Remote Sensing Analysis of Bioclimatic Controls on Ecosystem Productivity

ORAU; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ORAU is seeking talented scientists for the NASA Postdoctoral Program based at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This opportunity involves unique research projects focusing on ecosystem productivity through innovative analysis of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence and other environmental data.

Eligible applicants must hold a doctoral degree and be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or foreign nationals eligible for specific visa statuses. The program aims to contribute to NASA’s missions in Earth science.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree required.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible foreign national.
• Ability to analyze ecosystem productivity under varying conditions.

Responsibilities

• Engage in ongoing NASA research projects.
• Identify biochemical and environmental controls on ecosystem productivity.
• Incorporate observations and analyze data for carbon cycle integration.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0188-NPP-NOV26-JPL-EarthSci

Application Deadline

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

Description

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.

This research opportunity seeks innovative work to identify biochemical and environmental controls on ecosystem productivity. The approach is to combine observations of solar‑induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) from a growing network of tower, airborne, and spaceborne sensors, with ancillary biometeorological data, to explore the functioning of photosynthesis under different light, temperature, and moisture conditions and canopy structures. Analysis of ecosystem productivity in the context of a carbon‑cycle data assimilation system, in which model equations are confronted with a suite of vegetation, carbon, and water‑cycle observations and weighted by their respective uncertainties, is highly desired. Incorporation of observations from OCO‑2, TROPOMI, and ground sensors (e.g., Grossman et al., 2018) is likely to provide significant advances.

References: Grossmann, K., Frankenberg, C., Magney, T. S., Hurlock, S. C., Seibt, U., & Stutz, J. (2018). PhotoSpec: A new instrument to measure spatially distributed red and far‑red Solar‑Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence. Remote sensing of environment, 216, 311‑327.

Location

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

• Nicholas Parazoo ([e-mail], 9706727410)

Eligibility Requirements

• Doctoral Degree.
• U.S. Citizens; 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. at the time of application with a valid EAD card and I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status.