The Passive Microwave Sensing section of NRL’s Remote Sensing Division has a well-established research focus on developing, prototyping, and applying advanced digital signal processing and RF hardware techniques for combined active/passive remote sensing of the ocean and cryosphere. The development of novel processing algorithms, hands-on laboratory prototyping, and experimental hardware testing are vital tools for this research, forming the physical and theoretical basis for new remote sensing capabilities and future operational systems. This work is validated through laboratory instrumentation testing, RF prototyping, the careful analysis of data from airborne and spaceborne radar/radiometer systems (including microwave radiometers, synthetic aperture radar, altimeters, and reflectometers), and comparison with in-situ measurements. Simulation and modeling tools are continually leveraged, modified, and optimized for this work, including analytical rough surface scattering, radiative transfer simulations, and RF/electromagnetic co-simulation.

This research effort seeks to devise, prototype, and leverage new hardware configurations and signal processing techniques to better retrieve key characteristics of the ocean and cryosphere. Specific subjects of interest include: (1) Advanced algorithm development and hardware-in-the-loop emulation for battlespace characterization and clutter suppression in complex ocean and sea ice environments. (2) Innovative techniques for estimating ocean surface characteristics, such as wave spectra, surface currents, and wind speed, from radar and radiometer data, utilizing experimental laboratory testing and prototyping. (3) The application of sophisticated signal/image processing and microwave laboratory bench-top prototyping for measuring oceanographic and/or cryospheric parameters. (4) The design, assembly, and laboratory testing of microwave/RF receiver front-ends, digital back-ends, or antenna feeds to support novel active/passive remote sensing concepts. (5) The transition of newly developed algorithms and prototype designs to operational use.

Candidates with a background in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or a related field are encouraged to apply. Experience in digital signal processing, RF/microwave laboratory instrumentation (including vector network analyzers and spectrum analyzers), hardware prototyping, statistical analysis, and remote sensing is highly desirable.

Relevant publications:

1. J. T.  Johnson, J. V. Toporkov, P. A. Hwang, and J. D. Ouellette, “Efficient calculation of the Kirchhoff integral for predicting the bistatic normalized radar cross section of ocean-like surfaces,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 61, 2023. DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2023.3268619.

2. J. D. Ouellette, et al. “Sea surface scattering observations and predictions using satellite-based S-band signals-of-opportunity,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 61, 2023. DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2023.3300269.

3. J. D. Ouellette, T. P. Himani, E. M. Twarog, and L. Li, “Rough surface scattering model comparisons for radar altimetry of sea ice,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 60, 2021. DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2021.3077394.

Remote sensing; radar; relectometry; oceanography; GNSS-R; rough surface scattering; radiative transfer; prototyping

citizenship

Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

level

Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Additional Benefits

relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.