Aerosol and Cloud Remote Sensing using Lidar

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A research organization is offering unique opportunities through the NASA Postdoctoral Program. This fellowship allows highly-talented scientists to engage in groundbreaking research in Earth science and atmospheric measurements at NASA facilities. Key responsibilities include developing lidar technology and participating in significant field campaigns. Candidates must have a Doctoral Degree in a relevant field and possess skills in machine learning and data processing. Applications are to be submitted online with a deadline of November 1, 2026.

Qualifications

• Strong background in Earth Science and relevant doctoral research.
• Experience with remote atmospheric measurements and lidar technology.
• Familiarity with machine learning for data processing.

Responsibilities

• Engage in NASA research projects related to atmospheric measurements.
• Develop and apply new lidar technologies.
• Participate in field campaigns and research initiatives.

Skills

Machine Learning

Lidar Measurements

Data Processing Algorithms

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job 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.

Research Focus

New techniques and instrumentation are developed and applied for remote atmospheric measurements. Current research includes cloud and aerosol studies using space‑based lidars such as the Cloud‑Aerosol Transport System (CATS) on the ISS and the ICESat‑2, as well as lidar instrumentation operated from high‑altitude NASA research aircraft (Cloud Physics Lidar and the Roscoe upper‑troposphere/lower stratosphere lidar). Additional projects involve the development of machine learning and advanced data‑processing algorithms and participation in upcoming field campaigns such as the INspYRE experiment. Active lidar sensing is employed with advanced visible and IR sensors and other atmospheric radiation measurements in field programs. Development and application of new lidar technology and machine learning methods are emphasized. We investigate and interpret observations from multiple sensors to characterize the physical, radiative, and dynamical cloud and aerosol properties.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

• Meloe Kacenelenbogen – [e-mail], 301‑614‑6221
• John E. Yorks – [e-mail], 301‑614‑6284

Eligibility

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status;
• 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;
• Degree: Doctoral Degree.
• Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States.

Application Details

All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. The application deadline is 11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone. A complete application includes a research proposal, three letters of recommendation, and official doctoral transcript documents.

Contact

If you have questions, please email [e-mail].