Satellite remote sensing of clouds and atmospheric thermodynamics weather and climate appli

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

0030-NPP-NOV
26-LRC-Earth Sci

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

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

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.

Opportunity details:

The CERES Cloud Working Group and LaRC Satellite ClOud and Radiative Property retrieval System (SatCORPS) team at NASA Langley work synergistically to produce global datasets of cloud properties and radiation parameters derived from passive visible and infrared sensors on sun-synchronous (e.g. Aqua, Terra, Suomi-NPP, and NOAA-series) and geostationary (e.g. GOES, Meteosat and Himawari) satellites. These retrievals are key datasets for monitoring cloud systems at different spatiotemporal scales and are essential for quantifying and monitoring the Earth’s energy budget, and for determining cloud radiative effects and weather impacts.

Unique algorithms have been developed for operational satellite applications to determine aviation weather parameters and hazards, including flight icing threat to aircraft. Empirical methods and machine learning techniques have been applied to improve cloud retrievals in difficult conditions and to refine nighttime cloud products.

Tasks of the cloud remote sensing group include:

• Development and refinement of cloud retrieval algorithms.
• Validation of cloud properties by combining numerous datasets and theoretical observations.
• Satellite support for field campaigns (e.g. ORACLES, NAAMES, ACTIVATE).
• Applied research on the role of clouds in climate.
• Studies to demonstrate the utility of satellite retrievals in weather forecasting tools.

Opportunities exist for studies that:

• Use radiative transfer simulations for interpreting viewing and solar geometry effects on cloud retrievals.
• Develop algorithms and validation studies combining satellite retrievals from multiple platforms (e.g. Cloud Sat, CALIPSO, microwave sensors) and aircraft data.
• Relate aerosol variability to cloud microphysical and radiative changes (aerosol indirect effect and contrail forcing).
• Combine satellite retrievals with observations from recent field campaigns supported by the group.
• Propose novel use of machine learning techniques for algorithm development and data analysis of the climate data record.
• Develop new products and applications utilizing hyperspectral infrared remote sensing from current and future operational satellites.

Candidates with a solid background in remote sensing, radiative transfer, and physical climatology, with interests aligned with those of the CERES Cloud Working Group and SatCORPS team are welcome to apply.

Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

Earth Science

• William L. Smith, Jr. – william.l.smith –
• David Painemal – david.painemal –

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 a valid EAD card and I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status.

• Doctoral Degree.

Questions About this opportunity? Please email npp.

Point of Contact:
Mikeala.