Astrophysics: X-Ray Polarimetry
Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code
0090-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-Astrophys
How To Apply
All applications must be submitted in Zintellect
Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org)
A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:
• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline
11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description
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:
X rays from many astrophysical sources are expected to have some degree of polarization which depends on the emission mechanism and the source geometry. Polarization could provide definitive information about the structure of supernova remnants, active galactic nuclei, stellar black holes, and high magnetic field neutron star X-ray sources. We are developing gas micro-pattern detectors, which at the focus of mirrors in a SMEX or MIDEX mission provide measurements sensitive to expected polarization of x rays from relatively faint X-ray sources. We are also studying the use of large-area pixelized gas well detectors to enable polarization measurements up to 300 MeV. A balloon-borne instrument based on Comption scattering is being developed to measure time-resolved polarization in the 30-200 keV range from specific bright X-ray sources. There are opportunities for research both on these detectors and on astrophysical source models.
Location:
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
Field of Science: Astrophysics
Advisors:
Jeremy Schnittman
jeremy.d.schnittman@nasa.gov
301-286-8069
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
Point of Contact
Mikeala
Eligibility Requirements
• Degree: Doctoral Degree.
Government Administration
Other
Full-time