THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:  DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The position is located in the Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.  The incumbent will be involved in one or more of the following research areas: 1) validate and refine algorithms and models for estimating land surface states and fluxes using various remote sensing methods in combination with conventional and operational meteorological forcing data, 2) determine the spatial scaling (point, network, and sensor footprint) relationships of soil moisture, surface temperature and other hydrologic states and resulting impact of land surface model predicted fluxes, 3) determine fundamental linkages between the land surface hydrologic processes and the atmospheric boundary layer through observational data and atmospheric model simulations, and 4) develop methods, including data assimilation, for incorporating soil moisture and surface temperature observations in hydrologic and agricultural applications such as routine large area evapotranspiration monitoring and drought assessment.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Ph.D. in hydrology, meteorology, atmospheric science, biometeorology or closely related field is required.  Experience with soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer modeling and satellite image processing is desirable.  The incumbent should be knowledgeable in several of the following areas:  radiative transfer modeling, micro and macro meteorology, atmospheric boundary layer processes, environmental biophysics, soil physics, photosynthesis, and remote sensing of land surfaces.

CITIZENSHIP RESTRICTIONS APPLY:  Applicants must clearly indicate in their resume/CV their country of citizenship.  To be employed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate with ARS, applicants must be citizen from a country listed on the following link:  http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/hrd/jobs/VISA/Countries.htm

INFORMATION ON APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS is available at:  http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/divisions/hrd/hrdhomepage/vacancy/pd962.html

INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS is available at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: January 31, 2009

FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT:

Dr. William Kustas
USDA-ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab
Building 007, Room 104, BARC-West
Beltsville, MD 20705
Phone: 301-504-8498
Fax: 301-504-8931
Email:  Bill.Kustas@ars.usda.gov