APS Research/Employment Opportunities
If you have an ad you would like posted, please fill out .
Supervisor:Alexandros Chasapis
Job:Undergraduate Researcher
Job Description:Explore heating / acceleration of the solar wind via plasma waves as Parker Solar Probe “touches the Sun”.
Preferred Qualifications:Intro. Python coding (ASTR 2600 or equivalent)and clear written communication
Start Date:5/15/2025
End Date:8/15/2025
Hours/Week: 40
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work
Contact: David.Malaspina@colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/10/2025
If interested, please send resume to: David.Malaspina@colorado.edu
Supervisor:Alexandros Chasapis
Job:Undergraduate Researcher
Job Description:Explore solar wind magnetic structures and plasma turbulence near Earth's magnetosphere using MMS spacecraft data
Preferred Qualifications:Intro. Python coding (ASTR 2600 or equivalent)and clear written communication
Start Date:1/15/2025
End Date:8/15/2025
Hours/Week: 15 During semester, 40 during summer
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work
Contact: alexandros.chasapis@lasp.colorado.edu
Deadline Application:12/20/2024
If interested, please send resume to: alexandros.chasapis@lasp.colorado.edu
Supervisor:Shah Bahauddin
Job:Undergraduate Student Researcher
Job Description:We are seeking a motivated undergraduate summer researcher to apply machine learning techniques to heliophysics observational data and perform advanced data analysis. The intern will work on tasks such as developing and training machine learning models, analyzing solar image and spectra datasets, and extracting meaningful insights to support ongoing research. This role will involve coding in Python and extensive data analysis. The position offers hands-on experience at the intersection of data science and space physics.
Preferred Qualifications:Python, Basic coding proficiency, general math and statistics (high school/freshmen level).
Start Date:6/1/2025
End Date:8/31/2025
Hours/Week: 20
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work
Contact: Shah.Bahauddin@lasp.colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/31/2025
If interested, please send resume to: Shah.Bahauddin@lasp.colorado.edu
Supervisor:Serena Criscuoli
Job:Undergraduate Research experience
Job Description:Machine learning analysis of Balmer lines spectra acquired with the DKIST.
Preferred Qualifications:Python coding. Previous experience with machine learning analysis tools is desirable.
Start Date:2/1/2025
End Date:TBD
Hours/Week: 10/15
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Support to travel to visit DKIST (Maui) might be available
Contact: scriscuo@nso.edu
Deadline Application:1/1/2025
If interested, please send resume to: scriscuo@nso.edu
Supervisor:Robby Mendoza
Job:Command Controller
Job Description:Students in the command controller position will participate in mission operations for several active space missions, including multiple NASA satellites! Responsibilities include prelaunch environmental testing, building command sets for uplink to the spacecraft, real-time anomaly resolution, lifecycle telemetry trending, long term operations analysis and planning, and more. Successful candidates can continue their employment through grad school if they choose.
Preferred Qualifications:No experience is necessary - any major is welcome to apply! Some programming background is useful, but students will be taught everything they need to know during their training summer. Students must have a 3.0+ GPA and at least 4 semesters remaining in their undergraduate degree.
Start Date:5/13/2025
End Date:TBD
Hours/Week: 40 during summer, 20 during school year
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work
Contact: raymond.mendoza@lasp.colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/13/2025
Information on how to apply will be posted with the official job ad in January. Prior to that date, feel free to contact Adrienne Pickerill (adrienne.pickerill@lasp.colorado.edu) or Robby Mendoza (raymond.mendoza@lasp.colorado.edu) with any questions.
Supervisor:Xiangning Chu
Job:Research Associate II
Job Description:In this project, we will develop a number of machine learning based models to study the space environment, including the killer electrons and electromagnetic waves in the Earth’s radiation belt, the geomagnetic indices, and geomagnetically induced currents on the ground.
Preferred Qualifications:Python coding (ASTR 2600 or equivalent)
Clear written communication
Excitement for Machine learning
Start Date:1/13/2025
End Date:1/13/2026
Hours/Week: 10-15 hrs /week Spring 2025; 40 hrs/week summer 2025
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work
Contact: xiangning.chu@lasp.colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/10/2025
If interested, please send resume to: xiangning.chu@lasp.colorado.edu
Skills Acquired:
Comprehensive data analysis (Van Allen Probes)
Experienced with Python projects
Machine learning model development
Supervisor:Ed Thiemann
Job:Undergraduate Researcher
Job Description:2 possible topics:
Help advance the understanding of planetary evolution by analyzing measurements of Earth’s Hydrogen exosphere. Project will start by investigating the latitudinal structure of new measurements of Earth’s inner (<4 RE) geocorona by GOES.
Help advance the understanding of heating in the Mars upper atmosphere. Project will start by investigating why simulations can’t reproduce strong UV heating observed at dawn by MAVEN.
Preferred Qualifications:Sophomore level or higher student majoring in Physics or APS. Needs to be proficient in a programming language.
Start Date:1/20/2025
End Date:8/15/2025
Hours/Week: >12 hrs/week during the school year, 40 hrs/week during the summer.
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work
Contact: thiemann@lasp.colorado.edu
Deadline Application:12/30/2024
If interested, please send resume to: xiangning.chu@lasp.colorado.edu
Supervisor:Kevin Reardon
Job:Undergraduate Researcher
Job Description:The purpose of this opportunity is to characterize high-resolution images of the solar atmosphere obtained with the Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) in order to quantify their quality (and even think of the multiple ways to define "quality"). This will involve both manually examining images, calculating numerical quality metrics, and employing machine-learning methods to automate the evaluation of future images. This job will involve learning about the solar atmosphere, its appearance at different wavelengths, and image reconstruction techniques.
Preferred Qualifications:some programming experience; sophomores or juniors preferred
Start Date:1/20/2025
End Date:5/16/2025
Hours/Week: 10
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work, Independent Study Credit
Contact: kreardon@nso.edu
Deadline Application:1/6/2025
If interested, please send resume to: kreardon@nso.edu
Supervisor:Fran Bagenal and the MOP group
Job:Juno at Jupiter
Job Description:Plotting up data from Juno mission as the spacecraft traversed the disk of plasma produced as gases spewed out by Io are ionized and transported out from Jupiter. At the same time, HST and JWST have taken lots of observations of Io. So we may be able to trace activity on Io with variations in the plasma disc.
Preferred Qualifications:Some Python skills - simple plotting and data manipulation.
Start Date:1/15/2025
End Date:TBD
Hours/Week: 5-20
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work, Independent Study Credit
Contact: bagenal@colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/10/2025
UROP proposal encouraged. Send a CV and short statement about what interests you.
If interested, please send resume to: bagenal@colorado.edu
Supervisor:Dave Brain
Job:MAVEN data analysis
Job Description:Analyze magnetic field and charged particle data from Mars (& maybe Venus / Earth). The specific topic is negotiable, but probably related to the Martian magnetosphere, atmospheric escape, cool plasma physics, or crustal magnetic fields.
Preferred Qualifications:Some comfort with programming
Start Date:1/27/2025
End Date:TBD
Hours/Week: 10-12 is typical
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work, Independent Study Credit
Contact: david.brain@colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/10/2025
Also send a 1-2 paragraph statement to david.brain@colorado.edu.
Supervisor:Dave Brain
Job:Retention of Habitable Atmospheres in Planetary Systems
Job Description:Our effort is addressing the question: "What kind of planet orbiting what kind of star is able to hold on to its atmosphere?”. Your task could include computer modeling, analysis of published results, analysis of spacecraft data, or construction of a webpage that interpolates model results.
Preferred Qualifications:Some comfort with programming
Start Date:1/27/2025
End Date:TBD
Hours/Week: 10-12 is typical
Paid work, Independent Study credit, either, or Other: Paid Work, Independent Study Credit
Contact: david.brain@colorado.edu
Deadline Application:1/10/2025
Also send a 1-2 paragraph statement to david.brain@colorado.edu.