Polar Atmospheric Processes and Their Interactions with the Surface

The NASA Postdoctoral Program at ORAU offers research opportunities focusing on polar atmospheric processes and their interactions with Earth's ice sheets and oceans. This position is located at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, and requires a doctoral degree. Applicants must submit a research proposal, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. The opportunity is competitive and closed to Senior Fellows.
Overview
Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)


Reference Code 0183-NPP-NOV26-GSFC-EarthSci


Application Deadline 11/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone


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:



Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents

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


Research Focus
The Earth‘s Arctic and Antarctic regions are experiencing unprecedented changes, which will have profound effects on the global climate, society and biodiversity. Given the complexity of polar climate, a complete understanding requires a continuous effort in observation, modeling, and a thorough analysis of each component and their interactions. This research focuses on studying the Arctic/Antarctic atmospheric processes and their interactions with the ice sheets and the oceans. Specific topics include (1) polar radiative processes; (2) properties of cloud and blowing snow over the polar regions; (3) effects of cloud and other atmospheric events, e.g., blowing snow, on polar radiation budget and surface melting; and (3) polar boundary layer processes. Research tools include radiative transfer simulations, numerical modeling and remote sensing. Both surface observations and data from NASA‘s satellites are used for the investigations.


Location
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland


Field of Science
Earth Science


Advisors
Yuekui Yang
yuekui.yang-1@nasa.gov
301-614-6313


Eligibility
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

A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.


Questions
Please email npp@orau.org


Point of Contact
Mikeala


Eligibility Requirements

Degree: Doctoral Degree.

Status
This opportunity is closed to applicants; the description indicates it is not accepting applications at this time.