Investigation of the Solar Wind in the Solar Corona and Heliosphere
This project studies the solar wind's origins and impact on the heliosphere using Parker Solar Probe's WISPR telescope and other observations.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 (Next deadline)
Funding Amounts: $99,200 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; relocation assistance and health insurance available. Typical award duration 2-3 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to investigate the solar wind's origins and effects in the solar corona and heliosphere using Parker Solar Probe's WISPR telescope and complementary remote sensing data.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents; requires Ph.D. earned within last 5 years; research conducted on-site at Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC.
Description
This postdoctoral fellowship opportunity at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) focuses on investigating fundamental open questions in solar and heliospheric physics related to the solar wind. Key research questions include:
- How the solar wind creates and controls the inner heliosphere.
- The transition of the solar corona from the photosphere to the inner heliosphere.
- The generation of corotating interaction regions (CIRs) in the solar wind.
- The formation and interaction of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) with the solar wind.
The research primarily utilizes data from the WISPR optical telescope aboard the Parker Solar Probe (PSP), launched recently to study the solar environment. This is complemented by other remote sensing observations from instruments such as STEREO SECCHI and SOHO LASCO, as well as in-situ measurements from PSP and other spacecraft. Additional heliophysics resources, including ground-based observations and data-driven modeling, may be incorporated to interpret the remote sensing data.
The program aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the solar wind's origins and its impact on the heliosphere, contributing to advances in solar physics.
