Strengthening NASA Air Quality Observations with Low-Cost Sensor Data

ORAU; California (MO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA invites applications for a Postdoctoral Program position focused on low-cost air quality sensors and data fusion with satellite datasets. The successful candidate will build, calibrate and deploy sensors, analyze data, and validate satellite observations to support NASA Earth science goals.

Field of study includes Earth science, atmospheric science, or engineering with strong instrumentation skills and teamwork. U.S. citizenship or eligible status is required.

Qualifications

• PhD in the physical sciences or engineering, preferably Chemistry or Atmospheric Sciences.
• Laboratory and/or field experience.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation for atmospheric measurements.
• Experience developing and implementing sensor calibration techniques.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Occasional deployment travel may be necessary.

Responsibilities

• Build, calibrate and deploy low-cost air quality sensors for the INSTEP network.
• Analyze sensor data and fuse with remote sensing datasets to maximize scientific value.
• Validate satellite measurements of air quality events using in-situ and satellite data.
• Contribute to NASA Earth Action portfolio and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Field experience

Sensor calibration techniques

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Written and verbal communication

Travel readiness

Education

PhD in physical sciences or engineering

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0154-NPP-NOV26-ARC-EarthSci

Application Deadline

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

Description

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.

NASA Inexpensive Network Sensor Technology for Exploring Pollution (INSTEP) is a low-cost air quality sensor network utilized in combination with NASA remote sensing datasets to analyze air quality on high spatiotemporal scales and provide actionable benefits to stakeholders and communities. We are looking for a postdoctoral assistant with research interests in low-cost sensors and satellite data fusion to join our group. This will involve working with hardware, firmware, and data to improve our sensors’ performance and relevance to other NASA-sponsored air quality datasets. The successful candidate will help build, calibrate, and deploy low-cost air quality sensors and analyze data from the INSTEP network to maximize scientific and societal benefits. Sensor data fusion along with remote sensing instruments (Pandora, AERONET) and satellites (TROPOMI, TEMPO) will serve to validate satellite measurements of air quality events. This position will also afford opportunities to contribute to the NASA Earth Action portfolio, including stakeholder engagement to support the application of air quality observations for environmental monitoring and decision making.

Field of Science: Earth Science

Advisors

Kristen Okorn

[e-mail]

[phone]

Questions about this opportunity?

Please email [e-mail]

Qualifications

Position Requirements:

• PhD in the physical sciences or engineering, preferably Chemistry or Atmospheric Sciences.
• Previous laboratory and/or field experience.
• Experience working with analytical instrumentation for atmospheric measurements.
• Experience in developing and implementing innovative sensor calibration techniques.
• Ability to work as a member of a team on various projects.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Occasional deployment travel may be necessary.

Additional Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in collaborative environments.
• Experience with NASA remote sensing data and machine learning.
• Experience communicating scientific concepts to wide audiences, including developing capacity-building resources or stakeholder engagement.

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Doctoral Degree.