Job Description

Would you like to participate as a postdoctoral fellow in cutting-edge space physics research?

Are you interested in the sources and behavior of energetic particles and plasmas?

Can you imagine helping to characterize and predict how the activity of the Sun influences systems on Earth, our technosphere and ultimately the habitability of various places in the Solar System?

If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, we want you to work with us through the Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship (KPS) Program in the Solar and Space Physics Group (SRP) at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (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. Key features of this program include:

• partnering with a research advisor who would provide mentoring on development both as a researcher and a science professional;
• research in cutting-edge fields of space science aligned with the research group;
• support for travel to conferences and publications;
• membership in a postdoc cohort that builds a network among peers;
• training in "soft" professional skills, including proposal-writing;
• ability and support to submit grant proposals as a principal investigator;
• a salary that is competitive in the Baltimore-Washington area;
• and 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. We encourage students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply. 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.

The SRP group consists of 51 full- or part-time scientists, postdocs, 1 administrative staff with 6 thematic sections that focus on magnetospheres of the Solar System and beyond, geospace and cislunar environment, outer heliosphere and the interstellar medium, space weather origins, space plasma modeling and theory, and solar and coronal physics. Collectively we work on over 151 projects. The key science questions we address are how the solar wind is accelerated; how energy is transported through planetary magnetsopheres; and how the large scale structures of the heliosphere have influenced habitability of the Earth and other places in the Solar System. Members of our group have worked on dozens of missions and hundreds of instruments over a period spanning 5 decades.  Current active missions that group members are participating in through instrument or science affiliation include the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (JUICE), Europa Clipper, Juno, Solar Corona Ejection Tracker (SunCet), Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS), Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer (EZIE), New Horizons, STEREO, Advanced Compsition Expolorer (ACE) and the Voyagers. Active data analysis programs also continue for past missions including Cassini, the Van Allen Probes, Geotail and others. You can learn more about us and our activities by visiting web pages describing Space Weather and Heliophysics.

Research opportunities in the Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship Program are primarily mentor-defined opportunities supported by funding from existing grants, missions, and other programs. The topics of the currently available opportunities in Solar and Space Physics are listed below.  You should list which opportunities you wish to pursue in your cover letter.

• IMAP is a revolutionary mission that simultaneously investigates two of the most important overarching issues in heliophysics--the acceleration of energetic particles and the interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium. This project will consist of analyzing IMAP data to support these overarching science objectives.
• IMAP-Ultra is an energetic neutral atom instrument suite onboard IMAP that will measure the 5 - 40 keV neutral hydrogen atoms originating from the outer heliosphere. These measurements will advance our understanding of the temporal & spatial evolution of the heliospheric boundary region as well as advance our understanding of processes related to the interaction of the magnetic field of the Sun and the local interstellar medium. This project will consist of analyzing IMAP-Ultra data to support these science objectives.
• Solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are powerful solar events known to cause large geomagnetic storms. Newly developed high-resolution MHD simulations of CMEs in the inner heliosphere provide a unique tool to study the evolution of CMEs and their substructures in detail. The project's objectives are:(1) To characterize ejecta, sheath, and shock properties at Earth for different CME-solar wind interaction scenarios;(2) To quantify the geoeffectiveness of CMEs by examining the geospace response to CME-induced conditions. The project will utilize MHD models of the global inner heliosphere with CMEs and the global magnetosphere based on the GAMERA MHD solver to connect CME evolution in interplanetary space and space weather effects in geospace.

A small number of opportunities could be awarded for 50% coverage, in conjunction with the mentor-defined opportunities for postdoc-defined, original, high-impact research related to the fields of study described above. If you are interested in being considered for postdoc-defined research, include a 3-page proposal with your cover letter for a hypothesis-driven research program, that addresses an important issue in solar or space physics  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.

The Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship Program is open to recipients of a Ph. D. in physics, astrophysics or a related field,  whose dissertation focused on research relevant to space science or solar physics. Eligibility for the program requires:

• a Ph. D. in a relevant subject awarded after January 1, 2022 (or earlier if a leave of absence has been taken).
• demonstrated ability to do independent research, and submit results for publication by the expected start date
• ability to work well within a team

You’ll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have one or more publications, especially with a potentially high impact.

Applications are due October 15, 2024 and notification of selections is expected by February, 2025. The start date is negotiable with the applicant.

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 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 at www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 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 promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are 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 contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

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