Now through November 4, 2024, NASA is encouraging applications for its 2nd Biennial Astrophysics Mission Design School. Offered by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, AMDS is a 3-month long early career development experience to help prepare the next generation of space science and engineering mission leaders. Participants learn the process of developing a science hypothesis-driven robotic space mission in a concurrent engineering environment while getting an in-depth, first-hand look at instrument design, mission life cycle, costs, schedule and the trade-offs inherent in each.
Applicants with the following education and career experience are eligible: Science and engineering Doctoral candidates (advancement to candidacy required), recent Ph.D.’s (up to three years beyond their Ph.D.), Postdocs, Junior Faculty with a Ph.D., and non-research Engineering Master-level students within six to nine months of graduation will be considered on a space-available basis.
Open to U.S. Citizens and legal permanent residents living within the U.S at the time of application and during the full session. There is no charge to attend, and applicants from diverse backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Diversity, equity and inclusion are important to us, and we strive to create a welcoming environment where participants’ contributions and unique perspectives are valued.
Preparatory Sessions February 6 – April 17.
Culminating Week at JPL with Team-X April 21 – April 25.
AMDS is roughly equivalent in workload to a rigorous 3-credit graduate course, requiring an average effort of 10-12 hours per week. Participants spend the majority of the first 10 weeks in preparatory webinars acting as a science mission team, prior to spending the final culminating week being mentored by JPL’s Advance Project Design Team, or “Team X” to refine their planetary science mission concept design, then present it to a mock review board of NASA Center experts.
Register here for AMDS Pre-application Q&A Webinar on October 7, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm Pacific Time.
To apply and learn more about the NASA Science Mission Design Schools: http://go.nasa.gov/missiondesignschools