JWST Project Scientist for Data, Calibration, Pipeline, and Archive

The Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center plans to hire a Project Scientist specializing in JWST Data, Calibration, Pipeline, and Archive into a permanent civil servant scientist position. This Research Astrophysicist (civil service scientist) position is a GS-13 Term Hire not to exceed 2 years with the option to extend to a maximum of 6 years, with the option to be made permanent without further competition.

This will be a 2-step process. The first phase, through Nov. 22, 2023, seeks declarations of interest in this position via a submitted letter of interest and other documents (see below). The second phase will be a USAJOBS posting, anticipated for Dec. 2023. Those who respond during phase 1 will receive additional notification when the respective USAJOBS opportunity opens. Note that phase 1 is the ‘strongly encouraged’ phase and phase 2 is the ‘required’ phase.

The selected individual will serve as a member of the JWST Project Science Team, with the overall goal of maximizing the science return of JWST, and the specific goal of maximizing the scientific quality and reliability of JWST data.  The selected individual will be responsible for oversight of: the scientific quality of the science data from all 17 science instrument modes of JWST, the associated data reduction pipelines and underlying algorithms, the accuracy and precision of the calibrations, the JWST data analysis tools, and how data products are requested by and served to the scientific user community via traditional astronomical archives as well as via the cloud.  The selected individual will seek to understand the performance of the JWST pipeline and its calibration files, compare to requirements and user expectations and concerns, relate pipeline performance to the achievability of scientific objectives, and translate this understanding into recommendations for prioritized improvements. The applicant should be familiar with multiple JWST observing modes, should be fluent in Python, and should be a user of the JWST pipeline and of JWST science data, and ideally also have experience with data from other missions or observatories.  The selected individual will be expected to synthesize community feedback on these topics from the JWST Users Group and other channels.

As a member of the JWST Project Science Team, the selected individual will be expected to advise the JWST Senior Project Scientist, work collaboratively with other members of the JWST Project Science Team to improve the scientific return of JWST, to recruit and mentor JWST postdocs, keep current on JWST science and share that currency within the team, and contribute to JWST research by publishing papers, submitting proposals, attending topical conferences and workshops, giving colloquia/seminars, and giving public talks.  The selected individual may also be expected to participate in anomaly investigations that involve the science instruments.

This is a Term Hire not to exceed 2 years with the option to extend to a maximum of 6 years, with the option to be made permanent without further competition.  US citizenship is required at the time of the Phase 2/USAJOBS application; those who are expecting U.S. citizenship by the time of the Phase 2 opportunity are encouraged to submit materials during Phase 1, even if they do not yet have their U.S. citizenship. A Ph.D. degree is preferred. This is an early and/or mid- career position: the appointment is for a GS-13 position with salary commensurate with the applicant’s experience. Interested applicants should send a letter stating their interest in and specific qualifications for the position, a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names of at least three independent references (which should be contained within the aforementioned documents) to Diana Elben ([email protected]) by Nov. 22, 2023.  Please use the subject line “2023 JWST Project Scientist for Data, Calibration, Pipeline, and Archive”.  Inquiries about the position may be addressed to Dr. Jane Rigby, JWST Senior Project Scientist at [email protected], or Dr. Rob Petre, ASD Division Director, at [email protected].  Additional application material will be required through Phase 2 via the USAJobs website; the USAJobs posting is anticipated sometime in Dec. 2023.

NASA GSFC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.