation timescales. The principal task is to develop chemo-dynamical models by expanding on existing work to incorporate results from new, targeted laboratory experiments and quantum chemical theory, and to construct a new chemical network to study organics in disks. Interpreting observational data from ground and space-based facilities using the developed models will also be a key aspect of the work.

Requirements

• Doctoral Degree

Qualifications

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Skills

Experience with protoplanetary disk thermo-chemical and dynamical models, familiarity with quantum chemical theory, and ability to interpret observational data from ground and space-based facilities.

Benefits

One- to three-year fellowships, unique research opportunities, access to NASA resources, and potential for career advancement within NASA.

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A

Contact Information

Point of Contact: Mikeala

Contact Person

Mikeala

Contact Email

npp@orau.org

Application Deadline

11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Field of Science

Astrophysics

Advisors

Uma Gorti, uma.gorti-1@nasa.gov, 650-604-3385