Using in situ and remote sensing data to study plant traits

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 plant traits research, including developing innovative methods for estimating traits from remote sensing data, deriving new understanding of plant physiology and ecology from plant trait estimates, and incorporating information about plant traits into predictive computer models of terrestrial ecosystems and Earth System models. Plant traits are useful for understanding how plants function and respond to environmental changes as individuals and communities. The research involves combining multiple types of remote sensing techniques including spectroscopy, LiDAR, and SAR, with potential field work opportunities near GSFC and at remote locations.