Earth Science: Analysis and Interpretation of Ground, Airborne and Satellite-based observations in support of the verification of the NASA Pandora Project

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. This specific opportunity focuses on Earth Science research at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The research involves the NASA Pandora Spectrometer System, a ground-based/ship-based instrument for atmospheric chemistry and dynamics. The instrument system retrieves total column trace gas densities utilizing sun/lunar-viewing and sky-scanning techniques, with validated data products including total column O3 and NO2. Current projects include evaluation and analysis of observational platforms to improve verification and development of retrieval algorithms, development of improved profile algorithms for retrieval of O3, NO2, HCHO and SO2, planning for field and satellite calibration/validation campaigns, and harmonization of the NASA Pandora Project with ground-based networks to develop the Pandora Global Network. The fellowship supports long-term observations for validation of emission and air quality monitoring satellite platforms such as Aura-based OMI, Sentinel-5 Precursor TROPOMI, and upcoming TEMPO and GEMS geostationary satellites.