[ES_JOBS_NET] PhD student position: role of stabilized Criegee intermediates (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany)

[Ernest, Cheryl]

Position available within the Radical Measurements Group for a
PhD student
We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly-skilled physicist, chemist or meteorologist for:

The role of stabilized Criegee intermediates in the atmosphere,
based on ground/based and airborne measurements

Stabilized Criegee intermediates (SCI) are highly reactive compounds whose potential role in atmospheric self-cleaning processes has been long discussed. However, experimental evidence for atmospheric reactions of SCI has only recently been provided, and direct or indirect measurements of SCI in the atmosphere are almost inexistent. An instrument to measure SCI in the atmosphere has recently been developed in the Department of Atmospheric Chemistry of the MPI for Chemistry. First results indicate a significant contribution of SCI to atmospheric oxidation processes which lead to the removal of pollutants from the atmosphere.
The Department for Atmospheric Chemistry plans two major measurement campaigns in Asia in 2014 and 2015 to study atmospheric self-cleaning. A ground-based campaign in India will include measurements of a large set of atmospheric compounds in different seasons, to analyze the mix of anthropogenic as well as biogenic emissions and their evolution with the seasons. Emissions tend to accumulate during the dry season and are effectively washed out once the Monsoon rains set in. The campaign will aim to study chemical cleansing mechanisms in the pre-Monsoon season as well as clarify the contribution of such processes during the Monsoon season.
Since the Monsoon season is characterized by strongly convective systems, i.e. thunderstorms, air is efficiently transported to higher regions of the troposphere and into the stratosphere. The chemical processing occurring during this upward transport and after its arrival at higher will be studied during an airborne campaign in summer 2015 over the Himalayan region.
The Radical Measurements group will measure OH, HO2, RO2, NO2 and SCI during these campaigns. The open position will involve the SCI measurements and their interpretation.
Tasks
* Improvement and characterization of the existing instrumentation in laboratory experiments.
* Preparation of the instrumentation for aircraft deployment.
* Measurements of SCI ground-based and air-borne field campaigns.
* Investigation of the role of SCI in the atmospheric radical chemistry cycles.
* Presentation at international conferences and publication in scientific journals.

Requirements
* M.Sc. in physics, chemistry or meteorology and interest in atmospheric chemistry.
* Technical skills and a strong interest in experimental work.
* Independent work-style and a taste for problem solving.
* English language proficiency.
* Programming skills.
* Good teamwork skills and the willingness to actively cooperate with a diverse international working group.


The position is available as a stipend for 3 years within the International Max Planck Research School for Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (www.atmosphere.mpg.de/school<http://www.atmosphere.mpg.de/school>). Applications will be accepted until an appropriate candidate is found.
Applications including CV and degree certificates should be submitted by September 15th, 2013, electronically to:
Hartwig.Harder at mpic.de<mailto:Hartwig.Harder at mpic.de> (phone: +49 6131 305 4400)
or by mail to:
Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Personnel Administration, P. O. Box 3060, D-55020 Mainz.
The Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply. The Max Planck Society is committed to employ more handicapped individuals and especially encourages them to apply.




Dr. Cheryl Tatum Ernest

Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry
Atmospheric Chemistry Department
Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1
55128 Mainz, Germany

Phone: (+49-6131) 305-4422
Fax: (+49-6131) 305-4009

email: cheryl.ernest at mpic.de<mailto:cheryl.ernest at mpic.de>

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