ORAU
Heliophysics Science: Heliophysics: Solar Wind Connections with Magnetized Plasm
ORAU, Greenbelt, Maryland, us, 20771
Heliophysics Science: Heliophysics: Solar Wind Connections with Magnetized Plasmas and Gases
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Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code 0029-NPP-MAR26-GSFC-HelioSci
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
A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline 3/1/2026 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.
Orbiting spacecraft observations are complemented by sounding rockets, ground‑based observations, and modeling to diagnose and understand the ionization, heating and flow of gases, driven by solar wind electromagnetic and kinetic energy fluxes connected via magnetic fields to ionospheres and atmospheres. Spacecraft data sets used include those from Wind, Polar, Geotail, Cluster, FAST, IMAGE, THEMIS, IBEX, and soon, MMS. Energy fluxes are traced from regions producing reconnected magnetic fields, into structured ionospheric flows and dissipation mechanisms. Resulting plasma outflows are tracked through the global circulation, where they provide feedback by mass loading and pressurizing those flows. For example, plasmaspheric material convects to the dayside magnetopause where, in active times, it dominates the plasma density there and reloads reconnection. We also explore the behavior of magnetized plasmas through our Global Ion Kinetic simulations, using single‑particle trajectory tracing, kinetic modeling, and multifluid magnetohydrodynamic models. Opportunities exist to develop new instruments, analyze existing data sets, and conduct modeling experiments.
Location Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland
Field of Science Heliophysics Science
Advisors Mei‑Ching Fok mei-ching.h.fok@nasa.gov 301‑286‑1083
David Gary Sibeck David.G.Sibeck@nasa.gov 301‑286‑5998
George V. Khazanov George.V.Khazanov@nasa.gov 301‑286‑9742
Eligibility 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.
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Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.
Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code 0029-NPP-MAR26-GSFC-HelioSci
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
A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline 3/1/2026 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.
Orbiting spacecraft observations are complemented by sounding rockets, ground‑based observations, and modeling to diagnose and understand the ionization, heating and flow of gases, driven by solar wind electromagnetic and kinetic energy fluxes connected via magnetic fields to ionospheres and atmospheres. Spacecraft data sets used include those from Wind, Polar, Geotail, Cluster, FAST, IMAGE, THEMIS, IBEX, and soon, MMS. Energy fluxes are traced from regions producing reconnected magnetic fields, into structured ionospheric flows and dissipation mechanisms. Resulting plasma outflows are tracked through the global circulation, where they provide feedback by mass loading and pressurizing those flows. For example, plasmaspheric material convects to the dayside magnetopause where, in active times, it dominates the plasma density there and reloads reconnection. We also explore the behavior of magnetized plasmas through our Global Ion Kinetic simulations, using single‑particle trajectory tracing, kinetic modeling, and multifluid magnetohydrodynamic models. Opportunities exist to develop new instruments, analyze existing data sets, and conduct modeling experiments.
Location Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland
Field of Science Heliophysics Science
Advisors Mei‑Ching Fok mei-ching.h.fok@nasa.gov 301‑286‑1083
David Gary Sibeck David.G.Sibeck@nasa.gov 301‑286‑5998
George V. Khazanov George.V.Khazanov@nasa.gov 301‑286‑9742
Eligibility 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr