Goddard Earth Sciences & Technology Center Staff

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY
GODDARD EARTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (GEST) CENTER

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE POSITION

Subject to funding approval, the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center (GEST) will make Research Faculty appointments at the Research Associate, Assistant Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist, and Senior Research Scientist levels as commensurate with experience. GEST is a Cooperative Agreement between the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to collaborate in research programs in the Earth, Information, and Instrumentation sciences. GEST is a Consortium whose members include UMBC, Hampton University, Howard University, and Caelum Research Corporation. Positions will generally be located either at GSFC or at the offices of one of the consortium members. More than one candidate may be chosen for some positions. All candidates must have degrees in an appropriate physical discipline and a demonstrated research record in accordance with the specific qualifications listed for the following position:

A post-doctoral Research Associate position is available through the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology (GEST) Center. The successful candidate will be posted to work at the NASA GSFC in Greenbelt.

We seek a Research Associate who will be focused on NASA's Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission. This is the first of a series of Earth Science Decadal Survey missions and is scheduled for launch in 2013. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is developing the SMAP microwave (1.4-GHz) radiometer spaceflight hardware and ground processing software. The GEST scientist will work on a collaborative team of GSFC civil servants and contractors developing the radiometer. Specifically, the effort includes research and development of pre-launch and post-launch calibration theoretical bases, plans and activities, physical standards, and data reduction. Research results will be presented at project meetings and relevant scientific meetings, and published in refereed journals.

Requirements: The position requires a Ph.D. in in electrical engineering, physics, or related field. Course work in the following areas: applied electromagnetics (microwave engineering, microwave remote sensing, antennas, EM wave propagation, and/or satellite or microwave communications); probability and statistics, random or stochastic processes, and/or detection and estimation theory. Graduate research experience with an experimental emphasis in calibration of microwave radiometers is necessary. Hands-on experience with RF and microwave test equipment is desired. Automated test experience is a plus. MATLAB programming skills are required. Note: Selection is contingent upon obtaining Goddard security clearance.

For best consideration, submit a cover letter (indicating position # 555-109-382) a complete curriculum vitae, home address, visa status (if applicable) and names and telephone numbers of three references by August 20, 2009 (application materials for this position will be accepted until position is filled) to: Danita Eichenlaub, Acting Director, GEST/JCET, 5523 Research Park Drive, Suite 320, Baltimore, Maryland 21228 or by email to Applications_GEST_JCET@umbc.edu. GEST partners are Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employers.