Observing sub-annual mechanics of Antarctic ice streams using short repeat time InSAR

Overview

Organization NASA

Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Reference Code: 0140-NPP-MAR
26-JPL-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

4/2/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

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.

Description: Recent results using temporally dense SAR acquisitions from the Cosmo-Sky Med (CSK) constellation have demonstrated the ability to capture the three component surface velocity response of ice streams and ice shelves to forcing from ocean tides. Systematic mapping of this response has the potential to illuminate the basic mechanical characteristics of the streaming ice, the bed-ice interface, and the floating ice.

The ice streams/shelves of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Filcher-Ronne system are ideal candidates for such a study given the very large tidal forcing active in these regions. We seek a postdoctoral scholar who will work to combine dense CSK observations (InSAR and speckle tracking) with other available geodetic imaging data to develop comprehensive time series of deformation and to integrate these observations with mechanical models of ice streams and ice shelves.

This activity requires a strong interest in furthering both geodetic and glaciology science.

Candidates should have a recent PhD in single processing with preference given to candidates specializing in the analysis of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture data. Knowledge of glaciological principles is highly desired. All candidates should have a strong background in scientific computing (Matlab, Python or equivalent) and remote sensing principles. The selected candidate will work collaboratively with JPL researchers and Caltech faculty to improve the retrieval of 3-D displacement fields from Cosmo-Sky Med InSAR data, develop methods to synthesize displacement fields from multiple sensor platforms, and to connect tidal perturbations of displacement rates to the mechanical characteristics of ice streams and ice shelves.

Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.

Location:

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
Field of Science:
Earth Science

Advisors:
Alex Gardner
Alex.

S.Gardnera.gov

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://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

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
• 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

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp

Point of Contact:
Mikeala

Eligibility Requirements:
Doctoral Degree