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Nasa Postdoctoral Program Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

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Nasa Postdoctoral Program information

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$25.8K

$61K

$86.3K

How much do nasa postdoctoral program jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for nasa postdoctoral program in Silver Spring, MD is $61,015.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,700.00 and $68,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the NASA Postdoctoral Program?

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides early-career scientists and engineers the opportunity to conduct research in collaboration with NASA scientists at NASA centers and institutes. Fellows work on projects that contribute to NASA's mission in science, aeronautics, and space technology. The program is highly competitive and offers unique resources, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge research. Appointments are typically for one to three years and include a stipend and other benefits. The NPP is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals with a doctoral degree.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive in the NASA Postdoctoral Program?

To thrive in the NASA Postdoctoral Program, candidates generally need a Ph.D. in a relevant scientific or engineering field, strong research skills, and a record of scholarly achievement. Familiarity with specialized research tools, data analysis software, and sometimes experience with NASA mission systems or laboratory instrumentation is often required. Critical thinking, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams are standout soft skills. These competencies enable postdocs to contribute impactful research aligned with NASA's missions and advance their scientific careers.

What types of projects do participants in the NASA Postdoctoral Program typically work on, and how much autonomy do they have in shaping their research?

Participants in the NASA Postdoctoral Program usually engage in cutting-edge research aligned with NASA’s strategic goals, often spanning fields such as astrophysics, planetary science, Earth science, and engineering. While each postdoc is matched with a NASA mentor and joins an established team, there is significant autonomy to propose and develop independent research projects within their area of interest. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is common, and postdocs are encouraged to take initiative, contribute fresh ideas, and even lead projects, which can be a major advantage for career growth in academia or industry.

What is the difference between Nasa Postdoctoral Program vs Nasa Research Fellow?

FeatureNasa Postdoctoral ProgramNasa Research Fellow
CredentialsPhD in relevant fieldPhD in relevant field
Work EnvironmentResearch at NASA facilities or partner institutionsResearch at NASA centers or partner institutions
Employer & IndustryNASA, aerospace, space scienceNASA, space science, research institutions
PurposePostdoctoral research and trainingResearch fellowship for early-career scientists

The Nasa Postdoctoral Program and Nasa Research Fellow are both research-focused roles for early-career scientists in space science and aerospace. The main difference lies in their structure: the Postdoctoral Program offers structured research training at NASA facilities, while the Research Fellow is a fellowship providing independent research opportunities. Both require a PhD and involve work within NASA or affiliated institutions, but the Postdoctoral Program emphasizes training and mentorship, whereas the Research Fellow emphasizes independent research.

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The top searched job categories for Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:

What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs?

Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Nasa Postdoctoral Program job openings:

Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs near you
Infographic showing various Nasa Postdoctoral Program job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,132 per year, or $29.4 per hour.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - NASA Project

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD • On-site

$45K - $50K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Posting Details
Job Posting Information
Job Posting Number
S532
Position Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - NASA Project
Class Title
Staff
Regular or Contingent II
Contingent II (more than 6 mos)
Desired Start Date
FLSA
Exempt
Salary Range
$45,000 - $50,000
Open Date
11/14/2023
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Duties and Responsibilities
PURPOSE: Post-Doctoral Research Fellow will support a NASA funded hydroponics and aquaponics project with emphasis on microbiome research in the Bowie State University Genomics, Conservation and Crop Improvement laboratory. The selected candidate will also participate in Banana and Plantains Genomics research and will provide needed support for the Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) program.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will undertake the following activities in all project target areas:
  • 'Research Educator/Teacher' responsible for coordinating all microbiome research and hands-on laboratory activities associated with Course Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE).
  • Conduct research on multiplication of bananas and plantains using micropropagation/tissue culture techniques
  • Conduct hydroponics and aquaponics projects and research with the aim to understand the microbiomes, their role and the nature of microbiome interactions in hydroponic and aquaponics Systems.
  • Supervise Undergraduate and Graduate Research and Teaching Assistants (URA, UTA, GRA, GTA) for maximum performance in the plant genomics laboratory and the CURE program.
  • Develop an effective gene editing technology for the manipulation of the genome of bananas and plantains for resistance to abiotic and biotic challenges with special focus on creating drought resistant varieties to combat global warming impact in Africa through the use of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology
  • Compile technical reports for publication of results in peer reviewed journals.
  • Perform any other task assigned by the Principal Investigator (PI).

Minimum Qualifications
Education
  • PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Genetics, Plant Breeding or related field preferred.

Experience
  • Experience commensurate with job duties

Knowledge Skills and Abilities
  • Skills of preparing culture media (growth media, growth regulators, Murashige and Skoog (MS) media) for mass and rapid multiplication of bananas and plantains using suckers.
  • Competent in applicability of multiplying bananas and plantains using micropropagation of tissue culture techniques for mass production and maintenance of Musa species within Bowie State University.
  • Competent in the use CRISPR/Cas9 technology for gene editing, prediction and development of abiotic (e.g drought) and biotic (e.g Banana bunchy top virus-BBTV) resistant phenotypes in different genomic groups in the genus Musa species.
  • Gene cloning, PCR, sequencing, and other bioinformatics related techniques that assist in achieving the set goals
  • Designing amplifiable and specific markers to target a gene of interest
  • Ability to utilize transformation with Agrobacterium or electroporation or bombardment methodology
  • Be able to use R-package and other tools for data analyses, interpretation and reporting
  • Proven track record of scientific publications in high quality peer reviewed scientific journals.
  • Proactive, innovative and independent problem solver and excellent team player.
  • Supervision of students (undergraduates, MSc-students, co-supervise PhD researchers).
  • Excellent communication skills, able to interact with a multi-cultural team of researchers
  • Ability to deal with high workload and capacity to work under challenging situations.
  • Knowledgeable in troubleshooting
  • Skills in grant and research proposal writings

Conditions of Employment
Please be advised, COVID-19 vaccinations are encouraged but not required for faculty and staff to be employed at Bowie State University. This protocol is subject to change.
Non-Union Position.
Bowie State University offers an excellent benefits package! This includes tuition remission, including eligible dependents, choice of medical/vision plans, Carefirst BC/BS, United Health Care and Kaiser plans, dental, prescription, life insurance, and training and development.
This position is grant-funded. Employment is subject to available funding.
Other
Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave and annual leave; 10 paid holidays per year, tuition remission and supplemental retirement
Applications must include cover letter which should address how the background/experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for AND three professional references (including contact information)
Posting Detail Information
Special Instructions to Applicant
Quick Link for Internal Postings
https://bowiestate.peopleadmin.com/postings/3121

Apply