Using ocean data assimilation to assess model error and sources of predictability on seasonal t[...]

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

Job summary

ORAU is offering a position through the NASA Postdoctoral Program based at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. This unique program provides opportunities for highly talented scientists to contribute to ongoing NASA research in Earth Science and seasonal prediction. Applicants must hold a Doctoral Degree and should present a robust research proposal along with supporting documents. The role emphasizes research in critical atmospheric and ocean interactions affecting seasonal predictions.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have a Doctoral Degree.
• Eligibility includes U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents.
• Research proposals are required upon application.

Responsibilities

• Engage in NASA research projects.
• Investigate using MERRA-2 Ocean and ECCO reanalysis.
• Focus on sea ice prediction and seasonal forecasting.

Education

Doctoral Degree

Job description

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code

0232-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.

Prediction on subseasonal to seasonal time scales is societally relevant and the fidelity of these predictions has improved in recent years. Assessing the prediction skill and source of error, as well as the sources predictability in the atmosphere and in the ocean, is critical to advancing seasonal prediction skill.

The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO)’s Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) seasonal prediction model and data assimilation system (GEOS‑S2S) is currently being used to produce MERRA-2 Ocean, a 1982‑present weakly coupled reanalysis. Proposals are invited for investigations using MERRA-2 Ocean and/or the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) reanalysis and the associated ocean "analysis increments" to assess the errors in the coupled earth system model predictions due to the combination of local and remote effects. GMAO has a particular interest in proposals that focus on the northern hemisphere high latitude regions based on the relevance for sea ice prediction.

Location

Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

Andrea Mara Molod
[e-mail]
[phone]

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 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

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree.

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

Point of Contact: Mikeala