Groundbreaking Lightning and Atmospheric Electricity Research

About the program

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides one- to three-year fellowships to highly-talented scientists to engage in NASA research projects at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), NASA Headquarters, or a NASA-affiliated research institute. Fellowships are competitive and focus on advancing NASA's missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description

At MSFC, researchers have developed and deployed various atmospheric electricity instruments, including the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). They have also conducted groundbreaking research on topics such as thunderstorm electrification, lightning impacts on atmospheric composition, variability of the global electric circuit, transient luminous events (TLEs), physical relationships between optical and radio-frequency (RF) emissions by lightning, calibration/validation of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), and more.

Available NPP opportunities

• Analysis of field campaign data to study the physical characteristics of thunderstorms and lightning associated with gamma-ray glows and flashes.
• Development of next-generation lightning detection techniques and instruments for fundamental improvements in global and/or regional lightning mapping.
• Using ground- and space-based TLE and lightning detection systems to study the physical coupling of tropospheric thunderstorms to electrodynamic phenomena in the upper atmosphere.
• Using microwave remote sensing, lightning observations, and/or numerical modeling to study severe thunderstorms and their relationship to tropical cyclone rapid intensification and diurnal cycles.
• Developing and evaluating cutting-edge parameterizations of thunderstorm electrification and lightning within cloud-resolving numerical models, including forward modeling of subsequent light scattering within the cloud and cloud-top optical output.
• Improving understanding of the production of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by lightning and its implications for climate, air quality, and weather, particularly in relation to the National Climate Assessment (NCA).

Location

Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Alabama

Field of Science

Earth Science

Advisors

• Dr. Timothy Lang
  timothy.j.lang@nasa.gov
  (256) 961-7861
• Andrew L Molthan
  andrew.molthan@nasa.gov
  (256) 961-7474
• Mason Quick
  mason.quick@nasa.gov
  (256) 961-7584
• Patrick Gatlin
  patrick.gatlin@nasa.gov
  (256) 961-7910
• Patrick Duran
  patrick.t.duran@nasa.gov
  (904) 207-4447

Eligibility

• U.S. Citizens
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with valid EAD card and I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Contact

For questions about this opportunity, please email npp@orau.org.