PVL Description for Researcher Series (Ocean Color)

Degree and area of specialization: M.S. required, Ph.D. degree preferred in Atmospheric Science, Physics or related science with background knowledge in remote sensing and radiative transfer forward models.

Minimum number of years and type of relevant work experience:  Experience in satellite remote sensing, particularly in the field of ocean color and water leaving radiance retrievals. Familiarity with MODIS and/or SeaWIFS data.  Experience with the Hydrolight radiative transfer model desirable.  Programming skills in MatLab or IDL, Fortran and C languages.  Experience with scientific satellite data processing algorithms such as MODIS SST, atmospheric correction, and multiple spectral and high spectral resolution radiative modeling of surface, clouds and absorption gases.

Principal Duties

The University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) is a research and development center with an international reputation for developing instrumentation for both terrestrial and space flight applications. SSEC’s mission includes the support of faculty and academic staff led research, development, fabrication and implementation of space flight experiments, as well as the development of new meteorological research tools for national and international use.

This position is located in the CIMSS MODIS products Operational Area. The candidate will work in a small research team using MODIS reflectance band data to develop a global suspended sediment concentration retrieval for coastal case-2 waters. The candidate will also develop an atmospheric scattering and absorption correction radiative transfer model and a solar illumination model based on the existing body of research and original work to isolate the water leaving radiance in the MODIS observations. The candidate will be responsible for implementing these products in the NASA EOS MODIS/AIRS Direct Broadcast Package (IMAPP) and future NOAA NPP/NPOESS software packages (IPOPP) for distribution to Direct Broadcast sites around the world. We anticipate that this position will grow into a science leadership position in remote sensing of water bodies at SSEC/CIMSS. The position requires the ability to work creatively and independently. The candidate will be expected to write professional journal articles and make technical presentations at national and international scientific meetings.