X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

The X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center plans to hire a cohort of three early-to-mid-career research astrophysicists. Successful candidates are expected to conduct an independent program of theoretical and/or observational astronomical research, studying active galaxies, black holes, neutron stars, clusters of galaxies, supernova remnants, or other cosmic sources of X-rays including within the solar system, and/or be involved in the research and development of instrumentation to study those sources.

The three open Research Astrophysicist (civil service scientist) positions are as follows, encompassing work in instrumentation, theory and observations at X-ray wavelengths:

• GS-14 X-ray Astrophysics Computational Spectroscopist  - (Permanent Hire)
• GS-13 Interdisciplinary heliophysics – X-ray instrumentalist - (6 year Term Hire)
• GS-13 Athena Deputy Project Scientist - (6 year Term Hire)

This will be a 2-step process. The first phase, from early March to April 30, 2022, seeks declarations of interest in the above positions via a submitted letter of interest and other documents (see below) for any of the above positions.  Note that candidates qualified and/or interested in more than one of the above positions are invited to indicate as much in their submitted letter. The second phase will be a sequence of two USAJOBS postings, first a single USAJOBS posting for the two term positions (~summer 2022), and then a second USAJOBS posting for the permanent position (late summer/early fall 2022). Those who respond during phase 1 will receive additional, specific notification when the respective USAJOBS opportunity opens. Note that phase 1 is the ‘strongly encouraged’ phase and phase 2 is the ‘required’ phase.   

Successful candidates will participate in and/or lead concept development for future instrumentation and missions, including developing the science case for missions and/or performing public advocacy. Specific notes on the three positions are included below:

• X-ray Astrophysics Computational Spectroscopist - The work for this position is envisaged to be modeling high resolution X-ray spectra and associated atomic processes from astrophysical sources that will be observed by the instruments on XRISM and Athena, playing a key role in theoretical interpretation of these spectra. This is a permanent hire with a one year probationary period.
• Interdisciplinary Heliophysics X-ray instrumentalist - The work of this position is envisioned to be development of X-ray instrumentation for observing astrophysical sources and for studies of the Earth’s magnetosphere and important phenomena such as solar-wind charge exchange, which is both scientifically important in its own right as well as a major source of foreground in X-ray instruments. The candidate may have experience or interests drawn from either astrophysics and/or heliophysics, but should be interested in collaborating with both astrophysicists and heliophysicists and should have X-ray hardware experience of some kind. This is a six-year term hire, somewhat akin to tenure-track faculty positions, that is subject to future proposal wins, such as re-proposal of the STORM MIDEX mission.
• Athena Deputy Project Scientist - This position is open to those working in observation, theory or instrumentation who have research interests overlapping with ESA’s flagship Athena X-ray observatory.   Candidates should be interested in working with the U.S. Athena project office to help maximize the science return from the NASA contributions to Athena. This includes, but is not limited to, developing plans for the U.S. portion of the Athena Science Ground Segment, and interfacing with the NASA Athena Study Team and wider community.  This is also a six-year term hire, akin to a tenure-track faculty position at a University.

U.S. citizenship is required at the time of the Phase 2/USAJOBS application in summer/fall 2022; those who are expecting U.S. citizenship by the time of the Phase 2 opportunity are encouraged to submit materials during Phase 1, even if they do not yet have their U.S. citizenship. A Ph.D. degree is highly desirable. These are early and mid- career positions: the appointment is for a GS-13/14 position with salary commensurate with the applicant’s past experience. 

Interested applicants should send a letter stating their interest (including which of the three positions interests them), a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names of at least three independent references (which should be contained within the aforementioned documents) to Ms. Alicia Jose ([email protected]) by April 30, 2022.  Please use the subject line “2022 662 civil service scientist position”. Inquiries about the position may be addressed to Dr. Ann Hornschemeier at [email protected], with a cc: to Allison Gorman ([email protected]). Additional application material will be required through Phase 2 via the USAJobs website; the USAJobs posting of these positions is anticipated for summer/fall 2022.

NASA GSFC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.