Pandora Research Graduate Intern

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$6,620 - $8,040 Monthly

This position is under a step structure. Please note that the step placement is determined by your most recent completed academic year.

Job Description

We have an opening for a current graduate student to engage in an in-person, 6-month long research experience related to the Pandora Small Satellite mission. Pandora will collect visible and near infrared observations of a sample of nearby exoplanets and will study both the planet atmosphere and the host star variability using long time baseline observations. The Pandora mission is funded by the NASA Pioneers program and is a collaboration between NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NASA Ames Research Center, and a host of other research and university institutions.

This opportunity comes with a significant time allocation on LLNL’s world-leading high-performance computing platforms so is particularly well suited for a student with interests in compute-intensive modelling and simulation projects. There will be also opportunities to directly interface with the Pandora engineering team based at LLNL and the potential to work on science projects closely related to instrumentation.

The graduate student will work under the supervision of an LLNL scientist within the Pandora collaboration on a project related to Pandora core science or auxiliary science. The specific project topic is flexible and can be designed to align with the student’s research interests and PhD thesis project. This position is in the Astronomy & Astrophysics Analytics Group within the Physics Division.

Applications for this opportunity are due by December 1st, 2025. Applicants should upload a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and provide the details of two references. The start date for this opportunity is flexible but can be no later than March 30th, 2025.

Depending on your assignment, this position may offer a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You may have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

You will

• Work with LLNL scientists and engineers conducting research and development on the Pandora Small Satellite.
• Have the opportunity to learn techniques related to high performance computing systems and cutting-edge statistical inference and modeling methods.
• Have the opportunity attend weekly talks at LLNL including the Space Science Institute seminar series.
• Interact with a broad spectrum of scientists and engineers internally at LLNL.
• Conduct research in assigned area under limited direction and supervision.
• Perform scientific assignments at an appropriate level of complexity and work collaboratively on scientific research and development projects.
• Analyze results and provide weekly updates to the Pandora collaboration
• Present work through oral presentations and/or poster sessions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). See Additional Information section below for details.
• Must be a continuing PhD student in good standing at an accredited institution pursuing a graduate degree.
• Demonstrated academic achievement in astrophysics via peer-reviewed publications
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to present and communicate concepts and ideas.
• Ability to work in a team environment.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience with modern high-performance computing systems
• Familiarity with the science goals and requirements of the Pandora mission
• Experience with Gaussian process models and Bayesian inference libraries
• Experience with automatic differentiation programming frameworks such as JAX

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Why Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory?

• Included in 2025 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor!
• Holiday Pay
• Sick leave accrual
• Individual 401(k) contributions
• Our values - visit https://www.llnl.gov/inclusion/our-values

Security Clearance

None required. However, if your assignment is longer than 179 days cumulatively within a calendar year, you must go through the Personal Identity Verification process. This process includes completing an online background investigation form and receiving approval of the background check. (This process does not apply to foreign nationals.)

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 3112, generally prohibits citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea without dual US citizenship or legal permanent residence from accessing specific non-public areas of national security or nuclear weapons facilities. The restrictions of NDAA Section 3112 apply to this position. To be qualified for this position, Candidates must be eligible to access the Laboratory in compliance with Section 3112.

Pre-Employment Drug Test

External applicant(s) selected for this position must pass a post-offer, pre-employment drug test. This includes testing for use of marijuana as Federal Law applies to us as a Federal Contractor.

Wireless and Medical Devices

Per the Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory must meet certain restrictions with the use and/or possession of mobile devices in Limited Areas. Depending on your job duties, you may be required to work in a Limited Area where you are not permitted to have a personal and/or laboratory mobile device in your possession. This includes, but not limited to cell phones, tablets, fitness devices, wireless headphones, and other Bluetooth/wireless enabled devices.

If you use a medical device, which pairs with a mobile device, you must still follow the rules concerning the mobile device in individual sections within Limited Areas. Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities require separate approval. Hearing aids without wireless capabilities or wireless that has been disabled are allowed in Limited Areas, Secure Space and Transit/Buffer Space within buildings.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to providing all with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status, age, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

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