Post-Doctoral Researcher, School of Chemistry and Environmental Research Institute

Registration website

Institution: University College Cork
Vacancy Category: Research
Salary From: €38 630.00
Salary To:
€45 942.00
Contract Type: Temporary
Vacancy closing date: 6 Aug, 2021

Subject / Area: Biological SciencesPhysical and Environmental Sciences

Position summary

A position is available for a Post-Doctoral Researcher with a background in atmospheric chemistry or physics to investigate gas-phase radical species in a unique state-of-the-art atmospheric simulation chamber facility.

Air quality and climate change are among the biggest societal challenges that we face today.  Atmospheric free radicals, particularly hydroxyl (•OH) and nitrate (•NO3), are the drivers of chemical processes that determine atmospheric composition and thus influence local and global air quality and climate.  Atmospheric radicals influence greenhouse gas lifetimes (climate change), the formation of atmospheric acids (acid rain) and the production of ground-level ozone and secondary organic aerosols (photochemical smog, regional air quality) which affects the health of humans, animals and plants.  This Post-Doctoral Research Assistant position is part of a new European project called RADICAL (https://radical-air.eu/), which is focused on developing the science and technology to electrically detect and quantify atmospheric radicals using next-generation technologies.  The candidate will work with a team of scientists in UCC and several other European institutes.

This research project is funded by the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme, co-ordinated by researchers in the Materials Chemistry and Analysis Group (MCAG), Prof. Justin Holmes and Dr Subhajit Biswas, in collaboration with the Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC), Prof. John Wenger and Dr Stig Hellebust. 

The researcher will be based in the Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry (CRAC), which is a key research centre within the Environmental Research Institute (https://www.ucc.ie/en/eri/) at University College Cork. The CRAC (https://www.ucc.ie/en/crac/) has been a European leader in atmospheric chemistry research for over two decades and performs a wide-range of research activities which encompass, laboratory, field and modelling studies related to atmospheric chemistry, air quality and climate. The candidate will also work closely with the Materials Chemistry and Analysis Group (MCAG), led by Prof. Justin Holmes. The MCAG ( https://www.ucc.ie/en/mcag/) performs research into new materials for electronic, energy, environmental and catalytic applications, addressing key challenges in nanoscale science and sustainability. The group use a diverse range of techniques to grow, assemble, modify and characterise materials, including cutting-edge nanofabrication, microscopy and spectroscopic approaches.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated person with a high level of initiative, capable of working independently and within a team. The candidate should have fluent English and excellent communication, organization, planning and interpersonal skills.  The project involves regular communication and co-operation with stakeholders.

Ideally, the candidate will have experience in one or more of the following areas:

-  spectroscopic methods for detection of gas-phase species

-  mass spectrometry techniques used in atmospheric science, such as chemical ionization mass spectrometry, aerosol mass spectrometry etc.

-  multivariate statistics, Chemometrics or machine learning techniques

-  air quality monitoring and associated data analysis

-  designing and/or conducting atmospheric simulation chamber experiments

-  gas or liquid sensors.

 

Project Title: Simulation Chamber studies of atmospheric radicals in the gas phase

Post Duration: 36 Months

Salary: €38,630 - €45,942 p.a. (IUA Salary Scale)

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/. Job ID: 047991.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor John Wenger, Email Address: [email protected], Telephone: +353 (0) 87 2127531.

Application Instructions: 

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to [email protected], quoting the job-title and project name.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Friday, 6 August 2021.

No late applications will be accepted.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector