CIRES / NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, PTR-ToF-MS Post-Doctoral Associate

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work modality

Relocation assistance

Transit pass (ECO Pass)

Job summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate within NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, CO.

The successful candidate will study emissions and atmospheric chemistry of VOCs, and participate in NASA FarmFlux research campaigns aboard aircraft, contributing to model evaluation and data interpretation.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, meteorology, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, or closely related field.
• Experience in experimental physical/atmospheric sciences.
• Experience in data analysis and programming (MATLAB, IDL, or other image visualization software).

Responsibilities

• Analyze PTR-ToF-MS VOC measurements from FarmFlux and CSL research for air quality and climate studies.
• Plan group short- and long-term research strategies.
• Participate in NASA FarmFlux field campaigns.
• Present results at scientific meetings and publish in peer-reviewed literature.

Skills

Data analysis

Programming experience

Education

Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, meteorology, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, or closely related field

Tools

MATLAB

IDL

Igor

LabVIEW

Job description

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences(CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder encouragesapplications for a Postdoctoral Associate position within NOAA’sChemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, Colorado. Thesuccessful candidate will work in the Tropospheric Chemistry (TC)program along with federal and university employees engaged inresearch of trace gases and aerosol particles and their impacts onair quality and climate. Our group develops and deploys world-classinstrumentation to measure these species in the field on stationaryand mobile research platforms, including research aircraft.

The successful candidate will become a key member of the CIRES andNOAA CSL’s TC Program. This position involves investigating theemissions and atmospheric chemistry of volatile organic compounds(VOCs), during the NASA FarmFlux Earth Venture Suborbital program(EVS-4) in 2027 and future CSL missions and research. The candidatewill participate in field research, collecting in-situ atmosphericobservations of VOCs aboard a NASA heavy-lift research aircraftduring the FarmFlux mission. Data will be used in airborne eddycovariance flux calculations, emissions source identification,source apportionment analyses, and thermodynamic models. Resultswill be used for comparisons to emissions inventories and assessingthe air quality and climate impacts. This position requiresdomestic travel for field work and scientific meetings totaling upto 3 months per year.

This position requires the use of PTR-ToF-MS or other CIMSinstruments in close collaboration with other CSL scientistsincluding from the modeling community for the evaluation andimprovement of satellites, weather, air quality, and climate models. Individuals without CIMS field campaign experience, butwith relevant scientific background in mass spectrometry,instrumentation, modeling and data science, or laboratory studies,are encouraged to apply.

CSL has a collaborative lab culture, and we are looking for acandidate who actively subscribes to this philosophy. Successfulcandidates will demonstrate competency and sensitivity forcollaboration.

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 an internationally recognizedleader in innovative environmental science and research and islocated at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than900 environmental science professionals work to understand thedynamic Earth system, including people’s relationship with theplanet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas ofexpertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth’s poles,air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earthsciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring asustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societalunderstanding of the Earth system.

In the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) ofNOAA, researchers develop and use instruments to makescientifically valuable atmospheric measurements, conductlaboratory experiments, design and implement field missions,analyze observations, and use sophisticated computer models tobetter understand how our changing atmosphere is influencingclimate - and therefore people.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Analyze and interpret PTR-ToF-MS VOC measurements from FarmFluxand other CSL research and use data for research studies includingair quality, wildfires, and climate, as well as measurement studiesdesigned to inform numerical model improvement efforts. (50%)
• Participate in the planning of group short- and long-termresearch strategies. (10%)
• Participate in field campaigns; specifically, the NASA FarmFluxmission. (30%)
• Present results at scientific meetings and publish them inpeer-reviewed literature. (10%)

What You Should Know

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.Additionally, candidates working in the U.S through a visa or awork permit are not eligible for hire in this specific role.
• The targeted start date for the appointment is October 1,2026.
• This is a 2-year position with the possibility forextension.
• You may be required to travel for field campaigns for up to 3months per year.
• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the DavidSkaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, a federalcampus.
• If you are the selected finalist, you will be required to passa federal laboratory background clearance for site access.
• Contact Sarah Albertin ([e-mail]) with any questions.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this position is $65,000.Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determinedbased on CIRES internal career track classification. This positionwill be filled at the postdoctoral associate career tracklevel.
• Some relocation expenses are available for this positionfollowing CIRES and the University of Colorado’s relocationprocesses and procedures.
• This position can accommodate a hybrid work modality.
• CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robusttraining curriculum, opportunities for professional development,and a 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 receive a pass allowing freeaccess to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systemsthat provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, theDenver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. 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. Explore additional perks and programs throughthe CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be flexible. Be talented. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, meteorology, atmosphericscience, environmental engineering, or a closely relatedfield.
• We will consider candidates who provide examples that demonstrate the following:
  • Experience in experimental physical/atmospheric sciences.
  • Experience in data analysis and programming (such as MATLAB,IDL, or other image visualization software).

What You Will Need

• Demonstrated ability to perform atmospheric compositionresearch, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present atnational/international conferences.
• The ability to work in a team and participate in thedevelopment of original research projects.

What We Would Like You to Have

Please note that while the position details both required skillsand desired skills, applicants do not need to have all of thedesired skills and experience to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work,along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged toapply. We provide on-the-job training for any additional skills orknowledge that become relevant to the position.

• Experience with PTR-ToF-MS or other CIMS instruments.
• Experience working with VOC data.
• Experience coding in MATLAB, Igor, or LabVIEW.
• A record demonstrating the ability to communicate sciencethrough publication and conference presentations.
• Specific examples of experimental physical sciences experiencethat are desired include the following:
  • Participate in field measurements.
  • Analyze complex data sets.
  • Troubleshooting and resolving problems withinstrumentation.
  • Ability to work in a collaborative environment.
  • Ability to work well in teams, be determined and meetdeadlines.

This position will close on August 13, 2026.