Advancing Imaging Spectroscopy Measurements by EMIT on the International Space Station

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

13d•Onsite

About The Position

NASA's EMIT Instrument on the International Space Station is an advanced visible-shortwave infrared imaging spectrometer providing state of the art radiance, reflectance, and advanced data products to a growing user community. Since its launch in 2022, the instrument has acquired hundreds of thousands of images spanning terrestrial and coastal regions on Earth between +/- 52 degrees latitude. Continual advances in calibration, radiative transfer modeling, and inversion algorithms have refined these products for diverse science and applications communities. Uses include agriculture and natural resources, hydrology and water quality, geology and prospecting, atmospheric studies, and more. By providing a near-global dataset of solar reflectance data at 60 m sampling, EMIT provides the power of field-grade spectroscopy at a human scale which is useful for local decisions. The postdoctoral researcher will participate on the EMIT core team to improve EMIT data products for the next mission phase and support of the growing science community. Relevant studies span the whole range of EMIT mission activities, including, but not limited to: - Automation of instrument calibration maintenance, including in-flight radiometric calibration from invariant surfaces; - Improvements in atmospheric correction to use refined spectral calibration understanding; - Radiative transfer modeling and inversion to support novel application areas in hydrology and aquatic studies; - Assessment of open source radiative transfer models (ERADIATE, ARTS, etc.) for use on EMIT data; - Investigations to study, validate, and/or refine existing EMIT products, such as global maps of mineral composition, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic vegetation fraction; - Investigations using novel EMIT datasets such as spectroscopic time series; EMIT is an interdisciplinary team, with a wide range of backgrounds ranging from physics to mathematics, to field science. Rather than prescribe specific qualifications, we anticipate forming a research plan that matches mission needs with the specific expertise and interests of the individual.

Requirements

PhD
Demonstrated track record of publication using remote sensing or imaging spectroscopy data.
Technical ability including a strong foundation in the mathematical and computer science principles of remote measurement.
The ability to work with a larger research and development team, contributing to common code and manuscripts.
Creativity and initiative in initiating and developing new research directions.

Responsibilities

Participate on the EMIT core team to improve EMIT data products for the next mission phase and support of the growing science community.
Automation of instrument calibration maintenance, including in-flight radiometric calibration from invariant surfaces.
Improvements in atmospheric correction to use refined spectral calibration understanding.
Radiative transfer modeling and inversion to support novel application areas in hydrology and aquatic studies.
Assessment of open source radiative transfer models (ERADIATE, ARTS, etc.) for use on EMIT data.
Investigations to study, validate, and/or refine existing EMIT products, such as global maps of mineral composition, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic vegetation fraction.
Investigations using novel EMIT datasets such as spectroscopic time series.
Carry out research in collaboration with the JPL advisor, resulting in publications in the open literature.