Astrophysics: High-Energy Astronomy

The NASA Postdoctoral Program at ORAU is seeking applicants for a position in Astrophysics, focusing on high-energy astronomy research at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. This competitive fellowship offers opportunities in experimental, observational, and theoretical research, including X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy. Applicants must submit a research proposal, letters of recommendation, and transcripts by the deadline of November 1, 2025.
Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0002-NPP-NOV25-MSFC-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

11/1/2025 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:

The Astrophysics Branch at MSFC is seeking applicants to contribute to any activities within the broad research portfolio of the group including experimental, observational, and theoretical research in X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy; time domain and multi-messenger astronomy; gravitational wave data analysis and modeling; X-ray optics; and the development of detectors and technology for future high-energy astrophysics missions. The Branch currently leads the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE); provides project science and observatory support for the Chandra X-ray Observatory; supports studies for future X-ray missions; leads the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM); leads StarBurst, a Pioneer class mission to detect high-energy gamma rays in conjunction with future gravitational wave detections of neutron star mergers; leads SuperHERO, a balloon mission pioneering next-generation hard X-ray optics; and leads NASA’s contribution to data processing for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, an ESA-led mission to survey the gravitational wave universe in the mHz band. The Branch maintains world-class facilities to support these efforts, community X-ray testing (through the MSFC-100m X-ray beamline), supports the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility (XRCF), and has access to MSFC engineering and concept study development.

Location:

Marshall Space Flight Center

Huntsville, Alabama

Field of Science: Astrophysics

Advisors:

Jessica A. Gaskin

jessica.gaskin@nasa.gov

(256) 961-7818

Colleen Wilson-Hodge

Colleen.Wilson@nasa.gov

(256) 961-7624

C. Michelle Hui

c.m.hui@nasa.gov

Daniel Kocevski

daniel.kocevski@nasa.gov

(256) 961-7656

Joshua Wood

joshua.r.wood@nasa.gov

(256) 961-7656

Tyson Littenberg

tyson.b.littenberg@nasa.gov

(256) 961-7861

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.