Space Remote Sensing​/Data Science​/Lightning Physics Graduate Research Assistant SEAL

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.

GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Lightning is a remarkable phenomenon that is simultaneously relatable to everyone and consequential for public safety and global security. We are seeking a GTRI Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) to participate in a study into lightning that maintains electrical contact with the ground over long periods of time – what we refer to as “Continuing Current” and its time-dependent behavior. This study will leverage space-based lightning observations collected by multiple satellites and ground-based radio frequency sensors to understand where and how the signals generated by hazardous lightning flashes arise.

This position is for one semester (Spring 2027) of a half-time (50%) graduateassistantship.

Graduate Research Assistant

• Pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD at Georgia Tech in Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering,Earth and Atmospheric Sciences,Computer Science, Physics,orarelated field
• Must be enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours)
• Must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
• Commit to 13-20 hours of work per week

• Proficient in either Python (preferred) or Matlab
• Ability to work with large datasets (terabyte-scale) including both case plotting and statistics generation
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas
• Ability to quickly identify and learn new modules and datasets(often hdf5 of NetCDF)
• Self-motivated with scientific curiosity

13–20 hours per week

Due to our research contracts with the US federal government, candidates for this position are required to be US Citizens.

None

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech…