Understanding and forecasting wildfire emissions impacts with modeling and data assimilation

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

This research opportunity (RO) seeks proposals that investigate the use of chemical transport models (CTMs) together with data assimilation (DA) of in situ and/or profiler measurements and remote/satellite retrievals with 'top-down' emissions estimation to better understand and forecast the impacts of wildfire emissions on air quality, human health, and the environment. Proposals should address one or more of the following research areas:

• How to use in situ and/or remote observations to better understand and improve: wildfire emissions estimates, wildfire emissions transport, interaction of wildfire emissions and local/regional air quality, and/or impacts of wildfire emissions on air quality, human health, and the environment;
• Theory-based improvements to the quantification of wildfire emissions in global/regional CTMs;
• 'Top-down' emissions estimation methods for dynamic emissions estimation in coupled global/regional air quality forecast/assimilation systems;
• Application of chemical data assimilation in coupled global/regional air quality forecast/assimilation systems with dynamic emissions estimation;
• Increasing the computational and storage efficiency for chemical data assimilation in coupled global/regional forecast/assimilation systems;
• Increasing the computational and storage efficiency for 'top-down' emissions estimation in coupled global/regional forecast/assimilation systems.

Requirements

A Doctoral Degree is required.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a strong background in atmospheric science, environmental science, or related fields. Experience with chemical transport models, data assimilation techniques, and remote sensing is preferred.

Skills

Strong skills in programming (Python, C++, etc.), data analysis, and scientific writing are essential. Knowledge of air quality modeling and wildfire science is beneficial.

Benefits

The NPP provides a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $90,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

Schedule

The fellowship is a one- to three-year commitment, with a start date between October 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026.