Research Associate B - NASA

Research Associate B: This is a two year appointment that will provide professional development opportunities in the research field.

Expected start date of Summer 2025.

Starting salary is $65,000

The qualified Research Associate will conduct experimental work that supports two NASA projects (Programs: Habitable Worlds, ColdTECH) focused on the thermophysical and biogeochemical properties of planetary analog ices relevant to ice-ocean worlds, such as Europa and Enceladus. The researcher will carry out this work in Dartmouth's state-of-the-art Ice Research Lab in collaboration with Dr. Jacob Buffo and members of his research group. Specific tasks associated with this projects include: 1) the culturing of psychrophilic and halophilic organisms for use in experiments that will investigate their entrainment in and dynamic interaction with planetary analog ices, 2) the growth and sample handling of organic and organism rich planetary analog ices in the lab via established top-down growth techniques, 3) the biogeochemical analysis of the composition, microbial distribution, and microbial activity in the resultant ice columns using geochemical and epifluorescent microscopy techniques, 4) fabrication of ice samples containing fiberoptic tethers and subsequent testing of the ice adhesion properties of the tethers via uniaxial load testing. The Research Associate will lead the paper writing efforts related to the experimental work they conduct and will be expected to present their results at topical academic conferences. Additionally, as a part of professional development, the Research Associate is expected to pursue continued/future funding by writing grant proposals and applications.

Note: Continuing employment is based on availability of grant funds

Conducts research related to NASA Habitable Worlds project (65%)

• Grows and maintains cell cultures and organic medias for use in ice growth experiments.
• Conducts top-down ice growth experiments targeted at organic material and psychrophilic organism entrainment, dynamic interaction, and survivability in planetary analog ices.
• Leads physical and biogeochemical analysis of resultant ice cores (sample preparation, microscopy, microCT analysis, etc.).
• Leads paper writing efforts related to these tasks and presents findings at conferences.

Conducts research related to NASA ColdTECH project (15%)

• Fabricates ice samples for use in fiberoptic cable ice adhesion experiments targeted at technology development for future ice-ocean world probe missions.
• Conducts uniaxial load experiments (fiber pull tests) on samples.
• Leads paper writing efforts related to these tasks.

Grant Writing (20%)

• Works to find/obtain funding for research projects by writing grant proposals and applications.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• PhD with a major in planetary science, Earth science, microbiology, biogeochemistry, astrobiology, or equivalent.
• Four years of relevantresearch experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of research methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Exceptional organizational and management skills to plan and organize the research approach and project parameters.
• Excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of laboratory techniques, microscopy techniques/equipment, and computer software applications used for research investigations
• Knowledge of biogeochemistry and ice-brine multiphase physics as applies to sea ice or planetary ices.
• Knowledge of psychrophilic organisms, their adaptation strategies in low temperature environments, and the limits of life as applies to ice-ocean world systems.
• Experience in culturing and maintaining cell/organism populations preferred.

• 1-2 page cover letter where the applicant describes their research experience and research goals for the time they would be a postdoc
• 3 letters of recommendation