Solar System Exploration: Radiative Transfer Modeling of Infrared Spectra for Planetary Atmospheres

The NASA Postdoctoral Program 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 radiative transfer modeling of infrared observations of the planets and their satellites from spacecraft, balloons, and ground-based telescopes to yield information on the thermal structure and composition of atmospheres, as well as composition and temperatures of surfaces. Infrared spectra from instruments such as Voyager 1 and 2 IRIS, Cassini CIRS at the outer planets, and Mars Global Surveyor TES and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM at Mars have allowed for the retrieval of atmospheric temperatures, gas abundances, aerosol composition, optical depth and physical properties. The objective of this task is the development of radiative transfer models and retrieval algorithms to quantitatively characterize the state of planetary atmospheres. The fellowship will be based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Applicants must have or be completing a doctoral degree and meet specific eligibility requirements including U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or foreign national status eligible for J-1 visa. Applications from citizens of Designated Countries will not be accepted unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States.