Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code
0274-NPP-NOV26-JPL-TechDev
Application Deadline
11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
About the NASA Postdoctoral Program
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one-to-three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.
Description:
The Photonics and Quantum Sensors Group at the Microdevices Laboratory of JPL is accepting postdoctoral applications to design, fabricate, and characterize advanced semiconductor lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers for quantum sensing applications. The quantum sensors under development require stable, narrow-linewidth, single-mode lasers and low-current, high-saturation-power optical amplifiers in the 600-850 nm wavelength range.
Responsibilities:
Design semiconductor lasers and optical amplifiers for quantum sensing applications.
Fabricate and test devices in the 600-850 nm wavelength range.
Characterize device performance and integrate into cold-atom systems.
Collaborate with researchers on quantum sensing projects.
Qualifications:
Experience fabricating GaAs lasers and amplifiers.
Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
Familiarity with semiconductor lithography, doping, and optical characterization.
Eligibility
U.S. Citizens.
U.S. lawful permanent residents.
Foreign nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa.
Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. with a valid EAD card and a pending I-485 or I-589 form.
Contact
For questions, contact:
Dr. Siamak Forouhar – sarith.d.gunapala@jpl.nasa.gov – (818) 393-5023
Dr. Sarath Gunapala – sarath.d.gunapala@jpl.nasa.gov
Dr. Mahmood Bagheri – mahmood.bagheri@jpl.nasa.gov – (818) 354-0413