Advisor: John Trauger, Senior Research Scientist. Building upon the current and rapidly advancing body of exoplanet science, JPL is developing new methods for the characterization of exoplanets and exosolar systems through direct imaging and spectroscopy. Current, planned, and envisioned future space astronomy missions will expand and deepen our knowledge in areas that are uniquely accessible from space. Among these, the WFIRST mission, transitioning in the coming year from Phase A to Phase B development, will specifically advance the technical maturity and explore the scientific reach of the actively-corrected high-contrast coronagraph instrument. The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to and grow with WFIRST as the next major advance in exoplanet exploration from space, and as a major pathfinder for more powerful missions in the future, now envisioned as HabEx and LUVOIR. The fellow will keep abreast of the state of the art in exoplanet observations, participate in ongoing ground-based and space research programs, and apply his/her science perspectives to help advance the WFIRST exoplanet program and influence the design of the next generation of space observatories.
References:
Useful collection of 22 WFIRST Coronagraph Instrument papers: WFIRST Coronagraph Special Edition, Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems; Vol 2 (January-March 2016).
Location:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, California
Field of Science:Astrophysics
Advisors:
John Trauger
john.trauger@jpl.nasa.gov
818.354.9594
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
- Degree: Doctoral Degree.
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