Earth Science: Data Assimilation for Earth Science

Organization
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code
0019-NPP-MAR26-GSFC-EarthSci
How to Apply

All applications must be submitted in Zintellect

Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org)

A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:

  1. Research proposal
  2. Three letters of recommendation
  3. Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline
4/2/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program

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.

Description:

This opportunity is closed to applicants who are Senior Fellows (5-years or more past PhD).

The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) supports the modeling and data assimilation needs of NASA's Earth science mission, to characterize, understand, and predict how the Earth as a system is changing on both weather and climate time scales. The GMAO develops the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) model and data assimilation system, including comprehensive atmosphere, ocean, ice, and land surface components.   Along with the analysis and prediction of weather and seasonal climate states, GMAO's efforts encompass atmospheric air quality, ocean biogeochemistry, and the carbon cycle. Potential research activities include:  

  • developing the underlying model components to improve the representations of processes and the coupling among different processes in the Earth system  
  • development of  advanced modeling techniques based on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning  
  • developing and applying new techniques to assimilate NASA's Earth observations   and assessing their impacts on prediction on timescales that span weather to seasons
  • focused model experimentation to identify the mechanisms of change in the Earth system.    

Location:
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science:  Earth Science

Advisors:
Arlindo da Silva
arlindo.m.dasilva@nasa.gov
301-614-6174

Donifan Barahona
Donifan.O.Barahona@nasa.gov
301-614-6103

Leslie Ott
Lesley.E.Ott@nasa.gov
301-614-6093

Ricardo Todling
Ricardo.Todling@nasa.gov
301-614-6171

Rolf Reichle
rolf.h.reichle@nasa.gov
301-614-5693



Steven Pawson
steven.pawson-1@nasa.gov
301-614-6159

William Putman
William.M.Putman@nasa.gov
301-286-2599

Michael G Bosilovich
Michael.G.Bosilovich@nasa.gov
301-614-6147

Nathan Arnold
nathan.arnold@nasa.gov
301-614-5651

Anton S. Darmenov
anton.s.darmenov@nasa.gov
301.614.5493

Lauren Andrews
lauren.c.andrews@nasa.gov
301-614-5117

Patricia Castellanos
patricia.castellanos@nasa.gov
301-614-6574

Andrea Molod
andrea.m.molod@nasa.gov
301-614-6845

Yanqui Zhu
yanqiu.zhu@nasa.gov
301-614-5844

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Eligibility is currently open to:

  • U.S. Citizens;
  • U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
  • Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
  • Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org

Point of Contact
Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree.
NPP
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