[ES_JOBS_NET] Research Opportunity at USEPA: Chemical transport modeling of wintertime particulate pollution

[Fahey, Kathleen]

Application deadline extended!


A research opportunity is available at the US EPA in Research Triangle Park, NC.

During cold and dark wintertime conditions, areas across the United States face serious particulate pollution problems, with increased violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set to protect human health.  In Fairbanks, AK, for example, particulate matter (PM) is dominated by carbon compounds and sulfate, and these species can originate from both primary (i.e., directly emitted) and secondary (i.e., chemically formed in the atmosphere) sources.  High wintertime PM concentrations can result from a combination of meteorology, chemistry, and emissions, but there remain uncertainties surrounding these high PM episodes and the best approaches to mitigate the problem. Although the sources and chemical species that dominate contributions to high PM vary throughout the nation, some features including cold temperatures, concentrated pollution layers, and increased wood combustion are common.

In order to understand the evolution of chemicals in the atmosphere (and design effective control strategies for those species that may pose a threat to human and ecosystem health), three-dimensional chemical transport models (CTMs) are often used.  The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system, developed and maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a state-of-the-science CTM widely used in both regulatory and research applications.

In this proposed project, the applicant will work with a multidisciplinary team to understand the high wintertime PM problem in the U.S. The candidate will investigate potential pathways to particulate sulfur, nitrate, ammonium, and organic formation in the atmosphere, with a focus on those pathways that might be relevant in cold, dark wintertime conditions.  This may include performing box modeling to determine promising pathways prior to implementation in CMAQ.  The applicant will learn how CMAQ simulates wintertime episodes, how to design sensitivity simulations, and how to analyze the impacts of model developments.  The applicant may also gain experience applying instrumented versions of CMAQ with additional diagnostic capabilities like the Sulfur Tracking Method (STM), Process Analysis (PA), and the Integrated Source Apportionment Method (ISAM).

As part of this project, the candidate may learn about:
* Chemical transport modeling, particularly the development and application of CMAQ
* Atmospheric heterogeneous sulfur chemistry
* Atmospheric ammonium nitrate formation in the wintertime
* Atmospheric organic aerosol partitioning and multigenerational aging
* Effectively working both independently and within a diverse team of researchers

The mentor for this opportunity is Kathleen Fahey (fahey.kathleen at epa.gov<mailto:fahey.kathleen at epa.gov>), but it is expected that the candidate will have an opportunity to work closely with other members of the CMAQ development team as well.  The target start date is in September, but all start dates are flexible and vary depending on numerous factors. The initial appointment is for one year.

For more information, including how to apply, see
https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/EPA-ORD-CEMM-AESMD-2020-05

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