2025 PhD Graduate - Krimigis Postdoctoral Scholarship Program: Outer Planet Moons in the Small Bodies and Ocean Worlds Group (SRW)

Do you want to unveil the mysteries of icy moons in the far-away reaches of the Solar System?

Are you interested in geology, cryovolcanism, volatile migration, and landscape evolution?

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 Small Bodies and Ocean Worlds Group (SRW) 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.

SRW consists of ~30 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 astrobiology, comets, asteroids, and planetary defense. We have multiple leadership roles on major past, present and future planetary missions, including Europa Clipper, Dragonfly, Psyche, Lucy, and DART. SRW operates cooperatively with the Moon and Rocky Planets (SRR) group, who share similar skills with us.

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 Small Bodies and Ocean Worlds is:

• Cutting-edge research on the Uranian moons: Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. This role will focus on geologic interpretation using images collected by Voyager 2. The work will also include a variety of modeling tasks to understand volatile migration, landscape evolution, and cryovolcanism on these moons. The candidate will investigate the thermophysical properties of these moons. Other areas of study will include modeling convection in the interiors of Uranus' moons.

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 April 15, 2025.

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

• possess a PhD in planetary science or a related physical science awarded after July 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 at APL
• have excellent written and oral communications skills
• have the ability to work well within a team

• have experience processing and analyzing spacecraft data

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

• have research experience studying the geology of the Uranian moons
• have experience in modeling volatile migration, landscape evolution, and/or cryovolcanism
• have one or more publications, especially with a potentially high impact
• have proficiency in GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) and image-processing tools (e.g., ISIS, ENVI)
• have familiarity with programming languages (e.g., Python, IDL, MATLAB)

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 at 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 promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity of perspectives, 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 contactAccommodations@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.

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.