ORAU
Mineralogy of Fine-Grained Extraterrestrial Materials
ORAU, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246
Overview
Mineralogy of Fine-Grained Extraterrestrial Materials — NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) opportunity at ORAU. 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 early history of the solar system is being explored through detailed characterization of the minerals and noncrystalline phases composing primitive extraterrestrial materials. As these materials are typically very fine grained, this research is being performed principally by analytical electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction, and synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction. We are currently examining carbonaceous chondrites, interplanetary dust particles, asteroid Itokawa and comet Wild 2 grains, and fluid inclusions and primitive organics in meteorites.
Location:
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Field of Science:
Cosmochemistry
Advisors:
Michael Ewing Zolensky
Contact: 281-483-5128
Email: Michael.E.Zolensky@nasa.gov
Eligibility
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
Application components:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline:
11/1/2025 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Eligibility & Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
Full-time
Job Function
Management and Manufacturing
Industries
Government Administration
Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Description The early history of the solar system is being explored through detailed characterization of the minerals and noncrystalline phases composing primitive extraterrestrial materials. As these materials are typically very fine grained, this research is being performed principally by analytical electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron back-scattered diffraction, and synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction. We are currently examining carbonaceous chondrites, interplanetary dust particles, asteroid Itokawa and comet Wild 2 grains, and fluid inclusions and primitive organics in meteorites.
Location:
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
Field of Science:
Cosmochemistry
Advisors:
Michael Ewing Zolensky
Contact: 281-483-5128
Email: Michael.E.Zolensky@nasa.gov
Eligibility
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
Application components:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline:
11/1/2025 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Eligibility & Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
Seniority level
Internship
Employment type
Full-time
Job Function
Management and Manufacturing
Industries
Government Administration
Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org
#J-18808-Ljbffr