Postdoc – Software Development Framework Connecting Models, Remote Sensing Data, and Field Measurements : Pasadena, CA, United States

Position Title: Postdoc – Software Development Framework Connecting Models, Remote Sensing Data, and Field Measurements

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Postdoctoral Scholars Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in JPL's Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Group.

The research will support an exciting new decadal NASA program called the Arctic Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE; above.nasa.gov). The Arctic-Boreal Region is being impacted by climate change more than anywhere else in the world, yet this region is the source of among the largest uncertainties to global climate projections. NASA has selected a suite of field-based teams to collect data on the ground linked to airborne and satellite observations, providing the necessary information to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models. This project is unique within the ABoVE Program in that it aims to synthesize and integrate these data across a large suite of models to achieve the ultimate goal of uncertainty reduction. The Postdoctoral Scholar will build the framework for driving and evaluating terrestrial biosphere models with ABoVE data, evaluate the improvement to models, and publish science papers on the framework and results. Dr. Joshua Fisher, in JPL's Earth Science Section, will serve as JPL postdoctoral advisor to the selected candidate. The Postdoctoral Scholar will also work closely with the project team at the University of Maine and Northern Arizona University, the NASA ABoVE Program Office and Science Team, an international group of collaborating modelers, and JPL scientists and engineers. The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.

Candidates should have a recent PhD with a unique background combining a foundation in Computer Science/Software Engineering with an application to Earth’s environment, preferably in terrestrial ecosystems. Candidates who have received their PhD within the past five years since the date of their application are eligible. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum of three years.
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Caltech and JPL are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers. Women, minorities, veterans, and disabled persons are encouraged to apply.