CIRES/ NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Postdoctoral Associate in Chemical Ionization Mass

University of Colorado System; Allenspark (CO); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work option

Relocation funds

Mentorship program

CU Boulder benefits

Job summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU Boulder invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate within NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, Colorado. The successful candidate will study emissions and atmospheric chemistry of trace gases and their oxidation products, with a focus on gas-phase reactive chlorine species in urban environments.

The position involves retrieving and analyzing chloramine measurements from SUNVEx, AEROMMA, and

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, atmospheric sciences, environmental engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience in experimental physical sciences and data analysis.
• Experience coding and analyzing data sets in Igor Pro or similar software.

Responsibilities

• Operate instrumentation to measure atmospheric trace gases using chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Travel may be required (15%).
• Analyze and interpret data collected by these instruments.
• Develop and implement calibration methods for gas-phase chloramines (NH2Cl, NHCl2, NCl3) and related reactive chlorine species on the I-CIMS, applying calibrations to SUNVEx, AEROMMA, and USOS datasets.
• Characterize the vertical and horizontal distribution and sources of gas-phase chloramines and other reactive chlorine species in North American cities and assess their contribution to urban Cl-atom production.
• Present results at scientific meetings and publish them in peer-reviewed literature.

Skills

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in chemistry or related field

Tools

Time-of-flight mass spectrometers

Igor Pro

Job description

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences(CIRES) at CU Boulder encourages applicationsfor a Postdoctoral Associate within NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory(CSL) in Boulder,Colorado. The successful candidate will work in the TroposphericChemistry program alongside a number of federal and universityemployees engaged in research investigating trace gases andaerosols and their impacts on air quality and climate. Our groupdevelops and uses world-class instrumentation to measure thesespecies and deploys these instruments on aircraft and at fieldsites.

The successful candidate for this position will investigate theemissions and atmospheric chemistry of trace gases and theiroxidation products, with a particular focus on gas-phase reactivechlorine species, including chloramines (NH2Cl, NHCl2, NCl3), andtheir contribution to urban Cl-atom production. The PostdoctoralAssociate in this role will retrieve and analyze chloramine andrelated halogen measurements from recent NOAA CSL ground, mobilelaboratory, and aircraft field campaigns (e.g., SUNVEx, AEROMMA,and USOS), develop and apply calibration methods for the iodidechemical ionization mass spectrometer I-CIMS), and collaborate closely with university partners on the analysisof these data. The selected candidate will use these data for thedevelopment of chemical mechanisms and models, as well asassessment of the air quality and climate impacts of emissions andatmospheric chemical cycles. The selected individual will work withhigh-resolution, time-of-flight chemical ionization massspectrometers within the Tropospheric Chemistry instrumentsuite. Individuals without a mass spectrometry background, butwith relevant experimental experience, are strongly encouraged toapply. CSL has a collaborative lab culture, and we are looking fora candidate who actively subscribes to this philosophy.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

CIRES is aninternationally recognized leader in innovative environmentalscience and research and is located at the University of ColoradoBoulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental scienceprofessionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system,including people’s relationship with the planet. CIRES haspartnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise includeweather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles, air quality andatmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, andmore. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainablefuture environment by advancing scientific and societalunderstanding of the Earth system.

The mission of the NOAA ChemicalSciences Laboratory (CSL) is to advance scientificunderstanding of the chemical and physical processes that affectEarth’s atmospheric composition. CSL’s vision is a nation that hasthe needed scientific understanding and information aboutatmospheric composition to make optimal decisions for thewell-being of current and future generations.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Operate instrumentation to measure atmospheric trace gasesusing chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Periodic travel forseveral weeks at a time may be required (15%)
• Analyze and interpret data collected by these instruments.(25%)
• Develop and implement calibration methods for gas-phasechloramines (NH2Cl, NHCl2, NCl3) and related reactive chlorinespecies on the I-CIMS, and apply these calibrations to retrieveconcentration data from existing SUNVEx, AEROMMA, and USOS fieldcampaign datasets (35%)
• Characterize the vertical and horizontal distribution andsources of gas-phase chloramines and other reactive chlorinespecies in North American cities and assess their contribution tourban Cl-atom production. (15%)
• Present results at scientific meetings and publish them inpeer-reviewed literature. (10%)

What You Should Know

• This is a 2-year position with the possibility of extensionbased on availability of funding.
• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University ofColorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the NOAAChemical Sciences Laboratory located within the David SkaggsResearch Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305.
• If you are the selected finalist, you will be required to passa federal laboratory background clearance for site access.
• Non-US citizens without green cards may have limited buildingaccess and require an escort in the building
• Candidates must be legally able to start work on a full-timecapacity and pass a federal background check by the targeted startdate of March 1, 2027.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation package:

• This position will be filled at the postdoctoral career tracklevel. The annual hiring salary range is $65,000 - $70,000. Salaryis commensurate with education and years of experience anddetermined based on our CIRES internal career trackclassification.
• Some relocation funds are available to help offset expenses,following CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocationprocesses and procedures.
• After an initial training period, this position can accommodatea hybrid work modality in accordance with project needs.
• CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robusttraining curriculum, opportunities for professional development anda Mentorship Program.
• Boulder is a vibrantcommunity with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles oftrails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters,museums, and sports venues.
• As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to theregional public transitsystem , an outstanding network of buses, and light railsystems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denverairport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one ofForbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, atmospheric sciences,environmental engineering, or a closely related field. In order tobe hired for this position, candidates must successfully defendtheir dissertation and finish all revisions on their thesis work bythe targeted start date of March 1, 2027.
• Experience in experimental physical sciences and dataanalysis
• Experience coding and analyzing data sets in Igor Pro and / orother data analysis and plotting software.

What You Will Need

• Commitment to collaboration with groups of scientists
• The ability to work in a team and participate in thedevelopment of original research projects.
• A record demonstrating the ability to communicate sciencethrough publications and conference presentations.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details both required andpreferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply evenif they do not have the preferred skills outlined in this section.If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you areencouraged to apply. We encourage on the job training for anyadditional skills or knowledge that become relevant to theposition.

• Experience operating time of flight mass spectrometers.
• Experience building instruments or modifying commercialinstrumentation.
• Specific examples of experimental physical sciences experiencethat are desired include the following:
• Field measurements of atmospheric composition.
• Analyzing complex data sets.
• Understanding of chemical mechanisms and their development
• Knowledge of gas-phase reactive halogen chemistry (e.g., HCl,Cl2, ClNO2, chloramines) and its role in urban atmosphericchemistry
• Troubleshooting and resolving problems withinstrumentation.