Research Associate III BDEC Technical Remote Sensing

UAH College of Business; Alabama; On-site; USD 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The UAH Lab for Applied Science (LAS) in Huntsville, Alabama, under the Earth System Science Center, seeks a Research Associate to advance BDEC remote sensing with NASA MSFC collaboration. Role involves data prep, analysis, product generation, and AI-enabled EO workflows.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 2–4 years experience with satellite data (optical/SAR), Python/R skills, and strong communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field such as remote sensing, geospatial science, geography or Earth/environmental science
• 2 to 4 years of verifiable, full-time work experience
• Experience processing and analyzing satellite remote sensing data (optical and SAR)
• Strong technical skills in Earth observation workflows: preprocessing, validation, and tool development
• Experience with geospatial ML or foundation model workflows for EO data is desirable
• Proficiency in Python, R, or similar languages for spatial data analysis and automation
• Familiarity with NASA Earth science datasets and applied conservation/biodiversity apps
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to collaborate with diverse groups
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and communicate with scientists and stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Develop remote sensing workflows to support BDEC research at MSFC
• Process and analyze multispectral and hyperspectral data for EO products
• Support product development using AI with NASA EO datasets
• Evaluate model and product performance with quantitative validations
• Create prototypes, tutorials, and docs to deploy BDEC EO products
• Develop EO workflows for biodiversity monitoring and habitat change
• Translate technical results into accessible products and materials
• Collaborate across centers, discuss technical aspects, and engage stakeholders
• Support capacity-building and knowledge transfer for remote sensing methods
• Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conferences
• Contribute to scientific publications and dissemination materials

Skills

Remote sensing

Geospatial science

Python

R

Communication

Teamwork

Earth science

Education

Bachelor’s degree (remote sensing, geospatial science, geography, Earth science, environmental science, engineering)

Master’s or PhD (remote sensing, geospatial science, geography, Earth science, environmental science, engineering)

Tools

Prithvi

HLS

GeoNEX

SAR processing

Job description

Purpose Of The Position The UAH Lab for Applied Science (LAS), under the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) in Huntsville, Alabama, is seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to support the Biological Diversity and Ecological Conservation (BDEC) research and application activities at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

Job no

504416

Department

Earth System Science Center

Work type

Staff Full-time Exempt

Location

Alabama

Categories

Research - Environmental

Duties / Responsibilities

• Develop and apply remote sensing workflows to support BDEC research and application activities at MSFC, including data preparation, analysis, validation, and product generation.
• Process and analyze multispectral and hyperspectral datasets, including optical, thermal, and SAR datasets for ecological and conservation applications, with emphasis on producing usable Earth observation products for end users.
• Support product development efforts using AI, including Prithvi and other NASA Earth observation datasets.
• Evaluate model and product performance through quantitative validation approaches.
• Contribute to the creation of prototype tools, tutorials, and documentation that support deployment and use of BDEC-related remote sensing products.
• Assist with the development of Earth observation workflows for biodiversity monitoring, phenology, habitat change, and other BDEC-relevant applications
• Translate complex technical results into products, presentations, and materials that are accessible to scientific collaborators and end users.
• Participate in cross-center collaboration, technical discussions, and stakeholder-facing efforts that support BDEC VC goals.
• Support capacity-building activities, including training and knowledge transfer related to remote sensing methods and BDEC workflows.
• Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and present at scientific conferences
• Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination products.

Minimum Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in remote sensing, geospatial science, geography, Earth science, environmental science, engineering, or a related field
• 2 to 4 years of verifiable, full-time work experience.
• Demonstrated experience processing and analyzing satellite remote sensing data, including optical imagery and SAR.
• Strong technical skills in Earth observation data workflows, including image preprocessing, validation, and tool development.
• Experience applying geospatial machine learning or foundation model workflows to remote sensing datasets is highly desirable, especially for Earth observation applications.
• Proficiency in Python, R, or similar programming languages used for spatial data analysis, remote sensing automation, and geospatial modeling.
• Familiarity with NASA Earth science datasets, remote sensing products, and applied conservation or biodiversity applications.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and experience working with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a technical, interdisciplinary team and communicate clearly with scientists and stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications

• A Master's or PhD in remote sensing, geospatial science, geography, Earth science, environmental science, engineering, or a related field
• At least 1 year of verifiable full-time experience in remote sensing, geospatial analysis, or a closely related technical field.
• Experience with SAR processing and analysis for environmental or ecological applications.
• Experience working with HLS, hyperspectral, GeoNEX, Prithvi, or similar Earth observation data pipelines.
• Experience developing validation protocols for remote sensing products.
• Experience supporting NASA, federal, state, or conservation partners in applied Earth observation.
• Experience creating documentation, tutorials, and training materials for technical users.

Published Salary

$52,216-$64,985

Advertised

Sep 17 2026 Central Daylight Time