Research Associate I, Step 2

UAH College of Business; Alabama; On-site; USD 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Alabama in Huntsville hires a Research Associate to support NASA Earth science data management within the Office of Data Science and Informatics of the Earth System Science Center. You will help with data access, ingestion, and dissemination, working with CSDA and CSDA's development team.

The role emphasizes data lifecycle support, publication, and cross-disciplinary collaboration across ESSC/ODSI projects. A strong Python, AWS, and communication skill set is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Minimum 3 months of full-time, verifiable work experience.
• Familiarity with satellite remote sensing datasets, particularly in the commercial space.
• Working knowledge of Python.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to manage time-sensitive tasks.
• Basic understanding of any cloud computing provider (preferably AWS).
• Strong willingness to learn and adapt to evolving systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for NASA CSDA end users regarding data access and FAQs.
• Provide user support via email and help desk; apply technical knowledge to resolve queries.
• Support data acquisition for CSDA program including tasking, ingestion, and data delivery.
• Collaborate with CSDA development team to transition systems to operation.
• Support data publication of CSDA assets to NASA Earthdata Cloud.
• Assist with other NASA CSDA programs as needed.
• Assist in scientific publication curation and communicating program impact.
• Create and maintain operational and informatics documentation.
• Collaborate across projects within the Office of Data Science and Informatics.

Skills

Python

Communication

Time management

Willingness to learn

Education

Bachelor's degree in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, or a related field

Master's degree in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, or a related field

Tools

AWS

GIS

Remote Sensing

Job description

Job no: 504218

Department: Earth System Science Center

Work type: Staff Full-time Non-Exempt

Location: Alabama

Categories: Research - Environmental, Research - Other

Purpose Of The Position The selected Research Associate candidate will support the Office of Data Science and Informatics (ODSI) within the Lab for Applied Science (LAS) under the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at UAH. This role focuses on advancing data science capabilities to support NASA Earth science data management, access, and dissemination. ODSI evaluates trends across data science and informatics communities to inform strategic direction and develop effective, scalable solutions. The office also provides a user-centered perspective on how Earth science data are represented, communicated, and utilized. The position contributes to cross-disciplinary collaboration aimed at improving all phases of the Earth science data lifecycle, including policy, engineering, workflows, and information delivery.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) end users about data access and FAQs.
• Provide user support through email and the help desk system, and apply technical knowledge to answer queries and resolve challenges.
• Support data acquisition for the CSDA program, including tasking, ingestion, and data delivery.
• Work closely with CSDA’s development team to transition systems from development into operational use.
• Support in data publication of CSDA-acquired assets to NASA Earthdata Cloud.
• Provide support for any other NASA program supported by CSDA as needed.
• Assist in scientific publication curation and communication of program impact across research areas.
• Create and maintain operational and informatics documentation for both internal and external usage.
• Collaborate across projects within the Office of Data Science and Informatics (ODSI).

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor\'s degree in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 months of full-time, verifiable work experience.
• Some familiarity with satellite remote sensing datasets, particularly in the commercial space.
• Must have a working knowledge of Python.
• Must have excellent communication skills and the ability to manage assigned time-sensitive tasks.
• Basic understanding of any cloud computing provider (preferably AWS).
• Must demonstrate a strong willingness to learn and adapt to evolving operational systems.

Desired Qualifications

• Master\'s degree in Earth Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, or a related field is desired.
• 6-12 months of full-time verifiable work experience is desired.
• Good understanding of AWS core cloud computing services is preferred.
• Extensive experience in GIS and Remote Sensing is preferred.
• Strong background in using satellite remote sensing datasets, particularly in the commercial space, is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new tools and adapt to changing operational environments is preferred.

Published Salary $48,376 - $51,750

Advertised: Jul 30 2026 Central Daylight Time