ORAU
Earth Science: Analysis and Interpretation of Ground, Airborne and Satellite-bas
ORAU, Greenbelt, Maryland, us, 20771
Earth Science: Analysis and Interpretation of Ground, Airborne and Satellite-based observations in support of the verification of the NASA Pandora Project
Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code:
0189-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 includes:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline:
3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description This opportunity is closed to applicants who are Senior Fellows (5-years or more past PhD). For more than a decade, NASA Earth Sciences has committed to the development and operationalization of the Pandora Spectrometer System, a ground-based/ship-based instrument at NASA GSFC, Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics. The instrument system retrieves total column trace gas densities utilizing sun/lunar-viewing and sky-scanning techniques. Validated, near real time data products include total column O 3
and NO 2 . Current experimental data products include near surface O 3
and total column CH 2 O and SO 2 , with continued development of retrieval algorithms for their verification.
The addition of these products will greatly widen the use-case of Pandora and benefit its user community for continued monitoring of air quality and atmospheric composition. Current and future deployments of Pandora focus on long-term observations in support of validation for emission and air quality monitoring satellite platforms such as the Aura-based Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), the Sentinel-5 Precursor TROPOMI instrument, the upcoming TEMPO and GEMS geostationary satellites, and the air quality/atmospheric composition satellite MAIA.
Projects under way include:
Evaluation and analysis of the combined observational platforms related to improving the verification and development of Pandora Spectrometer System retrieval algorithms and contextualization of the interpretation of Pandora air quality and atmospheric composition products, both operational and developmental.
Development and refinement of improved profile algorithms for retrieval of O 3 , NO 2 , HCHO and SO 2 .
Planning and design for current and future field and satellite calibration, validation, and verification campaigns.
Harmonization and expansion of the NASA Pandora Project and its other ground-based networks (e.g., TOLNET, AERONET, MPLNET) and the ESA Pandonia project and networks to develop the Pandora Global Network (PGN).
Development and planning related to the deployment of long-term fixed sites in support of current and future satellite missions in conjunction with governmental agencies such as EPA and NOAA and with international partners such as ESA, EUMETSAT and KIER.
Location Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland
Field of Science Earth Science
Advisors John T. Sullivan john.t.sullivan@nasa.gov 301-614-5549
Thomas Hanisco thomas.hanisco@nasa.gov 301-614-6598
Eligibility 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:
NASA 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 Please email
npp@orau.org .
Point of Contact Mikeala
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Reference Code:
0189-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 includes:
Research proposal
Three letters of recommendation
Official doctoral transcript documents
Application Deadline:
3/1/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description This opportunity is closed to applicants who are Senior Fellows (5-years or more past PhD). For more than a decade, NASA Earth Sciences has committed to the development and operationalization of the Pandora Spectrometer System, a ground-based/ship-based instrument at NASA GSFC, Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics. The instrument system retrieves total column trace gas densities utilizing sun/lunar-viewing and sky-scanning techniques. Validated, near real time data products include total column O 3
and NO 2 . Current experimental data products include near surface O 3
and total column CH 2 O and SO 2 , with continued development of retrieval algorithms for their verification.
The addition of these products will greatly widen the use-case of Pandora and benefit its user community for continued monitoring of air quality and atmospheric composition. Current and future deployments of Pandora focus on long-term observations in support of validation for emission and air quality monitoring satellite platforms such as the Aura-based Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), the Sentinel-5 Precursor TROPOMI instrument, the upcoming TEMPO and GEMS geostationary satellites, and the air quality/atmospheric composition satellite MAIA.
Projects under way include:
Evaluation and analysis of the combined observational platforms related to improving the verification and development of Pandora Spectrometer System retrieval algorithms and contextualization of the interpretation of Pandora air quality and atmospheric composition products, both operational and developmental.
Development and refinement of improved profile algorithms for retrieval of O 3 , NO 2 , HCHO and SO 2 .
Planning and design for current and future field and satellite calibration, validation, and verification campaigns.
Harmonization and expansion of the NASA Pandora Project and its other ground-based networks (e.g., TOLNET, AERONET, MPLNET) and the ESA Pandonia project and networks to develop the Pandora Global Network (PGN).
Development and planning related to the deployment of long-term fixed sites in support of current and future satellite missions in conjunction with governmental agencies such as EPA and NOAA and with international partners such as ESA, EUMETSAT and KIER.
Location Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland
Field of Science Earth Science
Advisors John T. Sullivan john.t.sullivan@nasa.gov 301-614-5549
Thomas Hanisco thomas.hanisco@nasa.gov 301-614-6598
Eligibility 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:
NASA 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 Please email
npp@orau.org .
Point of Contact Mikeala
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Doctoral Degree.
#J-18808-Ljbffr