POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER - Lucy Mission Spectral Investigations - Boulder, Co
Southwest Research Institute
Summary
A world-class multidisciplinary group of Solar System professionals, who are unlocking the mysteries of planetary system formation and evolution via theoretical studies and space exploration.
Job description
Who We Are
A world-class multidisciplinary group of Solar System professionals, who are unlocking the mysteries of planetary system formation and evolution via theoretical studies and space exploration.
Objectives of this Role
- Participate in Lucy mission investigations of spectral data from the L’Ralph instrument, particularly its LEISA (1–4 µm) infrared spectrometer.
- Possible experimental data collection from meteorites and terrestrial samples using laboratory equipment.
Daily and Monthly Responsibilities
- Work within the Lucy Surface Composition Working Group.
- Attend Lucy Science Team meetings, and conferences to present Lucy data.
- Work with the Science Operations Center downlink team in processing instrument data for use by instrument, science, and archive teams.
- Analyze and interpret LEISA data from the Trojan asteroid flybys, including contributing to data reduction and projection of spectral data onto asteroid shape models.
Requirements
- Requires a PhD in Planetary Science, Physics, or Geology.
- 1 years: Experience with visible and/or near-infrared spectroscopy, imaging spectroscopy, including spectral data reduction, analysis, and interpretation.
- 1 years: Experience with laboratory reflectance spectroscopy would be advantageous and proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., Python. IDL).
- Have a peer-reviewed publication record.
- Experience in a collaborative working environment.
Company overview
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is an independent, nonprofit applied research and development organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 1947 by oil businessman Tom Slick, SwRI provides comprehensive contract research and development services to both government and industrial clients across diverse technical domains. The institute employs approximately 3,200 professionals and maintains a research volume of nearly $915 million annually. SwRI operates across ten technical divisions encompassing space science and engineering, intelligent systems, mechanical engineering, chemistry and chemical engineering, fuels and lubricants research, and defense solutions. The organization has played significant roles in major NASA missions including Juno, New Horizons, and Lucy, contributing to planetary exploration and space science advancements. With over 1,500 acres of facilities in San Antonio and additional technical offices across the United States, SwRI conducts more than 4,000 active projects simultaneously, addressing challenges from deep sea to deep space through multidisciplinary research approaches.