Job Description

NASA Postdoctoral Program Mars Planetary Science Postdoctoral Position

Institution: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

Reference Code: 0011-NPP-MAR26-JPL-PlanetSci

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

Posting Date: 4 days ago

Description

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highlytalented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASAaffiliated research institute. These onetothreeyear fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASAs missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Research focus: geologic interpretation of data returned by Mars orbiter and lander/rover missions. Areas include geology, geomorphology, rock distribution, landscape development of landing sites; physical characteristics of the surface from remotely sensed data; selection of landing sites for Mars landers and rovers under development; geologic setting of layered sedimentary deposits; tectonics of structural features, regions and provinces. Research supports the current Mars Exploration program in selecting landing sites and in understanding surfaceremotesensing data relationships.

Selected references:

• Golombek, M.P., etal., 2008, *Martian surface properties from joint analysis of orbital, Earth-based, and surface observations*: Chapter 21 in, The Martian Surface: Composition, Mineralogy and Physical Properties , J.F.BellIII editor, Cambridge University Press, pp.468497.
• Golombek, M.P., Phillips, R.J., 2010, *Mars Tectonics*: Chapter5 in Planetary Tectonics , T.R.Watters & R.A.Schultz, eds., Cambridge University Press, pp.183232.
• Golombek, M.P., etal., 2006, *Erosion rates at the Mars Exploration Rover landing sites and longterm climate change on Mars*: Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets,v.111,E12S10, doi:10.1029/2006JE002754.

Location

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

Field of Science

Planetary Science

Advisor

MattGolombek (matthew.p.golombek@jpl.nasa.gov,8183543883)

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:

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J1 visa status;
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I485 or I589 forms in pending status.

Application Materials

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

Please submit all applications in Zintellect . Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org).

Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.

Contact

Questions: email npp@orau.org

Point of contact: Mikeala

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