The University of Iowa Howes Plasma Theory group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is seeking candidates for two postdoctoral researchers:

1) Postdoctoral Researcher working on field-particle correlation analysis of observations of magnetic reconnection by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. The research is supported by a NASA Heliophysics Guest Investigator Open (H-GIO) grant to determine the velocity-space signature of particle energization by magnetic reconnection under a variety of conditions, in particular seeking evidence for Fermi acceleration of electrons under low-to-moderate guide magnetic field and parallel electric field energization under large guide magnetic field conditions. The candidate will learn the kinetic plasma theory and application of the field-particle correlation technique using electromagnetic field and particle velocity distribution measurements from spacecraft observations. It is expected that the postdoctoral research scholar will produce numerous first-author publications presenting successful applications of the field-particle correlation technique in the peer-reviewed literature and will present these results at national and international scientific conferences. https://jobs.uiowa.edu/postdoc/view/4362, Availabile immediately,

2) Postdoctoral Researcher working on studying fundamental processes of particle energization in space and astrophysical plasmas.  Specific processes to be investigated include kinetic plasma turbulence, collisionless shocks, collisonless magnetic reconnection, and kinetic instabilities.  Analytical theory, kinetic numerical simulations, and spacecraft observations will be used to identify the mechanisms of particle energization and to quantify the rate of change of kinetic energy density of the particles. The candidate will learn the kinetic plasma theory and application of the field-particle correlation technique using electromagnetic field and particle velocity distribution measurements from numerical simulations or spacecraft observations. It is expected that the postdoctoral research scholar will produce numerous first-author publications and will help to oversee graduate students in the Howes Plasma Theory group.  The candidate will present results at national and international scientific conferences, and will help with proposal preparation for future investigations. https://jobs.uiowa.edu/postdoc/view/4397, Available 1 JUL 2025.

For more information, contact Professor Gregory Howes (gregory-howes@uiowa.edu).