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ORAU

High-Sensitivity Far-IR Detectors

ORAU, Pasadena, California, United States, 91122

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Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code 0163-NPP-MAR26-JPL-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 includes:

Research proposal

Three letters of recommendation

Official doctoral transcript documents

Application Deadline 3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Overview The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities for highly‑talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or 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

Design, fabricate, and characterize low‑temperature superconducting devices and far‑IR to millimeter‑wave instrumentation for use in far‑infrared detectors.

Use a dilution‑cooled sub‑100 mK cryostat to evaluate devices built in the JPL micro devices lab (MDL).

Work with transition‑edge‑sensed (TES) bolometers, kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs), and quantum capacitance detectors (QCDs); focus on bolometers in preparation for the SPICA mission.

Implement frequency‑domain readout techniques developed by U.S. and international collaborators.

Travel and interface with scientists and engineers supporting detector system demonstration and collaborate on ground‑based and balloon‑borne instruments targeting the early Universe (e.g., SuperSpec, TIME, TIM).

Qualifications

Doctoral degree in physics, engineering, or related field.

Hands‑on experience in low‑temperature superconducting devices and far‑IR to millimeter‑wave instrumentation.

Experience with cryogenic measurement techniques and detector fabrication.

Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.

Location Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Field of Science Astrophysics

Advisors Matt Bradford – matt.bradford@jpl.nasa.gov – 818‑726‑8622

Eligibility

U.S. Citizens

U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)

Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status

Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with a valid EAD card and pending I‑485 or I‑589 forms

Questions Please email npp@orau.org.

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