NASA Postdoctoral Program - Geologic sources of carbonaceous gasses and their impacts on terrestrial ecology

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 synthesizing available plume imaging datasets to address scientific problems related to quantifying CO2 and CH4 from natural hotspot sources (e.g. geologic vents, wetlands, etc.) and the feedbacks they impart to local ecology and potentially global greenhouse gas budgets. The project seeks candidates with backgrounds in Earth and environmental science, especially those with experience using remote sensing data to study ecological phenomena. Backgrounds in atmospheric modelling of trace gas emissions are also considered a strength. Research proposals should explore questions around the use of plume imaging technology to geolocate and quantify natural emissions of CH4 and CO2 and their potential feedbacks to local, regional, and potentially global systems. The fellowship is based at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, which hosts the Earth Science Division with expertise in atmospheric composition, biospheric science, volcanic emissions, and airborne science programs.