New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

JPL is unique among NASA Centers in that its staff are Caltech employees, yet can access NASA technical resources. Cross-discipline teamwork is standard here: colleagues across JPL's science and engineering organizations and on Caltech's academic campus often work together. Learning to speak and understand other disciplines' languages is a doorway to the creativity needed to do what has not been done before. JPL staff are encouraged to create mission concepts that address humanity's core questions through a combination of science and technology. They are supported in developing ideas into proposals and hardware, and in communicating funded missions' results to the scientific community and the broader public. JPL seeks to employ scientists and engineers who are passionate about lifelong learning and excited to both contribute to and lead team efforts. We emphasize the importance of partnering across discipline boundaries and creating a friendly, constructive work environment to overcome space exploration's challenges. The Postdoctoral scholars at JPL benefit from an informal mentoring network, an annual conference showcasing their results, a dedicated seminar series, exposure to diverse career paths, and social connections across the JPL and Caltech community for advice on housing, childcare, and other aspects of living in southern California.

The JPL cosmology group is involved in a variety of wide-field dark energy survey programs, including European Space Agency’s ongoing Euclid mission, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman, SPHEREx, and SuperBIT programs. Our research program leads efforts aimed at solving the key measurement problems facing dark energy cosmology and developing new probes, including kinematic lensing. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the group’s current activities, and also to carry out their own independent research.

The JPL cosmology group invites applications for a postdoctoral research position at JPL to focus on weak gravitational lensing measurements.

We are seeking motivated candidates with:

Strong backgrounds in survey cosmology,

Statistical methods, and

Machine learning to work as part of a team to carry out the next generation of dark energy investigations.

The JPL environment is a unique place to work as a scientist, with unparalleled opportunities to work at the interface of research and the formulation and implementation of NASA missions. JPL postdocs have access to observing time on Palomar’s 5m Hale telescope, as well as the opportunity to work closely with our colleagues at Caltech campus.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants must have a PhD in astronomy or physics, or a closely related field, by the start of the position.

Applicants should have a public record of relevant research in the open scientific literature.

The ideal candidate should have a strong background in cosmology, in statistics or machine learning, and in precision measurement applications relevant to survey cosmology.

Candidates that meet these requirements and also have a background in spectroscopy, simulation, or galaxy evolution are especially strongly encouraged.

The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.

Applicants may be subject to additional program requirements by NASA. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and a 3–5-page research plan. Please arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to postdocs@jpl.nasa.gov by the application deadline of January 7, 2025.

JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more. Our focus is on work-life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks

The hiring range displayed below is specifically for those who will work in or reside in the location listed. In extending an offer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory considers factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s job related skills, experience, knowledge, and relevant education/training. Hiring range for this job may be adjusted based on primary work location outside of Pasadena, California. This adjusted range will be provided to candidates by the Recruiter when applicable.

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California.

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law.

In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.