Earth Science: Atmospheric Composition and Climate

ORAU; New York (NY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading space research organization provides a unique research opportunity through the NASA Postdoctoral Program, located in New York City. Ideal candidates must hold a Doctoral Degree and can be U.S. Citizens or eligible Foreign Nationals. This role involves conducting vital research into climate impacts and atmospheric processes, significantly contributing to NASA’s missions. Applicants should be skilled in evaluating environmental changes and promoting effective regulations.

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizens or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. with valid EAD card.

Responsibilities

• Engage in ongoing NASA research projects.
• Conduct research on atmospheric composition and climate impacts.
• Evaluate climate-altering pollutants and assess climate feedback processes.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0008-NPP-NOV26-GISS-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 includes:

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

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

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

This opportunity is closed to applicants who are Senior Fellows (five years or more past PhD).

GISS research into atmospheric composition and climate explores how changes in reactive gases and aerosols affect climate via radiation and cloud feedbacks and are affected by climate through various feedback processes. Interactions are explored across a range of climate simulations including paleo‑climate, interannual variability and future projections. Policy impacts are focused on the characterization of a broad range of impacts of anthropogenic activities, with a particular emphasis on emissions pathways designed to reduce multiple environmental damages. We evaluate the effects of the full suite of climate‑altering pollutants emitted by particular activities and how these might change under different policies, and assess the simultaneous responses of regional temperatures, precipitation and air quality. Fundamental research into mechanistic parameterizations of aerosol and gas‑phase processes, microphysics and chemistry is undertaken as well as studying chemical interaction between the atmosphere and the surface including emission generating activities, such as fires, wetlands and biological activity. In general we are interested in all mechanisms that affect climate via atmospheric composition pathways.

Location

Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York City, New York

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

• Susanne E. Bauer — [e-mail] — 212.678.5666
• Brian Cairns — [e-mail] — 212-678-5625
• Ron Miller — [e-mail] — 212-678-5577
• Gavin Schmidt — [e-mail] — 212-678-5627

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

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

Questions about this opportunity?

Please email [e-mail]

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.