Instrument development for stratospheric composition

Reference Code: 0342-NPP-NOV26-JPL-EarthSci

Application Deadline: November 1, 2026, 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

About the Role

This research opportunity focuses on the development of microwave limb sounding instruments for stratospheric science, with a strong emphasis on laboratory technology demonstrations designed for integration into ongoing and future NASA field campaigns. We are seeking postdoctoral candidates with a strong background in laboratory instrumentation, RF engineering, signal processing, or related fields who are eager to contribute to cutting-edge, science-driven research.

The successful candidate will play a dual role: contributing to the design, implementation, and optimization of current and next-generation microwave limb sounding systems, while also using the resulting measurements to investigate variability in upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UTLS) ozone, water vapor, and carbon monoxide, advancing our understanding of atmospheric composition and dynamics.

Field of Science: Earth Science

Advisors

• Luis Millan Valle – lmillan@jpl.nasa.gov – (626) 899-8503
• Frank Winiberg – frank.winiberg@jpl.nasa.gov – (818) 393-3279

Eligibility Requirements

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
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with:
  • a valid EAD card and
  • I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

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: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Qualifications

• Doctoral Degree