Coupled retrieval of aerosol/ocean/land properties from airborne and satellite polarimeter data

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0028-NPP-NOV26-LRC-EarthSci

How To Apply

All applications must be submitted in Zintellect

Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org)

A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description:

The Advanced Polarimetry Remote Sensing group is based in the Lidar Science Branch of the Science Directorate at NASA’s Langley Research Center. We specialize in the retrieval of aerosol and cloud optical and microphysical properties together with ocean sub-surface biophysical properties (ocean optics) and land surface properties. Our research seeks to improve the characterization of aerosol absorption in the atmosphere to study radiative effects and air quality, to shed light on ocean optics in coastal zones and complex waters, and to understand the impact of aerosol-cloud interactions and cloud-processing on aerosol-cloud optical and microphysical properties. Airborne experiments and large-scale field missions may be conducted on the NASA DC-8, P-3B, HU-25C, B200 or UC-12 aircraft. Qualified applicants may participate in a number of new and ongoing projects including the Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment (ACTIVATE, https://activate.larc.nasa.gov/). Tasks associated with these efforts include operation of instruments aboard NASA aircraft; deployments to domestic and foreign locations; operational processing of polarimeter/lidar airborne and satellite data; testing and implementing improvements to polarimeter/lidar atmosphere/ocean/land retrieval algorithms; developing innovative methods for using these new retrieval products in scientific applications to monitor and understand the Earth's atmosphere-ocean-land systems; analysis and reporting of results for peer-reviewed publications. Recent graduates with strong backgrounds in two or more of the following areas are particularly welcome to apply: radiative transfer, optimal estimation, aerosol/cloud/ocean optics, airborne/satellite remote sensing, machine learning and programming (C++, Fortran, and/or Python).

Location:

Langley Research Center

Hampton, Virginia

Field of Science:Earth Science

Advisors:

Snorre Stamnes

[email protected]

(757) 864-5801

Eligibility is currently open to:

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.