What are the responsibilities and job description for the Planetary Analog Samples Study for Instrument Development by Laser Mass Spectrometry position at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)?
About the NASA Postdoctoral Program
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:
Proposals are invited to focus on planetary analog samples analysis by using various laser mass spectrometry methods, in support of instrument development in Planetary Environments Laboratory for current or future space missions to Mars, Ocean Worlds, and other airless bodies. Studies should take advantage of existing mass spectrometry and related laboratory facilities (e.g., commercial and prototype ion trap and TOF mass spectrometers, facility GC-MS and LC-MS, cryo-sample testing stage, and fs-laser system) for the instrument protocol development and sample analysis. The targeted analog samples could be from a wide range (various minerals, complex organic biosignatures, organics spiked minerals, natural collected terrestrial analogs, and beyond), and the research goal should match the science objectives of NASA’s current and future missions, such as method development analyzing planetary surface samples.
Field of Science: Planetary Science
Advisors:
Xiang Li
xiang.li@nasa.gov
(443) 774-9388
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.
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 about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org