Researcher in Heliospheric Plasma Physics

Application Window

Established six decades ago, UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) was the realization of NASA’s vision to gather many of the most innovative and dedicated science minds in one place at the University of California, Berkeley. In the hill above Berkeley, physicists, researchers, biologists, engineers and technicians worked in unison: interacting, learning from one another, leading, challenging and inspiring one another in creating cutting-edge space science instrumentation and conducting top research. Through sixty years of NASA-funded support, their efforts, and those of hundreds of dedicated students and staff, have brought about myriad highlights, such as the space science missions of S3-3, ISEE, Polar, Van Allen Probes, Cluster, IMAGE, THEMIS, MAVEN, Parker Solar Probe, and ICON. All have contributed to new discoveries about the physics of space and initiated marked new advances in instrumentation technology. http://ssl.berkeley.edu/

We seek a creative, energetic, and independent early career scientist with expertise in solar and heliospheric plasma physics to join the team at UC Berkeley working on the NASA Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission. The PSP mission was launched in late 2018 and has made eight solar encounters, producing a world-class set of measurements of the solar wind in the inner heliosphere. Scientists with interests in solar wind kinetics and turbulence and solar wind origins are especially encouraged to apply. The UC Berkeley team plays a lead role on the PSP science and instrumentation team and the successful candidate will also be encouraged to participate in PSP science operations (i.e. helping define instrument operation modes, selecting burst data, organizing observing campaigns). As a university laboratory, the successful candidate will be encouraged to mentor younger scientists and students. The position offers considerable independence and the incumbent will be encouraged to develop their own research interests and collaborations.

The position will remain open until filled.

PhD or equivalent international degree required at the time of application.

• Minimum two years of postdoctoral experience analyzing and interpreting in situ spacecraft measurements.

• Record of publications since PhD degree.

• PhD in Physics, Astronomy, or Space Science

• Experience with space plasma instrumentation operation and calibration.

• Interest or experience mentoring young scientists and students.

• Experience and interest in obtaining external funding.

Letters of reference will only be required of finalist.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at UC Berkeley. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and academic and non-academic staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our academic positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality (http://apo.berkeley.edu/ucb-confidentiality-policy) prior to submitting their letter.