Modeling path delay in the neutral atmosphere

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent research organization is offering a NASA Postdoctoral Program for talented scientists focusing on improving path delay models for Space Geodesy data. Candidates must possess a Doctoral Degree and can be U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, or eligible Foreign Nationals. This competitive fellowship is located at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and aims to advance NASA's scientific missions.

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold a Doctoral Degree.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident, or eligible for J-1 visa.
• Pending applications must have a valid EAD card.

Responsibilities

• Investigate the use of global numerical weather models and various data analysis techniques.
• Understand the origins of errors in path delay modeling.
• Develop methodologies for mitigating wet-delay errors.
• Explore the applicability of big datasets for atmospheric evaluation.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

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.

Responsibilities

The accuracy of space geodesy is limited by mis‑modeling path delay in the neutral atmosphere. Your research will focus on improving path delay models for analysis of Space Geodesy data, including data from Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and Doppler Orbitography Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS). Tasks include:

• Investigating the use of global numerical weather models, regional weather models, InSAR data analysis, and water vapor radiometers for determining errors in path delay modeling;
• Understanding the origin of these errors;
• Developing methodologies for mitigation of wet‑delay errors;
• Exploring the applicability of big datasets for evaluating stochastic properties of the atmosphere over defined time intervals using turbulence theory.

Eligibility

Applicants must be in the following categories:

• 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 a valid EAD card and I‑485 or I‑589 forms in pending status.

Note: Applications from citizens of Designated Countries will not be accepted unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States.

Requirements

• Doctoral Degree.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

• Leonid Petrov; [e-mail]; 301-614-6493
• Terence Sabaka; [e-mail]; 301-614-6109
• Frank Lemoine; [e-mail]

Contact

Questions about this opportunity? Please email [e-mail]