Laboratory Program Coordinator:
Erica M. Deschak-Joya
Human Resources Specialist
4555 Overlook Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20375
Erica.M.Deschak-Joya.civ@us.navy.mil
Laboratory address:
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
1005 Balch Boulevard
Stennis Space Center, Mississippi 39529
public.affairs@nrlssc.navy.mil
As the Navy’s full-spectrum corporate laboratory, the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducts a broadly based, multidisciplinary program of scientific research and advanced technological development directed toward maritime applications of new and improved materials; techniques; equipment; systems; ocean, atmospheric, and space sciences; and related technologies. Specific leadership responsibilities and expertise are maintained in the following areas: Primary in-house research in the physical, engineering, space and environmental sciences; Broadly based exploratory and advanced development programs in response to identified and anticipated Navy needs; Broad multidisciplinary support to the Naval Warfare Centers; Space systems technology, development, and support.
NRL will accept applications from US citizens only.
NRL SSC houses the Ocean Sciences Division and the Acoustics Simulation, Measurements, and Tactics Branch of the Acoustics Division.
The Ocean Sciences Division conducts basic and applied research in description and modeling of biological, physical, and dynamical processes in open ocean, regional, and littoral areas; in exploitation of satellite, airborne, and in situ sensors for environmental characterization; and in investigation and application of microbial processes to Navy problems. The oceanographic research is both theoretical and experimental in nature and is focused on understanding and modeling ocean, coastal, and littoral area hydro/thermodynamics, circulation, waves, ice dynamics, air–sea exchange, optics, and small and microscale processes. Analytical methods and algorithms are developed to provide quantitative retrieval of geophysical parameters of Navy interest from state-of-the-art sensor systems. The Division work includes analysis of biological processes that mediate and control optical properties of the oceans, coastal, and littoral regions, and microbially induced corrosion/metal–microbe interaction. The Division programs are designed to be responsive to and to anticipate Naval needs. Transition of Division products to the DoD, Navy systems developers, operational Navy, and civilian (dual use) programs is a primary goal. The Division’s programs are coordinated and interactive with other NRL programs and activities, ONR’s research programs, and other government agencies involved in oceanographic activities. The Division also collaborates and cooperates with scientists from the academic community and other U.S. and foreign laboratories.
Focus Areas
- Ocean Dynamics and Prediction
- Ocean Data Assimilation
- Coupled Environmental Models
- Physical Oceanographic Processes
- Bio-optical Modeling
- Ocean Lidar Applications
- Marine Geology
- Marine Geophysics
- Geospational Sciences and Technology
- Marine Related In Situ and Laboratory Sensors
Major Research Capabilities and Facilities
- Towed sensor and advanced microstructure profiler systems for studying upper ocean fine and micro-structure
- Integrated absorption cavity and optical profiler systems for studying ocean optical characteristics
- Self-contained bottom-mounted upward-looking acoustic profilers for measuring ocean variability
- Acoustic Doppler profiler for determining ocean currents while under way
- Satellite receiving stations for AVHRR, MODIS, DMSP, and JPASS ocean color processing facility
- Environmental scanning electron microscope, confocal laser scanning microscope, and Inspect S low vacuum scanning electron microscope for detailed studies of biocorrosion in naval materials
- Slocum Electric Gliders for performing wide-area ocean surveys of temperature, salinity, and optical characteristics
- Real-time Ocean Observations and Forecast Facility for monitoring and tracking of ocean physical and bio-optical conditions
The Acoustics Division conducts basic and applied research addressing the physics of acoustic signal generation, propagation, scatter, and detection with the objective of improving the strategic and tactical capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps in the ocean and land operational environment.
The Division’s scientists and engineers perform collaborative research with scientists affiliated with national and international academic, private, and governmental research organizations.
Acoustics research spans classical and quantum physics, signal processing, the impact of fluid dynamics on the oceans sound speed field [speed at which sound travels underwater], the propagation and scatter of acoustic signals in the ocean and land environments, structural and physical acoustics including the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanotechnology based sensors, and the application of networked unmanned underwater vehicles and associated sensors to the Navy’s Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW); Mine Countermeasures (MCM); and Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The Acoustic Simulation, Measurements, and Tactics Branch
- Ocean acoustic propagation and scattering models
- Fleet application acoustic models
- High-frequency seafloor and ocean acoustic measurements
- Riverine acoustics
- Distributed sensing networks
- Incorporating uncertainty in predictive models
- Tactical acoustic simulations and databases
- Warfare effectiveness studies and optimization
- Environmental assessment and planning tools