Post-Doctoral Statistician -Nasa Water Quality Analyses

Science Systems and Applications, Inc. seeks a statistician to support the validation and performance assessment of remotely sensed metrics of water quality at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). This is a full-time post-doctoral fellow position. The individual will lead efforts to establish methodologies and processes for evaluating satellite biogeophysical retrievals of water quality parameters (among others) and executing quantitative analyses of these data records (for example, robust trend detection). The initial focus will be on freshwater systems in collaboration with other government agencies at NASA. The individual will contribute through both independent and collaborative research. Specific duties include, but are not limited to: (1) developing methods and metrics for assessing and comparing the performances of approaches that retrieve metrices of water quality, as well as other aquatic and (potentially) atmospheric variables; (2) enhancing statistical methods used in remote sensing algorithm development; (3) developing and executing processes for robust statistical analysis of large satellite datasets; (4) ensuring the methods and processes that support the above remain sufficiently portable to support other activities; (5) developing the methods and processes that support the above in open-source code and/or platforms to be shared with collaborators, end-users, and community stakeholders; (6) communicating results with colleagues and through presentations at relevant conferences; and (7) publication of methods and processes in peer-reviewed literature. The individual will work most directly with NASA’s Team Lead, as well as with interagency collaborators on that Project.

This is a one-year (in-person preferred) position located at GSFC in Greenbelt, MD. Potential position extension (1-2 years) is contingent on funding. Flexible start date after March 1, 2024.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in statistics or equivalent mathematical discipline, data science, computational biology, or related discipline and 5 years experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in Python or equivalent software;
• Excellent interpersonal, troubleshooting, and communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
• Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed literature.
• Permanent Resident or US Citizen required.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in analysis and interpretation of large data sets;
• Experience in comparative analyses;

EOE, including disability/vets

Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.