Assistant Scientist

Current state: Approved
Department: Scientific
City: Green Bank
State/Province: WV
Country: United States
Contact Person: Ryan Lynch
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: National Radio Astronomy Observatory / Green Bank Observatory
Application Due Date: Monday, May 11 2026

The Green Bank Observatory is searching for a qualified scientist to join the GBT team in Green Bank, WV. The Green Bank Telescope is a 100-meter telescope that operates from 290 MHz to 116 GHz. As the world’s largest fully steerable single dish telescope, the GBT is used by astronomers from all over the world to carry out a wide range of astronomical research.

As a staff scientist, duties and responsibilities may include:
• Maintain an active independent research program which makes significant use of the GBT and other NRAO facilities.
• Provide GBT technical support and GBT user support for the broad astronomical community.
• Contribute to the overall Observatory mission and work within a collaborative environment that promotes motivation, leadership, and team building.
• Assist with and participate in scientific community outreach activities, public outreach, education activities, and broader impact activities.

This position is open to all areas of astronomy, but candidates with experience in radar observations and/or VLBI techniques are especially encouraged to apply.

For further details regarding this position please visit: https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/aui/CANDIDATEPORTAL/jobs/1313

Postdoctoral scholar: asteroid radar

Current state: Approved
Department: Florida Space Institute
City: Orlando
State/Province: Florida
Country: United States
Contact Person: Flaviane Venditti
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Central Florida
Application Due Date: Monday, June 30 2025

The incumbent will be expected to participate in data analysis, physical and dynamical characterization of near-Earth asteroids using radar and optical data, and support archiving asteroid shape models in the Planetary Data System (PDS). This position is open until filled.

Post-doctoral Scholar: asteroid radar

Current state: Approved
Department: Florida Space Institute
City: Orlando
State/Province: FL
Country: USA
Contact Person: Flaviane Venditti
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Central Florida
Application Due Date: Saturday, November 30 2024

The incumbent will be expected to participate in data analysis, physical and dynamical characterization of near-Earth asteroids using radar and optical data, and support archiving asteroid shape models in the Planetary Data System (PDS).

PhD Studentships

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Department: Institute for Astronomy
City: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland/United Kingdom
Contact Person: PG Research Physics
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Edinburgh
Application Due Date: Sunday, January 08 2023

We offer PhD projects on topics ranging from cosmology, galaxy formation, exoplanets, and the solar system; using observational, theoretical, and computational methods. On our project webpages, you can find descriptions of all projects on offer as well as videos from the PhD supervisors.

The Institute for Astronomy (IfA) is one of three major components of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh, located at the historic and beautiful Royal Observatory Edinburgh site on Blackford Hill.

Each year the IfA admits a new cohort of ~10 PhD students from around the UK and the world. We are now accepting applications for admission in September 2023. The IfA is committed to advancing equality and diversity, welcoming applications from everyone irrespective of gender, age, (dis)ability, race, nationality, carer status, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. Our aim is to ensure that our culture and systems support flexible and family-friendly working. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for our places.

To apply, you will submit a 1-page anonymous form where you briefly share information about your research experience and academic preparation. Details on how to apply are given in detail here: https://ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fellowships/phd-studentships

In order for your application to be given full consideration for one of our funded places, it should be received by the deadline of 8th January 2023.

Open-Rank Tenure-Track/Tenured Faculty Position in Remote Sensing

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Department: School of Earth & Environment and College of Engineering
City: Glassboro
State/Province: NJ
Country: USA
Contact Person: Eddie Guerra
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Rowan University
Application Due Date: Wednesday, November 30 2022

The School of Earth & Environment and the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering at Rowan University seek to fill an open-rank tenure-track/tenured Faculty position starting September 1st, 2023. Successful candidates are expected to develop and maintain an active, highly visible, extramurally funded research program with outstanding scholarship and to demonstrate excellence in teaching and mentoring both graduate and undergraduate students.

 

We seek candidates who use remote sensing techniques to gather, process and analyze critical data pertaining to the lithosphere, biosphere, and/or atmosphere of Earth or other planetary bodies, using Earth-based, orbital, and/or spacecraft instrumentation: 1) in the service of shedding light on, and innovating solutions to, Earth’s pressing climate and/or biodiversity crises; or 2) to better understand the nature, origin, and state of our solar system. Sophisticated signal & image processing, computer vision, machine learning and/or advanced visualization approaches and other cutting-edge approaches are of interest.

 

This faculty member will be jointly appointed, holding a primary appointment in the School of Earth & Environment, and a secondary appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in some combination of each of the following two main areas: 
1) geoscience, environmental science, atmospheric science, marine science, ecology, conservation biology, and/or planetary science; and 2) electrical/computer engineering, including theoretical, physical, and/or computational approaches.

 

Ideal candidates are those with cross-cutting research interests and expertise encompassing a complementary mixture of Earth, planetary, and environmental sciences and relevant engineering areas, which may include – but are not limited to – the following

  1. Global climate change on Earth, remote sensing of greenhouse gasses, detection of ice volume changes, changes in permafrost, sea-level monitoring;
  2. Conservation biology, deforestation, habitat changes, animal migration, monitoring of endangered species, poaching or fisheries surveillance;
  3. Sensing and monitoring environmental contaminants, source detection of contaminants;
  4. Planetary science, origins of planetary bodies, planetary lithospheres, planetary atmospheres, detection and interpretation of biosignatures;
  5. Sensor development (classic and edge-based), remote-sensing systems development, sensor modeling and simulation, radio-frequency remote-sensing;
  6. Management of large datasets using advanced signal and image processing, time series analysis, and the integration of high-resolution spectral and lidar datasets;
  7. Big Data, machine and artificial intelligence, computer vision and advanced visualization techniques including virtual, augmented or mixed reality to better understand multiple, simultaneous environmental crises.

 

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field by September 1st, 2023 and will have demonstrated early research, publication or funding success at the intersection of Earth, planetary, and environmental sciences and engineering. A commitment to excellence in teaching and to communicating science to the public is a necessity. 

Rowan University is a Carnegie-classified R2 Doctoral University, engaged in a university push towards R1. The university enrolls approximately 22,000 students. Its main campus is located in Glassboro, N.J., 20-miles southeast of Philadelphia. Philadelphia International Airport is 30 minutes away, and New York and Washington, DC are easily accessible by train from 30th Street Station. The Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum (www.rowan.edu/fossils), located only 4 miles from campus, is closely associated with the School of Earth & Environment and provides unique opportunities and teaching resources to faculty members and students. Additionally, the School of Earth & Environment is integral to Rowan’s Catalysts for Sustainability program, which coalesces a group of scholars from each of the university’s schools and colleges around the themes of the climate and biodiversity crises. In addition, the Rowan Virtual Reality Center (www.rowan.edu/vrcenter) , affiliated and managed by the ECE Department, is a one-of-a-kind advanced visualization facility equipped with a fully immersive CAVE(R) environment, an array of virtual reality and augmented reality head-mounted systems, as well as a custom-designed 7-foot-high by a 40-foot-wide curved wall of screens, ideal for processing and visualizing remote sensing data and images.

Applications must be submitted through Rowan’s online applicant tracking system: https://jobs.rowan.edu/en-us/job/496938/open-rank-tenuretracktenured-faculty-position-remote-sensing

All candidates should submit: 1) a cover letter outlining suitability for the position; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a statement on teaching philosophy (including discussion of the candidate’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and efforts to grow the audience for environmental/sustainability education); 4) a description of research agenda (including potential funding mechanisms); 5) contact information for three professional references. To ensure full consideration, please submit your application by November 30, 2022.

Postdoctoral researcher

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Department: Department of Physics
City: Helsinki
Country: Finland
Contact Person: Anne Virkki
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: University of Helsinki
Application Due Date: Wednesday, October 19 2022

The Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki is now seeking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher to the planetary science research group starting from February 2023 for a fixed-term employment for three years. The postdoctoral researcher will work in a research project entitled Asteroids in the Deep: Characterisation of Sub-Surface of Near-Earth Asteroids the Moon and Mercury using radar observations. The postdoctoral researcher will participate in radar-observation analysis and the development of numerical models to study radar scattering processes in planetary regoliths. The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to participate in teaching and supervision duties at the Department of Physics, with a possibility to enroll in official pedagogical training programs. Previous experience in numerical modeling of electromagnetic scattering or related processes and programming skills using Python and/or Fortran are required. Experience with radar data analysis is preferred but not a requirement.

Planetary Geodesist (GS-12 / GS-13)

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Department: Astrogeology Science Center
City: Flagstaff
State/Province: AZ
Country: USA
Contact Person: Michael Bland
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: U. S. Geological Survey
Application Due Date: Tuesday, March 22 2022

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center is hiring up to two Geodesists (GS-12/13). Our mission is to help humanity understand our Solar System by maximizing the scientific and technical return from planetary missions through scientific research, software development, and the creation of spatial data products and standards. To help us achieve that mission, we seek two geodesists who can develop new capabilities in the fields of digital elevation models, planetary shape, rotation, and orientation, photogrammetric techniques, image matching, and geodetic standards. Job duties include planning and conducting novel geodetic and cartographic analysis, developing digital image processing techniques, designing or modifying bundle adjustment software, maintaining and improving global planetary control networks, and providing guidance to technical staff working on photogrammetric and geodetic production tasks. Applicants must have a bachelor’s or higher degree in geodesy or a related field with additional professional experience. Expertise in the concepts, theories, and principles of photogrammetry, cartography, geodesy, and/or computer vision is expected. Applicants must be US citizens, and a background check is required. This position is located in Flagstaff, AZ. Apply starting March 7th 2022 through USAjobs.gov announcement USGS-SAC-22-11289270-DE-LL (https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/638771100). Closes March 21, 2022. Contact Michael Bland with questions: ([email protected]).

Important notes:

  • Applicants must submit all copies of unofficial transcripts to USAjobs.gov to ensure that the basic education requirement is met.
  • Resumes should include relevant employment or work experience (include month and year) with a statement beneath each describing how that experience meets the qualifications of a GS-12 or GS-13 Geodesist as described in the announcement. 
  • Current or former federal employees should include previous grade levels.
  • All required documents must be submitted prior to the close of the announcement
  • More details regarding the federal hiring process are available in the HELP section of the USAjobs site at https://www.usajobs.gov/Help

Orbital Debris Measurement Engineer

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Department: Orbital Debris Research and Science Operations
City: Houston
State/Province: Texas
Country: USA
Contact Person: Tom Prior
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Jacobs Engineering
Application Due Date: Friday, April 15 2022

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!     

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA’s pursuits in deep space exploration. Jacobs is NASA’s largest engineering solutions provider working together with NASA at centers across the United States. 

** We are actively searching for qualified candidates for this potential opening; however, we do not have assurance at this time when the position will be finalized and opened. Because we have strong reason to believe the position will be approved soon, we are proceeding with identifying qualified candidates and conducting interviews. **

We are looking for an Orbital Debris Measurement Engineer to join our team. Do you have the following skills?

The selected candidate will:

  • Provide data analysis on measurement data in direct support for orbital debris engineering models
  • Participate in experiments meant to improve computer models of the space debris environment, including numerical simulation, and model/tool development and optimization
  • Solve problems in applied physics and engineering, including basic research and algorithm development to support NASA missions
  • Develop, document, maintain and operate computer models and databases of the orbital debris environment
  • Work closely with JETS Orbital Debris Research & Science Operations (ODRSO) colleagues and NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) customers
  • Present work products to customers and counterparts (written & verbal)
  • Support and participate in technical interchange meetings

 

Here’s What You’ll Need:
 

Required Education/Experience/Skills:

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate’s experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

  • Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited school in engineering related field and a minimum of five (5) years direct experience, or Master’s degree and four (4) years of direct experience, or Ph.D. and zero (0) years of related experience.
  • Formal experience with optical or radar data processing and analysis
  • Formal experience in software development/maintenance
  • Experience with statistical analysis of data
  • Experience with orbital mechanics
  • Experience in analyzing data and determining trends, uncertainties, and error sources
  • Experience with FORTRAN, MATLAB, Python, and high level computer programming languages
  • Experience with the Linux/Unix operating system
  • Experience developing, verifying, and validating computer models
  • Must be willing to travel to conferences, radar installations, and impact test facilities occasionally (domestic and international)
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Requisition Preferences:

  • Experience with supporting space situational awareness and space object characterization
  • Direct experience with ground- or space-based radar and optical assets
  • Experience with computational applications, e.g. MatLab or Simulink
  • Work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and possess excellent oral and written skills

Orbital Debris Measurement Scientist

Posted on
Department: Orbital Debris Research and Science Operations
City: Houston
State/Province: Texas
Country: USA
Contact Person: Tom Prior
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Jacobs Engineering
Application Due Date: Friday, April 15 2022

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!     

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA’s pursuits in deep space exploration. Jacobs is NASA’s largest engineering solutions provider working together with NASA at centers across the United States. 

** We are actively searching for qualified candidates for this potential opening; however, we do not have assurance at this time when the position will be finalized and opened. Because we have strong reason to believe the position will be approved soon, we are proceeding with identifying qualified candidates and conducting interviews. **

We are looking for an Orbital Debris Measurement Scientist to join our team. Do you have the following skills?

The selected candidate will:

  • ​Provide data analysis on measurement data in direct support for orbital debris engineering models
  • Participate in experiments meant to improve computer models of the space debris environment, including numerical simulation, and model/tool development and optimization
  • Solve problems in applied physics and engineering, including basic research and algorithm development to support NASA missions
  • Develop, document, maintain and operate computer models and databases of the orbital debris environment
  • Work closely with JETS Orbital Debris Research & Science Operations (ODRSO) colleagues and NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO) customers
  • Present work products to customers and counterparts (written & verbal)
  • Support and participate in technical interchange meetings
  • Perform other duties as required

 

Here’s What You’ll Need:
 

Required Education/Experience/Skills:

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate’s experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

  • Bachelor of Science degree in related field from an accredited school in science related field and a minimum of four (4) years direct experience, or Master’s degree and two (2) years of direct experience, or Ph.D. and zero (0) years of related experience.
  • Experience with orbital mechanics
  • Formal experience with optical or radar data processing and analysis
  • Formal experience in software development/maintenance
  • Experience with statistical analysis of data
  • Experience with orbital mechanics
  • Experience in analyzing data and determining trends, uncertainties, and error sources
  • Experience with FORTRAN, MATLAB, Python, and high level computer programming languages
  • Experience with the Linux/Unix operating system
  • Experience developing, verifying, and validating computer models
  • Must be willing to travel to conferences, radar installations, and impact test facilities occasionally (domestic and international)
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Requisition Preferences:

  • Degree in Physics, Astronomy, or Mathematics
  • Experience with supporting space situational awareness and space object characterization
  • Direct experience with ground- or space-based radar and optical assets
  • Experience with computational applications, e.g. MatLab or Simulink

Postdoctoral Researcher, Science (Visiting) (Radar Studies Fellow)

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Current state: Approved
City: Houston
State/Province: Texas
Country: USA
Contact Person: Cynthia Svambera
Contact Email: [email protected]
Institution: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Application Due Date: Thursday, December 31 2020

The Universities Space Research Association’s Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Planetary Radar Studies. Applicants should have a recent Ph.D. in planetary science, astronomy, physics, geoscience, electrical engineering, or a related field.

The successful candidate will join Drs. Patrick A. Taylor and Edgard G. Rivera-Valentín in using ground-based planetary radar observations to characterize near-Earth objects and other planetary bodies (e.g., the Moon, Mercury, and Mars). The LPI is a partner of the Arecibo Observatory planetary radar group and closely collaborates with other facilities, including the Goldstone Solar System Radar and the Green Bank Observatory. The successful candidate will work alongside the radar team to conduct detailed studies of near-Earth objects and planetary surfaces via radar observations, data analysis, and modeling. Additionally, the successful candidate is expected to carry out an independent research program and contribute to public engagement events at the LPI and, furthermore, will be encouraged to propose for external funding and participate in grant review panels and analysis/assessment groups.

At the LPI, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to interact with scientists of many specialties (see www.lpi.usra.edu) including scientists from the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division of the NASA Johnson Space Center. Additionally, the applicant will have the opportunity to participate in the development of the LPI’s Planetary Radar Investigation, Demonstration, and Exploration (PRIDE) laboratory for conducting controlled radar-scattering experiments. 

Required expertise includes: experience in numerical and statistical techniques, proficiency in a common astronomy programming language (e.g., IDL, MATLAB, Python), and demonstrated knowledge of planetary radar studies. Direct experience with radar observations and techniques is strongly desired, but not required. Complementary experience with astronomical/Solar System observations (e.g., optical or infrared), small-body geophysics, or astronomical instrumentation is preferred, but not required.

The position is for two years with a possible one-year extension. The candidate must be able to pass a government background investigation. Due to security restrictions, citizens of U.S. State Department Designated Countries (see link under “ECP Notices” at http://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/nasaecp/) are not eligible.

Interested applicants should apply to the posting at USRA Careers; application material submitted outside of this platform will not be considered. The required application material includes: (1) cover letter evidencing the qualifications of the applicant to this position, (2) curriculum vitae with list of publications, (3) two- to three-page statement of research interests and plans describing the candidate’s expected independent research program at the LPI, and (4) list of at least three professional references. Application material should be uploaded as a single document. Review of candidates will begin on February 24, 2019; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Questions can be addressed to Dr. Patrick A. Taylor.