[ES_JOBS_NET] Post-Doctoral Fellow for UAV-based observation of aerosol properties in the Eastern Mediterranean

[Michael Pikridas]

The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a European non-profit science and technology
institution based in Cyprus and led by an acclaimed Board of Trustees. The
research aims of the CyI  are represented by three research centers: the
Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CASTORC), the
Science and Technology in Archaeology Research Center (STARC), and the
Energy Environment Water Research Center (EEWRC). Considerable cross-center
interaction is a characteristic of the Institute’s culture.


The Cyprus Institute invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Fellow in
Atmospheric Aerosols position. The successful candidate will work in a  dynamic
team of international researchers of the Cyprus Institute and get a unique
expertise in operating and interpreting UAV-based atmospheric observations.
She/He will be involved in several international field campaigns and
collaborate with a large number of research institutions currently involved
in atmospheric observations in Cyprus.


As part of the EU-H2020 ACTRIS2 and EU-FP7-BACCHUS projects, the Cyprus
Institute (CyI) is currently deploying unprecedented experimental efforts
to document aerosol properties in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East
(EMME) region and better characterize their impact on regional radiative
forcing and air quality. A number of state-of-the-art CyI infrastructures
have been recently developed to support these experimental activities:

·         The CyI Agia Marina Xyliatou atmospheric station. Providing
transnational access, this station currently provides quality controlled
observations of aerosol chemical/physical/optical properties and wet/dry
removal which are the first of its kind in the region.

·         The CyI Unmanned System Research Laboratory (USRL). This
facility, composed of highly qualified electronic/mechanical engineers and
professional pilots, is operating a large fleet of small and medium sized
fixed/rotary wings Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). USRL is running a
private UAV runway and airspace (above the Agia Marina Xyliatou station)
with mobile ground control station.

·         The CyI analytical laboratory. This facility offers a wide range
of off-line techniques (IC, GC-MS, ICP-MS, etc) to provide a comprehensive
characterization of the chemical composition of aerosols collected over
Cyprus.

·         The CyI instrumentation laboratory. This new facility is
currently focused in the development and qualification of miniaturized
instruments under UAV real-world conditions (covering a wide range of
atmospheric temperatures, pressure, and humidity).

Taking advantage of these infrastructures, the Post-Doctoral Fellow will be
involved in operating, for a period of 1 year, UAV-based miniaturized
gas/aerosol prototypes and assist the USRL team to perform weekly flight
(0-3km altitude) above the Agia Marina Xyliatou station. She/He will be
responsible to interpret this dataset with concurrent ground-based
observations obtained at different altitudes (500 and 1800m above sea
level) by international research teams (CNRS, NOAA, TROPOS, Max Planck
Institute, etc). This UAV-based monitoring activity will address, for the
first time in the Mediterranean region, the properties of long-range
transported dust and continental (polluted) aerosols at various altitudes
(below and above the marine boundary layer).


This vertically resolved aerosol characterization will be completed by a
more comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of aerosols
obtained at ground-level using on-line (Aerosol Chemical Speciation
Monitor, Aethalometer) and off-line (filter sampling) techniques. Major
aerosol sources in the EMME region, their seasonality and geographical
origin will be addressed here using statistical tools. They  will be
contrasted with a similar dataset recently obtained in Western
Mediterranean region (Cape Corsica) as part of the ChArMEx research program.


*Responsibilities*

The successful candidate will be carrying out the following activities:

·         Running  miniaturized atmospheric sensors and participate to the
routine UAV atmospheric observations performed by CyI.

·         Analyze and interpret aerosol chemical/physical/optical datasets
using different computer-based tools (including source apportionment
techniques).

·         Present results to conferences and publish them in peer-review
journals.

*Required Qualifications*

·         Ph-D in Atmospheric Sciences

·         At least three (3) years of research experience (as Ph-D) in the
relevant field

·         Author or co-author of at least one (1) publication in
peer-review journals

·         At least one (1) communication at an international conference

·         Experience in operating atmospheric instrumentation

·         Experience in computer-based processing of atmospheric datasets

·         High level of communication and interpersonal skills and the
ability to adopt to a multicultural/multinational environment

·         High level of organizational, analytical and problem solving
skills

·         Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.

*Additional, preferred skills that would be considered as an advantage: *

·         Knowledge of computational/programming packages (e.g. Matlab)

·         Driving license (category B).

The  appointment  will be of  a full time basis, initially for a fixed term
period  of  two (2)  years  with the potential of contract renewal
depending on performance and availability of funds.


*Application*

For full consideration, interested applicants should process their
application at The Cyprus Institute JobBoard (
http://jobboard.cyi.ac.cy/?q=node/414). For any further information please
contact Prof Jean Sciare (j.sciare at cyi.ac.cy; phone: +357 22 208 675).



Michael Pikridas
Postdoctoral Fellow
The Cyprus Institute
Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre (EEWRC)
20 Konstantinou Kavafi Street
2121 Aglantzia, Nicosia, Cyprus
work: +357 22 208 682
cell:   +357 99 303 496
email: mpikridas at cyi.ac.cy mpikridas at gmail.com
<mpikridas at bnl.gov>
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