Postdoc: JDISCS - Planet-Forming Chemistry with JWST

Job Details

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL is unique among NASA Centers in that its staff are Caltech employees, yet can access NASA technical resources. Cross-discipline teamwork is standard here: colleagues across JPL's science and engineering organizations and on Caltech's academic campus often work together. Learning to speak and understand other disciplines' languages is a doorway to the creativity needed to do what has not been done before. JPL staff are encouraged to create mission concepts that address humanity's core questions through a combination of science and technology. They are supported in developing ideas into proposals and hardware, and in communicating funded missions' results to the scientific community and the broader public. JPL seeks to employ scientists and engineers who are passionate about lifelong learning and excited to both contribute to and lead team efforts. We emphasize the importance of partnering across discipline boundaries and creating a friendly, constructive work environment to overcome space exploration's challenges. The Postdoctoral scholars at JPL benefit from an informal mentoring network, an annual conference showcasing their results, a dedicated seminar series, exposure to diverse career paths, and social connections across the JPL and Caltech community for advice on housing, childcare, and other aspects of living in southern California.

The Astrophysics and Space Sciences section is seeking candidates for one or more postdoc positions to work on an extensive James Webb Space Telescope (JWST data set investigating the trail of water and volatiles from the interstellar medium to planet-forming regions.

The postdoc will work as part of a large research collaboration, including the JWST Disk Infrared Spectroscopic chemistry Survey (JDISCS). Altogether, the collaboration has access to over 200 hours of JWST observations, including spectroscopy of over 100 protoplanetary disks and similar numbers of protostars and star-forming regions, enabling broad large-sample statistical studies. Further, the team has access to a large ground-based high-resolution infrared spectroscopic survey from Keck. The primary objective of the research is to understand how common habitable worlds are by investigating how water and organics are delivered to planetary surfaces, and to put new constraints from JWST into the context of the early solar system. The JWST data set provides a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of ground-breaking research in understanding the chemical environments in which potentially habitable worlds form.

The successful candidate(s) will work with Dr. Pontoppidan at JPL and Caltech, but with many opportunities to network and interact with the broader collaboration. The postdoc is expected to develop an independent research portfolio, with flexibility on which questions to tackle, depending on interest and discussions with the team. Further, the postdoc will receive support to propose for additional JWST time in future cycles to further leverage the JDISCS database. The work has strong links to the development of future far-infrared space missions, and the postdoc is encouraged to leverage their JWST work to inform mission development and formulation.

The postdoc will have support to interact broadly with planetary scientists and astrophysicists at both JPL and Caltech and will fully benefit from the intellectual environment in both institutions.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Planetary Science, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Motivation and ability to work independently and in a team to produce world-class publications.

• Experience with analysis of infrared ground-based and/or space-based imaging and/or spectroscopy.

• Experience with research in exoplanets, star- and planet formation, astrochemistry, and/or the interstellar medium.

The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.

Applicants may be subject to additional program requirements by NASA. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years. Candidates should submit the following to this site: CV, representative publications, contact information for three references, and a cover letter stating their research accomplishments and interests.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

$82,180 - $82,180

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.