2025 - 2027 Internship - Dragonfly Student Guest Investigator - Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) Support Science Database

Dragonfly Student Guest Investigator - Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) Support Science Database

*CURRENTLY pursuing (or starting by Fall 2025) a Master's and/or Doctoral Degree and will continue throughout the entire TWO-year duration of the internship*

Background:

Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, supports organic synthesis in its atmosphere, and is believed to host a deep, potentially habitable ocean under its icy surface. The Dragonfly mission will include the Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) instrument which will analyze and determine the chemical composition of samples that are drilled from the surface of Titan, specifically targeting organic molecules. At its core, DraMS is an ion trap mass spectrometer that measures ions (charged molecules) based on their molecular mass, which is related to the chemical structure. Solid samples are delivered to the inlets of DraMS by the sampling system, and the molecules in the solids can be probed in one of two ways: (1) Laser desorption mode (LDMS), in which heavy molecules are "zapped" with an ultraviolet laser to create ions that are sent into the ion trap, and (2) Gas chromatography mode (GCMS), in which samples are gradually heated to ~600C (>~1100F) in an oven, and the gases that are released at different temperatures are sent through gas chromatography columns that separate them out by size and type before an electron beam converts them into ions for measurement in the mass spectrometer. These two modes allow DraMS to probe different aspects of the sample composition. Consistent gathering and archiving the scientific data related to DraMS development will provide essential resources for the analysis of Titan's samples. The scientific data may include data from commercial mass spectrometers, data from the DraMS prototype, engineering, and flight models, and potential from other science instruments related to DraMS.

More information on the Dragonfly mission and instruments can be found in the videos at Dragonfly - Gallery

Applications are due by June 9, 2025; selections will be made in August, 2025.

Description:

To create this consistent archive of DraMS-related scientific data, we seek a student who will help design a sample catalog that allows the Dragonfly science team to efficiently search data in the archive and to develop a data processing pipeline to get the data from laboratory systems into the archive. The archive we used is called XINA, and is an integrated online data management platform developed at NASA GSFC, hosted on Amazon Web Services, that archives and allows search and visualization of mass spectrometry datasets. Specifically, the student will work with DraMS software engineers and scientists to gather the LDMS and GCMS data and develop code to store this data on XINA.

In this project, the guest investigator will:

1. Receive training in order to understand the basics of LDMS and GCMS data and metadata
2. Work with the DraMS science team to Identify and gather DraMS-related data collected over multiple years from various commercial laboratory instruments and flight-like instruments at NASA GSFC and in partner laboratories in France
3. Work with the DraMS science and software teams to ensure the XINA archive, user interfaces, and collected metadata support the required functionality
4. Develop Python scripts to convert the LDMS and GCMS data into the proper format to be uploaded to to XINA web interface
5. Work closely with the XINA team to create datasets, including appropriate metadata, for each specific laboratory instrument and upload the data in the proper format
6. Create documentation about data processing and data archiving pipeline
7. Depending on progress and team availability, in the second year the student would gather and add the data from thelaboratory instruments at our partner institutions in France (e.g., LATMOS). This may require international travel.

This project will primarily be completed in laboratories at NASA GSFC but in close collaboration with French GCMS colleagues residing at several institutions (Laboratory for Atmospheres, Observations, and Space, or LATMOS, and Process and Materials Engineering Laboratory, or. LPGM).

Outcome:

This project will enable the Dragonfly science team to easily get online access to DraMS-related research data that was collected over the last ~7 years and will continue to be collected throughout the mission. Both LDMS and GCMS measurements from various laboratory commercial instruments, flight-like instruments, and the DraMS engineering and flight models will be collected. This archive will aid the scientists in their analysis, interpretation, and comparison of future DraMS results and will help prepare for surface operations on Titan.

Mentors:

Eric Lyness, Victoria Da Poian, Melissa Trainer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Are CURRENTLY pursuing a Master's or Doctoral Degree studying computer science with some background in the physical sciences such as physics or chemistry, at a U.S. institution, AND will continue doing so throughout the 2-year duration of the internship.
• Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Have experience in computer-based coding, particularly in Python.
• Have successfully completed some coursework in chemistry and physics, and have laboratory experience in any physical science or engineering field.
• Have demonstrated ability to conduct independent research or development
• Have excellent organizational and communication skills (written and oral)
• Have the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• In addition to a mentor on the Dragonfly team whose leads this project, applicants must identify a faculty member at their home institution who can serve as a faculty mentor for the 2-year duration of their participation in the program.
• Include as an attachment to your application...
• A cover letter
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• The name and contact information for the prospective faculty advisor at your home institution
• A 2-3 sentence statement from the prospective faculty advisor in which they agree to support the student, as a faculty mentor, for the 2-year duration of their participation, should they be selected to work on Dragonfly
• To access APL's facilities and networks, U.S. Citizenshipis required

You will go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have successfully completed some coursework in chemistry
• Have laboratory experience in any physical science or engineering field
• Have knowledge of the JavaScript programming language

More information on this and other Dragonfly Student and Early Career Investigator opportunities can be found at Dragonfly - Student-Opportunities

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities athttp://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity of perspectives, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contactAccommodations@jhuapl.edu. Only by ensuring that everyone's voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.