Postdoctoral Scholar in Auroral and Subauroral Optical Phenomena, UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory
Job Description
UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory has a postdoc on auroral and subauroral optical phenomena. You will use aurora, STEVE and the “picket fence” as tracers of how the upper atmosphere and near space exchange energy. The post runs for two years from spring or summer 2027. The final date to apply is 15 November 2026.
At a glance
- Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, 100% time, 2 years (JPF05510)
- Where: Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley, California, USA
- Mentors: Dr L. Claire Gasque and Dr Brian Harding
- Pay: Estimate of $71,491 to $79,727 on the UC postdoc scale (T23)
- Start: Spring or summer 2027
- Apply: 15 November 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific Time
What the auroral optics postdoc involves
- Study how ionospheric currents and electric fields change conductivity, chemistry and energy deposition
- Use optical features such as enhanced aurora, STEVE and the picket fence as tracers of these processes
- Analyse ground images and spectra, including the Transition Region Explorer (TREx) network
- Build event catalogues and find times when satellites pass over ground cameras
- Analyse Swarm and DMSP satellite data on plasma, currents, electric fields and particle precipitation
- Build or apply models that predict what the cameras should see, and compare them with data
- Share documented code and data, write papers, and mentor students
Why this role matters
Much of the physics behind STEVE and the picket fence is still open. The post spans two NASA Living With a Star projects, so you join a wider team. It suits anyone with an optics, spectroscopy or plasma background who wants to move into space science.
What UC Berkeley is looking for
- When you apply: a PhD or equivalent, or current enrolment in a PhD programme
- When you start: a PhD, and no more than 3 years of research experience after it
Nice to have
- A PhD in physics, astronomy, physical chemistry, applied maths, engineering, computational science or a related field
- Knowledge of the ionosphere, thermosphere, magnetosphere, planetary atmospheres or space plasmas
- Experience analysing ground or space data, especially of aurora
- Experience with kinetic, chemical, electrodynamic or atmospheric models, and with model-data comparison
- Python programming, publications and an interest in mentoring
Pay and location
The ad gives a reasonable estimate of $71,491 to $79,727 on UC’s postdoc salary scale T23. It does not state the period. The UC scales set the minimum pay by experience level. The post is 100% time for two years, renewable with performance and funding. The ad says the post does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B petition that would need the $100,000 extra fee, unless the description clearly says otherwise. It says nothing about J-1 visas, so ask before you apply.
How to apply
Apply through the official UC Berkeley page. The closing date is 15 November 2026, 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Upload a CV and a cover letter, and give contact details for two referees. The last review date, 2 October 2026, has passed. Applications received after it are considered only if the post is still unfilled.
See all our postdoc jobs, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.
Hiring institution: University of California, Berkeley
Official advertisement: aprecruit.berkeley.edu
How to prepare for this application
- Read recent papers on STEVE and the picket fence, and note the open questions
- Show any work with imaging or spectral data, even from a lab setting
- Describe one model you built and how you tested it against measurements
- Mention Python tools you wrote and shared
- Apply soon, because review after 2 October happens only while the post is open
About UC Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley was founded in 1868. It is the founding campus of the University of California system. Its Space Sciences Laboratory builds and runs NASA space missions.
