Analysis of MTG-I1 / -S1 data to study atmospheric chemical pollution by lightning

Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA - CSIC); Salamanca; Presencial; EUR 30.000 - 50.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

El Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía busca un candidato para una posición de doctorado en el grupo TRAPPA. Esta investigación se centra en fenómenos atmosféricos y el papel de la electricidad en el medio ambiente, usando datos de satélites y modelado. Se ofrece un contrato a tiempo completo durante 3 años con cobertura de seguridad social.

Servicios

Cobertura completa de seguridad social

Opción de extensión de 1 año

Formación

• Máster requerido en Física, Matemáticas Aplicadas o Meteorología.
• Experiencia previa relevante en análisis de datos es altamente valorada.
• Excelencia académica demostrada es esencial.

Responsabilidades

• Desarrollar métodos para cuantificar los óxidos de nitrógeno producidos por rayos.
• Investigar el papel químico de los rayos y descargas corona en la atmósfera.

Conocimientos

Programación en Python

Programación en Fortran

Análisis de datos

Interés en modelado atmosférico

Inglés (C1)

Educación

Máster en Física

Máster en Matemáticas Aplicadas

Máster en Meteorología

Descripción del empleo

Organisation / Company Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA - CSIC) Department Solar System Research Field Physics » Applied physics Mathematics » Applied mathematics Computer science » Programming Computer science » Database management Environmental science » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Undergraduate Positions Country Spain Application Deadline 10 Jul 2025 - 23 : 00 (Europe / Madrid) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 37.5 Offer Starting Date 16 Sep 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

We announce one PhD (doctoral) position within the TRansient Plasmas in Planetary Atmospheres (TRAPPA) group ( ) at the IAA - CSIC ( ) in Granada (Spain).

This PhD position is to investigate atmospheric electricity phenomena in the new era of geostationary lightning detection, focussing on the chemical role of lightning in the atmosphere.

The candidate will combine optical measurements of lightning and clouds reported by, respectively, the Lightning Imager (LI) and the Flexible Combined Imager (FCI), onboard the new Meteosat Third Generation (MTG-Imager 1) , ground-based lightning measurements from VLF / LF lightning networks and Lightning Mapping Arrays (LMA) , and chemical measurements from several instruments onboard the MTG-Sounder 1 , such as the, the Infrared Sounder (IRS) and the high-resolution Ultraviolet–Visible–Near-Infrared (UVN) sounder. In addition, the candidate will also use the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) to investigate the physical and chemical processes associated with these measurements and their regional / global impact on the atmospheric chemistry.

The candidate's research will combine modeling tools with space- and ground-based measurements to investigate regional / global atmospheric chemical pollution. Use of data from the Atmospheric Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM) succesfully launched April 2, 2018 and installed at the Insternational Space Station (ISS) will also be needed. ASIM is a space mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) in which Spain has a significant participation.

We offer a fulltime employment as a PhD (doctoral) student for 3 years (with possible extension of 1 year) . The starting date of the contract is negotiable but ideally it would be September 16, 2025 . The PhD candidate to be recruited by our group will be employed with full social security coverage.

Where to apply

E-mail

Requirements

Research Field Physics » Computational physics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Mathematics » Applied mathematics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Environmental science » Global change Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills / Qualifications

MASTER degree in physics, applied mathematics and / or meteorology and demonstrate a high level of accomplishment and excellence in her / his previous academic experience.

• The candidate should have very goodprogramming (Python, Fortran) and mathematical skills and high interest in data analysis . In addition, suitable candidates for this position are expected to have an excellent command of English and good academic writing and presentation skills .In the selection process, special consideration will be given to candidates with some demonstrable experience with data analysis.
• Some experience in the scientific exploitation of satellite measurements will be positively considered.
• Some experience in atmospheric transport and chemistry modeling will be positively considered.
• We seek a flexible, highly motivated and proactive person .
• Very good written and spoken English is essential ( at C1 level ).

Specific Requirements

The most significant part of this PhD (doctoral) project will consist of the analysis of Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) data recorded by the instruments Lightning Imager (LI), Flexible Combined Instrument (FCI) of MTG-I1 andthe Infrared Sounder (IRS) and the high-resolution Ultraviolet–Visible–Near-Infrared (UVN) of MTG-S1.

The principal goal of this PhD project is to perform scientific data analysis able to extract new physical / chemical correlations between lightning activity and regional / global chemical pollution due to lightning .

TASKS :

• Develop new methods to quantify the lightning-produced nitrogen oxides by using cloud and chemical measurements from the MTG instruments.
• Investigate the chemical role of lightning and corona discharges in the atmosphere at a regional scale by using the WRF model in combination with ground and space-based measurements.

Research Field Physics » Computational physicsMathematics » Applied mathematicsEnvironmental science » Global change Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

We offer a fulltime employment as a PhD (doctoral) student for 3 years (with possible extension of 1 year) . The starting date of the contract is negotiable but ideally it would be September 16, 2025 . The PhD candidate to be recruited by our group will be employed with full social security coverage .

The gross salary is 1600 EUR per month (with 14 annual payments) .Note that living expenses in Granada are smaller than in other parts of Spain.

The PhD candidate to be recruited by our group will be employed with full social security coverage (complete health insurance included) .

Eligibility criteria

IMPORTANT : If you are interested but do not have yet your master (but plan to have by early September 2025 ) you can still apply. However , note that, in order to be hired, you need to be registered (by early September 2025) as a doctoral student of the University of Granada, Spain.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION : July 10, 2025

Selection process

Candidate applications will be collected until July 10, 2025. A final decision will be taken and communicated to the candidate before the end of July 2025.

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