Recent PhD Graduate - Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship Program: Planetary Exploration Group

Do you want to unveil the mysteries of asteroids, Mars' moons, and icy moons in the far-away reaches of the Solar System?

Are you interested in using nuclear spectroscopy to understand the elemental composition of the surfaces of these bodies?

Do you like to be challenged by high-impact problems and want to perform mentored, cutting-edge research in planetary science while refining your research independence?

If so, then we are looking for someone like you to join our team through the Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship (KPS) Program in the Planetary Exploration Group (SRF) at APL! This program is named after Dr. Stamatios "Tom" Krimigis who was a team member on over 50 years of spaceflight investigations of space science, from Mariner 4 to Mars in 1965 through New Horizons to Pluto in 2015. Krimigis Fellows will be hosted by one of the science groups in the Space Science and Instrumentation Branch of the Space Exploration Sector.

As a Krimigis Postdoctoral Fellow, you will...

• partner with a research advisor who will provide mentoring on development both as a researcher and a science professional;
• perform cutting-edge research related to planetary science;
• present your research at conferences and in publications;
• be part of a postdoc cohort that builds a network among peers;
• receive training in "soft" professional skills, including proposal-writing;
• gain the ability and support to submit grant proposals as a principal investigator;
• receive a salary that is competitive in the Baltimore-Washington area;
• and receive a generous benefits package.

Your professional outcome will include great research opportunities, a foundation for the rest of your career, and building of connections with a variety of researchers and programs at APL, a premier space mission implementation center. Positions are for a 2-year term, with a possibility of extension to a third year. Most positions will be for full-time work, although part-time work (down to 50%-time) is possible by participant's request.

SRF consists of ~60 full- and part-time professional staff, postdoctoral researchers and interns. We pioneer the exploration of small bodies and ocean worlds, and we perform high-impact scientific research in the areas of planetary science. We have multiple leadership roles on major past, present and future planetary missions, including Europa Clipper, Dragonfly, Psyche, Lucy, Lunar Vertex, LRO, and DART.

Research opportunities in the Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship Program are primarily mentor-defined opportunities supported by funding from existing grants, missions, and other programs. The currently available opportunity in the Planetary Exploration Group is:

• Carrying out planetary nuclear spectroscopy projects at various levels of development, from proposal stage, to detailed instrument development & testing, to flight operation of already launched instruments. As part of the planetary nuclear spectroscopy team, you will participate in detector development and implementation, modeling, analysis, and/or interpretation of orbital and/or landed gamma-ray and neutron spectroscopy data for various missions (e.g., Psyche, MMX, Dragonfly). Specific areas of planetary science study include understanding the surface composition of asteroids, Mars' moons, and outer planet targets. You will assist in the development and implementation of modeling and analysis codes for understanding gamma-ray/neutron data from small bodies, and benchmarking these data with flight data. An additional role includes the development and implementation of laboratory measurement and calibration experiments that have a direct application to current and future spaceflight nuclear spectroscopy instruments.

A 3-page research proposal should be included with your cover letter for a hypothesis-driven research program, that addresses an important issue in planetary science, and can be completed and submitted for publication within a 50% effort over two years. Information on how to structure the research proposal can be found on the Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholars webpage.

Applications are due March 29, 2026.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Possess a PhD in Physics, Nuclear Physics, or a related field awarded after July 1, 2023 (or earlier if a leave of absence has been taken)
• Have experience in radiation transport modeling (e.g., GEANT4 and/or MCNP), gamma-ray or neutron data analysis/scientific interpretation, or laboratory experiments making gamma-ray or neutron measurements.
• Have a willingness to work well within a small-team that carries out research projects in a fast-paced, collegial environment.
• Are experienced doing open-source code development with Python, IDL, and/or C++
• Have strong oral and written communication skills.

You will go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have experience in the analysis and scientific interpretation of planetary nuclear spectroscopy data, particularly data stored in the NASA Planetary Data System.
• Have experience working with nuclear data libraries
• Have experience in the design, building, modeling, and laboratory testing of gamma-ray and/or neutron detector systems and associated hardware; and a willingness to carry out laboratory and spaceflight experimentation as part of a team of scientists and engineers.
• Show an ability and willingness to work within larger multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers.
• Are either a U.S. citizen or are able and willing to obtain a U.S. permanent resident card.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities athttp://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contactAccommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.