Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow (06-112)

 

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University seeks to fill a postdoctoral fellowship position for its collaborative research as a Joint Institute with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Information Services (NESDIS) in Camp Springs, Maryland (office will be in Camp Springs).

 

Background:

The Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Team within the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) of the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) of NOAA/NESDIS seeks to develop improved SST products from the future Advanced Baseline Imager (ASBI) and Visible and Infrared Imager Radiometric Suite (VIIRS) sensors to be flown onboard geostationary GOES-R and polar-orbiting NPOESS platforms. The development will be performed using the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-Red Imager (SEVIRI) flown onboard Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) platform, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flown onboard Terra and Aqua platforms and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) as the VIIRS prototype. Improved SST validation and quality control are key elements of the new development.

 

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be a member of the SST Team. This individual will be responsible for the development of improved cloud mask for ABI and VIIRS sensors over ocean as follows:Proficiency with SEVIRI and MODIS sensors, including processing global data to identify cloudProficiency with cloud screening approaches techniques (such as e.g. APOLLO, CLAVR-x)Radiative transfer modeling in the atmosphere using e.g. MODTRAN and OPTRANOptimization of cloud screening and constraining cloud mask based on NCEP upper air fieldsProficiency with global NCEP data (analysis, forecast)Proficiency with sensor calibration techniques and quality control/assurance of satellite radiancesHands-on knowledge of SST and Aerosol retrievals algorithms from spaceExtensive testing of cloud mask with MODIS and SEVIRI global dataPublication of results in peer-reviewed literature, presentation at national/international conferences

 

Required Qualifications:Solid quantitative educational background in fundamental Physics, Mathematics and StatisticsProven list of deliverables (peer-reviewed publications, derived products)Willingness and ability to conduct an independent research (from problem definition to technical solution to documentation in a peer-reviewed literature and science conferences) while being a team playerPhD in a quantitative field of research (e.g. Physics/Math/Stat/Remote Sensing/Meteorology)

 

Expertise in the following specific areas is a plus:

(a) cloud screening and calibration of satellite sensor data;

(b) SST and Aerosol retrievals from satellite sensors such as e.g. AVHRR, MODIS, SEVIRI;

(c)  radiative transfer modeling (RTM) in the thermal IR using MODTRAN or OPTRAN;

(d) proficiency with global data handling and quality control procedures;

(e)  radiation properties of aerosols and their effect on SST;

(f) IDL, Fortran, C, Unix/Unix scripts programming

 

Annual Salary: up to $55,000 commensurate with qualifications

 

Condition of Employment: The individual will be required to pass a federal Security Assurance Check because the job is in a federally occupied building.

 

Application Deadline:  July 16, 2006

Apply electronically by sending a resume, cover letter, and the names of three references to the attention of

Prof. Thomas H. Vonder Haar at the following email address:

humanresources@cira.colostate.edu .

Please put your name (last name first) in the subject line of the email and reference 06-112.

Colorado State University is an EEO/AA employer.  Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services.