Big data remote sensing of glaciers and ice sheets

Organization

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talent 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 designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

In this research you will employ a suite of satellite data ranging from SAR platforms (ASI Cosmo‑Skymed, ESA Sentinel‑1, CSA RADARSAT‑2, DLR Tandem‑X, NASA/ISRO NISAR) to optical platforms (USGS Landsat‑8, World View, ESA Sentinel‑2, NASA MODIS). You will build time series of ice‑sheet dynamics, track grounding lines and surface motion, analyze surface back scatter for ice fracturing, and integrate machine‑learning tools to synthesize glacier and ice‑sheet evolution.

The focus will be on the Amundsen Sea sector of West Antarctica, a region experiencing rapid glacier changes that contribute to sea‑level rise.

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Earth Science, or Physics.
• Strong background in remote sensing, synthetic aperture radar, and programming.
• Experience with machine‑learning techniques and data extraction/analysis.
• Interest in glaciology, physics, and climate change.

• U.S. Citizens
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Foreign nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J‑1 visa status
• 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 pending.

Applications from citizens of designated countries are not accepted unless they are legal permanent residents of the U.S.

• Prof. Eric Rignot (uci.edu)
• Dr. Eric Larour (jpl.nasa.gov)

November 1, 2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Point of Contact:
Mikeala (email: npp)