Synergy between Global Navigation Satellite System and Very Long Baseline Interferometry space [...]

ORAU; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

ORAU, in collaboration with NASA, offers a unique NASA Postdoctoral Program research opportunity located in Greenbelt, Maryland. This program invites U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to advance their careers in Earth Science through hands-on computational research involving cutting-edge VLBI+GNSS techniques. Ideal candidates will have a Doctoral Degree and experience in software development for GNSS or VLBI data, preferably within a Linux environment. Applications are due by November 1, 2026.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in developing software for GNSS or VLBI data.
• Familiarity with heavy computation under a Linux environment.
• Proficiency in Fortran or willingness to learn modern Fortran.

Responsibilities

• Develop methods of data analysis of the VLBI+GNSS technique.
• Optimize observing programs and process data.
• Present evidence regarding strengths and weaknesses in the research.

Skills

Software development for GNSS or VLBI data

Linux environment

Fortran programming

Modern Fortran programming

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Overview

Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0321-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-EarthSci

How To Apply

All applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org). A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents

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.

Research Focus

This opportunity is closed to applicants who are Senior Fellows (5-years or more past PhD).

Historically, data analysis of two space geodesy techniques, very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) developed independently. Recent advances in space geodesy instrumentation and data analysis have blurred the line between these two techniques. It is feasible to observe GNSS satellites with VLBI, use a GNSS receiver as an element of a VLBI array, and determine pseudo-ranges from voltage data of GNSS satellites recorded with a radio telescope. These capabilities have a potential to develop VLBI+GNSS technique that mitigates weaknesses of individual techniques. The VLBI+GNSS technique involves observations and data analysis of any of these three observing modes.

The focus of the proposed research is to develop methods of data analysis of this emerging VLBI+GNSS technique, identify strengths and weaknesses, optimize observing programs, process data, and present evidence that substantiate claims about strengths and weaknesses. This is a new research area that falls into a category high risk, high reward.

NASA heavily contributes to the on-going international geodetic VLBI observing program for determination of terrestrial coordinate system, celestial coordinate system, and determination of the Earth orientation parameters with the highest accuracy. The agency is interested in mitigation of systematic errors in results of these observations and in investigation of biases between VLBI and GNSS results. Efforts to that direction will contribute to a success of NASA mission.

Field of Science: Earth Science

Advisors

Leonid Petrov
[e-mail]
[phone]

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

Eligibility

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Eligibility

Eligibility is currently open to:

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Qualifications

Applicants with hands-on experience in developing software for processing GNSS or VLBI data will receive favorable consideration. The proposed research involves heavy computation under a Linux environment. The successful applicant knows Fortran or C and is willing to master modern Fortran programming language.

Point of Contact

Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.