Astrophysics Division Program Scientist, Visiting (IPA)

NASA seeks one or more visiting Ph.D.-level scientists to serve as visiting Program Scientists in the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. With a budget of over $1 billion annually, the Division is responsible for the nation’s space-based astrophysics program.

NASA Program Scientists have broad responsibility for developing and maintaining scientific research grants programs; serving as the Headquarters science lead for one or more missions; actualizing the Science Mission Directorate’s core value of inclusion; and implementing NASA’s strategic investments for the next decade, guided by the 2020 Decadal Survey. They have substantial influence over high-level strategic planning, as well as over shaping the long-term scientific direction of missions and programs that they oversee. These visiting appointments, which last two years with renewals up to six years, offer a tremendous opportunity to gain insight into Federal astrophysics policy and programs, to better understand the proposal review process, and to run scientific programs with multimillion-dollar budgets.

The time spent at NASA Headquarters allows visiting scientists excellent career growth: some return to their home institutions to continue academic research, while others move on to management and leadership positions in the Federal government, academia, at observatories, or in the non-profit sector. Training and mentoring programs are available, on both a formal and informal basis, which further enables our visiting scientists to advance their careers. NASA also offers its visiting scientists regular travel back to their home institutions.

Program Scientists in the Astrophysics Division have at least 6 years of post-terminal degree experience. The ideal candidate will be skilled at working in a collaborative and inclusive team environment; able to adapt to work simultaneously on numerous programs and missions; committed to working on issues of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility; and able to foster productive relationships with staff working on the space missions they oversee and with the US and international astrophysics community at large. Disciplinary expertise in one or more areas of the Division’s program (e.g., Laboratory astrophysics theory and experimentation, astrophysics data analysis, space telescope technology and instrument development) is essential, but the ability to place this knowledge in the broad context of US astrophysics is equally important for the success of the Division’s activities.

Visiting appointments are most often filled via the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) which requires current employment with an eligible US institution for at least 90 days at the time of appointment. Individual research time while serving as a visiting scientist is negotiable. Positions are available to start as early as Spring 2024, though the start date is negotiable within the calendar year. The position requires onsite work at least periodically at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington, DC.  Applicants should email a curriculum vitae and cover letter as a single PDF file to [email protected] . Applications will be accepted through February 9, 2024, and will be reviewed as they are received. For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Valerie Connaughton at [email protected] .