CIRES / NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Associate Scientist in Atmospheric Instrumentation and

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder invites applications for an Associate Scientist in atmospheric instrumentation and balloon operations within NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory in Boulder, CO. The successful candidate will support the B2SAP balloon program and work on in-situ measurements of stratospheric aerosols.

The role includes preparing, maintaining, and testing the Portable Optical Particle Spectrometer (POPS), assisting with balloon launches and payload recovery, and

Responsibilities

• Prepare, maintain, and calibrate POPS instrument for balloon flights.
• Support balloon launches, field operations, and instrument recovery.
• Provide hands-on support to B2SAP partner stations domestically and internationally.

Job description

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences(CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder encouragesapplications for an Associate Scientist in atmosphericinstrumentation and balloon operations within NOAA's ChemicalSciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, Colorado. The successfulcandidate will work within the Atmospheric Composition and ChemicalProcesses (ACCP) program supporting federal and universityscientists and engineers investigating atmospheric composition andits impacts on climate and air quality. Our group develops,characterizes, and deploys advanced instrumentation to make in situmeasurements of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols from thesurface to the stratosphere.

The selected candidate will support the existing Balloon BaselineStratospheric Aerosol Profiles (B2SAP) observing team. The B2SAPteam currently conducts routine balloon-borne measurements ofstratospheric aerosol properties at geographically diverselocations. The project provides essential observations ofstratospheric aerosol variability and the impacts of volcaniceruptions, wildfires, and other natural and human-drivenperturbations on Earth's atmosphere and climate.

The selected candidate will provide technical support and will be trained in preparing, maintaining, and testing the Portable OpticalParticle Spectrometer (POPS) instrument, and readying it for integration on balloons. The candidate's responsibilities will also include supporting balloon launches and payload recovery (typically within a couple hours drive from the launch site in Boulder, CO). There will be minor troubleshooting of instrumentation and the development of operational procedures. The successful candidate maybe called upon to provide occasional hands-on technical support toB2SAP partner stations in the United States and internationally, helping improve measurement reliability and increase launch frequency across the network.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to a growing international atmospheric observing network while working in a collaborative environment that combines instrument development, field measurements, and scientific research.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmentalscience and research and is located at the University of ColoradoBoulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The NOAA Chemical SciencesLaboratory (CSL) conducts research to improve understanding of the chemical and physical processes that influence Earth's atmospheric composition, air quality, and climate. Within CSL, the Atmospheric Composition and Chemical Processes program develops and deploys advanced instruments to investigate atmospheric constituents and processes affecting the ozone layer, atmosphericchemistry, and climate.

The B2SAPProject , established in 2019, provides routine in situmeasurements of stratospheric aerosol number concentrations and particle size distributions using lightweight balloon-borne instrumentation. It is a geographically distributed observing network that supports investigations of background stratospheric aerosol conditions, variability, and perturbations associated with volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and other events. The network also provides an observational foundation for improving our understanding of the role of stratospheric aerosols in Earth's climate. The B2SAP aerosol measurements are flown along with GMLs Global Ozone and Water Vapor (GlO3W) program instrumentation.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Prepare, maintain, and integrate balloon-borne scientific instrumentation (70%)

• Work with the POPS instrument to prepare it for a balloonflight. This entails testing and calibrating the commerciallypurchased POPS and modifying it to make accurate measurements inthe stratosphere. Monitor and evaluate instrument performance andmeasurement quality, identifying poorly performing instruments andcommunicating any issues to the team. Maintain instrument readinessand test manuals for POPS calibration and maintenance proceduresand support quality assurance and quality control procedures.Maintain user documentation, instrument records, and operationalprotocols to ensure consistency across the observing network.

Support balloon launches, field operations, and instrumentrecovery (20%)

• Participate in routine balloon-launch operations, includingpreflight preparation, payload testing, launch execution, real-timemonitoring, and postflight assessment. Support instrument recoveryoperations and coordinate logistics associated with field activities . In general this meanshelping with balloon launches (you will be trained), and, with ateammate, following the balloon in a car equipped with radio fortracking balloon information. When the package lands (typicallywithin a 2-hour drive), it must be retrieved and brought back tothe laboratory. Test flown instrumentation and retest/recalibratefor the next flight. Assist with intensive field operations if theyarise - would include similar responsibilities with additionalinstruments, and potentially remote launches.

Support and strengthen B2SAP partner stations (10%)

• Travel with a B2SAP/GlO3W team member to domestic andinternational B2SAP/GlO3W launch sites to provide hands-ontechnical support, instrument maintenance, operator training, andsolving. Work with local collaborators to improve launchprocedures, establish reliable operational workflows, and increasemeasurement frequency. Provide virtual support when partner sitesare launching balloons without our physical presence. Support thecoordination, preparation, and shipment of instrumentation andsupplies to partner stations.

What You Should Know

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position. Givenproject deliverables, candidates must be legally able to start workon a full-time basis and pass a federal background check by thetargeted start date of February 1, 2027.
• This is a one-year position with the possibility of extensionbased on the availability of funding.
• This is a full-time position located at NOAA's ChemicalSciences Laboratory (CSL) located in the David Skaggs ResearchCenter in Boulder, Colorado.
• The position involves substantial hands-on laboratory and fieldwork and requires on-site presence.
• Weather balloon launch and recovery activities from Boulder 2-3times per month require working outdoors, occasionally inchallenging weather conditions and sometimes requiring extendedhiking over uneven terrain.
• The successful candidate will work closely with CIRES and NOAAscientists and engineers from CSL, CIRES and NOAA colleagues in theGlobal Monitoring Laboratory (GML) and external collaborators fromother US and international groups
• Domestic and international travel will be required to supportballoon launches, instrument maintenance, and training atB2SAP/GlO3W remote partner stations.
• Field deployments may last several days to a few weeks and mayinvolve irregular schedules, including early mornings, evenings, orweekends depending on weather conditions and operationalrequirements.
• Limited hybrid work may be possible when duties do not requirephysical presence in the laboratory or field.
• CIRES HR will include the appropriate federal facility accessand background-check requirements.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this role is $60,000 -$81,100. Salary is commensurate with education and years ofexperience and determined based on our