Space Remote Sensing/Data Science/Lightning Physics Graduate Research Assistant - Spring 2027 - SEAL
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Summary
Lightning is a remarkable phenomenon that is simultaneously relatable to everyone and consequential for public safety and global security. We are seeking a GTRI Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) to participate in a study into lightning that maintains electrical contact with the ground over long periods of time – what we refer to as “Continuing Current” and its time-dependent behavior. This study will leverage space-based lightning observations collected by multiple satellites and ground-based radio frequency sensors to understand where and how the signals generated by hazardous lightning flashes arise. This position is for one semester (Spring 2027) of a half-time (50%) graduate assistantship.
Job description
Required Minimum Qualifications
- Pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD at Georgia Tech in Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field
- Must be enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours)
- Must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
- Commit to 13-20 hours of work per week
Preferred Qualifications
- Proficient in either Python (preferred) or Matlab
- Ability to work with large datasets (terabyte-scale) including both case plotting and statistics generation
- Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas
- Ability to quickly identify and learn new modules and datasets (often hdf5 of NetCDF)
- Self-motivated with scientific curiosity
Hours per Week
13–20 hours per week
U.S. Citizenship Requirements
Due to our research contracts with the US federal government, candidates for this position are required to be US Citizens.
Clearance Type Required
None
Housing and Relocation
Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.
Requirements
- Pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD at Georgia Tech in Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field
- Must be enrolled full-time (12+ credit hours)
- Must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
- Commit to 13-20 hours of work per week
- Proficient in either Python (preferred) or Matlab
- Ability to work with large datasets (terabyte-scale) including both case plotting and statistics generation
- Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas
- Ability to quickly identify and learn new modules and datasets (often hdf5 of NetCDF)
- Self-motivated with scientific curiosity
- U.S. Citizenship required
Company overview
The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology, serving as one of the nation's premier university-affiliated research centers. Established in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has evolved into a comprehensive research organization that conducts cutting-edge applied research across multiple domains including defense systems, cybersecurity, telecommunications, energy systems, and biomedical engineering. With a workforce of over 2,000 researchers, engineers, and support staff, GTRI operates numerous specialized research laboratories and collaborates extensively with government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions. The institute is particularly renowned for its work in radar systems, electronic warfare, and advanced communications technologies, contributing significantly to national security and technological innovation. GTRI's research portfolio spans both classified and unclassified projects, with a strong emphasis on translating fundamental research into practical solutions that address complex real-world challenges across defense, commercial, and public sectors.