The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), part of the Universities Space Research Association, invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in the petrology and mineralogy of planetary materials.

The successful candidate will join Drs. Justin Filiberto and Allan Treiman in continuing and new studies of planetary materials, including (for example): melt inclusions and amphiboles in martian (shergottite) basalts; metasomatism and silica formation in Gale Crater, Mars; and characterization of lithic components in lunar regolith breccias. The successful candidate will also design and conduct her/his own research, with opportunities to use laboratories at the LPI and the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division at nearby Johnson Space Center (https://ares.jsc.nasa.gov/). These facilities include optical and electron microscopy, electron microprobe, experimental petrology, X-ray diffraction, VNIR reflectance, X-ray tomography, Raman imaging, and LA-ICPMS. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in LPI internal and outreach activities and propose for external funding. She/he will be encouraged to participate in grant review panels and analysis groups, and become involved with spacecraft missions. Support for this fellowship comes from the LPI, and partially from a CheMin/MSL grant.

At the LPI, the successful candidate will interact with scientists of many specialties, and will also have the opportunity to interact with scientists of the ARES division at Johnson Space Center, most of whom work with planetary materials. The LPI leads a team in the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), allowing access to this community of lunar & asteroid explorers. LPI scientists also collaborate with faculty at the nearby University of Houston Clear Lake, University of Houston Main, and Rice University.

The successful applicant will have a recently completed Ph.D. in petrology or mineralogy; experience with basalts and/or planetary materials is desirable. The fellowship is for two years, with a possible extension to a third year. The successful candidate must be able to pass a detailed government background investigation. Due to security restrictions, citizens of U.S. State Department Designated Countries (see link under “ECP Notices” at http://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/nasaecp/) are not eligible.

Interested applicants should apply to the posting at https://usracareers.silkroad.com/, and must submit: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae with list of publications, a two- to three-page statement of research interests and plans, and a list of at least three professional references.

For information about LPI, please see https://www.lpi.usra.edu/.