Remote sensing of functional biodiversity

OrganizationNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Reference Code0182-NPP-MAR26-JPL-EarthSciHow To ApplyAll applications must be submitted in Zintellect. Please visit the NASA Postdoctoral Program website for application instructions and requirements: How to Apply | NASA Postdoctoral Program (orau.org). A complete application to the NASA Postdoctoral Program includes:Research proposalThree letters of recommendationOfficial doctoral transcript documentsApplication Deadline4/2/2026 6:00:59 PM Eastern Time ZoneDescriptionThe 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.We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join a new research group focused on integrating remote sensing with ecosystem modeling, biogeography and biodiversity science. Imaging spectroscopy presents a new window on terrestrial ecosystem function and biodiversity, allowing remote sensing to progress from studying greenness to observing a key dimension of diversity on planet earth. New observations span the California drought and cover nearly half the state, Hawaii, India and many other regions and new instruments from the US and Japan will provide global access. The successful applicant will have a background in ecology or geophysics, strong mathematical and statistical skills, and an interest in being on the ground floor of a new space-based observable. Research will include basic discovery science, methods development for new observables and support for new space missions.The team includes several JPL scientists, a group of postdocs with diverse backgrounds and several university collaborators.ReferencesJetz W, Cavender-Bares J, Pavlick R, Schimel D, Davis FW, Asner GP, Guralnick R, Kattge J, Latimer AM, Moorcroft P, Schaepman ME. Monitoring plant functional diversity from space. Nature Plants. 2016 Mar 2;2:16024.Saatchi, S., Mascaro, J., Xu, L., Keller, M., Yang Y., Duffy, P., Espírito"Santo, F., Baccini, A., Chambers, J. and Schimel, D., 2015. Seeing the forest beyond the trees. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 24(5), pp.606-610.Schimel, D., Pavlick, R., Fisher, J.B., Asner, G.P., Saatchi, S., Townsend, P., Miller, C., Frankenberg, C., Hibbard, K. and Cox, P., 2015. Observing terrestrial ecosystems and the carbon cycle from space. Global change biology, 21(5), pp.1762-1776.Schimel, D.S., G.P. Asner and P. Moorcroft. 2013. Observing changing biodiversity in the Anthropocene. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 11: 129–137LocationJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CaliforniaField of ScienceEarth ScienceAdvisorsDavid SchimelDavid.Schimel@jpl.nasa.gov626-773-0943EligibilityApplications 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.Eligibility is currently open to:U.S. CitizensU.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa statusApplicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending statusQuestionsPlease email npp@orau.orgPoint of ContactMikealaEligibility RequirementsDegree: Doctoral Degree.J-18808-Ljbffr