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Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Employer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Location
Pasadena, California (US)
Closing date
Jun 19, 2019

Validation of remote sensing data products is a critical step in providing the observations from spaceborne platforms to scientific use. The detection of the freeze/thaw cycle from current and past remote sensing platforms enable global, long-term investigation of climate variability, changes in biological productivity and ecosystems, and evolution of water and carbon cycle. The NASA-funded Freeze/Thaw Earth System Data Record (FT-ESDR) uses multiple microwave satellite instruments and techniques to construct an over 40-years long freeze/thaw data product.

The main responsibility of this position is to investigate validation approaches for the FT-ESDR beyond the current validation activity, which will enable better understanding of the product’s features and applicability to various scientific studies. The objectives include investigation of the impact of the spatial resolution on the validation measurements, the temporal fidelity of the freeze/thaw cycle resolved by the product in the various landscape components, and the multi-frequency response of the freeze/thaw signal (the new version of the product will derive freeze/thaw state using multiple frequencies, which respond differently to different ecosystem layers). An analysis of a wide array of in situ measurements of landscape components is required to disentangle the various temporal and spatial processes affecting the freeze/thaw detection. The investigation may include proxy studies using equivalent or similar measurements setups to gain additional understanding of the freeze/thaw processes at a finer spatial or temporal scale. Dr. Andreas Colliander will serve as postdoctoral advisor to the selected candidate. The appointee will carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.

Candidates should have a recent PhD in Remote Sensing, Electrical Engineering, Geosciences, Environmental Sciences, or a related field. Previous experience in processing and analyzing spaceborne microwave radiometer data is expected. The selected candidate will work as a member of a team, but ability to work independently is essential and strong motivation for publishing is required. Candidates who have received their PhD within the past five years since the date of their application are eligible. Postdoctoral Scholar positions are awarded for a minimum of one-year period and may be renewed up to a maximum duration of three years.

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