[ES_JOBS_NET] Research Scientist position in atmospheric chemistry and dynamics: ozone mapping

[Halley Thompson]

Research Scientist position in atmospheric chemistry and dynamics: ozone
mapping

The Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II (GESTAR II)
<https://gestar2.umbc.edu/> consortium at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC) <https://www.nasa.gov/goddard> invites applications for a
research position in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory
(Code 614) <https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/acd/> at NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center. The lab advances understanding of changes in the Earth’s
radiation balance, air quality, and the ozone layer that result from
changes in atmospheric composition. Using a combination of satellite data,
atmospheric models, and in situ observations, the laboratory strives to
understand: the factors that control stratospheric ozone and trace gasses
that influence ozone, the natural processes and human activity that impact
the composition of Earth’s troposphere, and the impact of climate change on
future concentrations of stratospheric ozone and tropospheric gasses.

The successful candidate will use radiative transfer models and remote
sensing tools to study tropospheric ozone and aerosols. This position is
best suited for a candidate with experience in big data and will focus on
combining measurements from multiple sensors to develop new retrieval
algorithms to derive tropospheric ozone.

The successful candidate will join the GESTAR II Consortium which supports
over 120 researchers based primarily at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC). GESTAR II researchers work to create extensive opportunities for
breakthroughs in earth and atmospheric science research, carrying out
observational, experimental and theoretical research in support of NASA
strategic Earth Science mission objectives.

Goddard’s Earth Science Division is home to about 200 civil servants and
over 1200 collaborating researchers and support personnel dedicated to
studying the Earth as an integrated system that includes the atmosphere,
oceans, biosphere, cryosphere, and geosphere. The Division operates as a
component of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate that collaborate on
interdisciplinary research with the Astrophysics Science, Heliophysics
Science, and Solar System Exploration Divisions.

The researcher will focus on:

   - Using of the Suomi NPP Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS).

Comprised of three complementary sensors – Limb Profiler (LP), Nadir
Profiler (NP) and Nadir Mapper (NM) – the sensors scan the same region of
the atmosphere from Earth’s surface to the mesosphere within minutes
enabling retrievals of total columns and vertical ozone profiles.

   - Analyzing measured radiances from limb and nadir sensors, simulating
   radiances with radiative transfer models (RTM).
   - Developing inverse algorithms for retrieving ozone profiles with the
   focus on tropospheric ozone.
   - Exploiting the synergy of the OMPS sensors to effectively combine
   measurements from limb and nadir-viewing sensors for developing new
   retrieval algorithms to study tropospheric ozone and aerosols.
   - Investigating two different approaches for combining limb and nadir
   measurements.

In one approach, retrievals will be done consecutively starting with the
limb retrieval, and then ozone profiles, retrieved from the limb algorithm,
will be used as a priori in the nadir retrieval. In the second approach,
nadir and limb measurements will be combined in the retrieval algorithm to
derive a merged ozone profile.

Required knowledge and skills:

   - Master or PhD degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or
   Meteorology.
   - Advanced programming skills working with big data (e.g. Python, IDL,
   Fortran).
   - Ability to write scientific proposals and reports, participate in
   various scientific meetings and workshops, and publish research results in
   the peer-review journals.

Desired knowledge and skills :

   - Experience in using radiative transfer models and knowledge of remote
   sensing are highly desirable.

How to apply:

Candidates should provide a cover letter, three page statement of research
interests and CV (including publication list). Short-listed candidates will
be asked to supply three letters of reference at a later date. All
materials and inquiries should be sent by email Subject line: Task 143:
Research Scientist position to: Halley Thompson halleyt at umbc.edu.

Salary and benefits are competitive, commensurate with experience and
qualifications. The GESTAR II consortium and NASA/GSFC are committed to
building a diverse research community and encourages applications from
women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities and
veterans. All GESTAR II institutions are Affirmative Action, Equal
Opportunity Employers.

This posting will remain open until 5/13/2022. The nominal starting date is
late June, but alternate dates are possible depending on availability.

This position is a one-year contract, renewable depending upon performance
and funding availability.

For more information about the proposed research, contact Dr. Natalya
Kramarova <https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/natalya.a.kramarova> (
natalya.a.kramarova at nasa.gov).

-- 

*Halley Thompson, MPA, PHR*

she/they (what's this? <https://www.glsen.org/activity/pronouns-guide-glsen>
)

Program Specialist

Morgan State University

GESTAR II Consortium


halley.thompson at morgan.edu

halleyt at umbc.edu
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