Doctoral student in Physics focusing on atmospheric modelling (PA2023/811)

The research group within atmospheric chemistry and physics at the Department of Physics conducts research on atmospheric aerosol particles and their impact on climate and air quality. This research involves aerosol in-situ measurements, satellite measurements, aerosol dynamics and gas-phase chemistry process modelling, chemistry transport modelling and global Earth system modelling.

Work duties

The PhD position is financed by two EU projects AVENGERS (led by Lund University) and PAREMPI (led by the research institute VTT in Finland).

AVENGERS - Attributing and Verifying European and National Greenhouse gas and aerosol Emissions and Reconciliation with Statistical bottom-up estimates. European emission inventories of greenhouse gases, aerosols and aerosol precursors are generally compiled “bottom-up” from the available statistical information on emissions reported by all EU-countries, e.g. fossil fuel consumption. However, independent approaches based on atmospheric observations and inverse modelling “top-down” are needed to validate and support emission inventory agencies.

PAREMPI – Particle emission prevention and impact: from real-world emissions of traffic to secondary PM of urban air. The PAREMPI project aim to reveal the contribution of the secondary aerosols from transport sources to ambient PM2.5 levels via increased understanding of precursors and their atmospheric reactions.

The overall aim of the PhD project is to contribute to improved knowledge about anthropogenic aerosols and aerosol precursor emissions in Europe and how these emissions influence the air quality, population health and climate.

You will learn to use and develop:

• Inverse modelling techniques based on the FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (FLEXPART) and aerosol observations to evaluate and improve existing bottom-up aerosol emission inventories in Europe.
• The Aerosol dynamics, gas- and particle-phase chemistry box-model ADCHAM to simulate the secondary aerosol formation during smog chamber and oxidation flow tube experiments for representative anthropogenic VOCs and real vehicle exhaust emissions.
• Machine Learning techniques, with the purpose to develop simplified vehicle exhaust secondary aerosol formation parameterizations for European and global scale chemistry transport model applications.
• The global scale chemistry transport model TM5 for pollution population exposure and health impact assessments in Europe.
• The Earth System Model EC-Earth for aerosol radiative forcing estimates.

In AVENGERS you will collaborate closely with a postdoc from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam to compare the results from different inverse modelling techniques and atmospheric models for improved aerosol emissions and aerosol radiative forcing estimates in Europe.

In PAREMPI you will collaborate with researchers from Tampere University, VTT and FMI which are experts of real vehicle exhaust experiments, gas-phase chemistry, and secondary organic aerosol formation. You will also work together with epidemiologists at Lund University which will use the modelled particulate matter concentration fields from TM5 for Europe vehicle fleet air pollution population health impact assessments.

As a PhD student in the atmospheric aerosol research group at the Department of Physics at Lund University you will join a strong team of senior and junior researchers. We are devoted to decrease the uncertainties of how aerosols influence the air quality and climate on Earth.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in Physics if he or she has:

• at least 30 second-cycle credits of relevance to the subject, of which at least 15 credits shall comprise a second-cycle degree project, or
• an MSc in engineering physics or an associated field, or a Master’s degree in physics or an associated field.

Finally, the student must be judged to have the potential to complete the programme.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Basic skills in programming are also required.

Other assessment criteria

• We consider good cooperation ability, drive and independent work ability as positive personal attributes.
• Prior knowledge about the atmosphere (meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric aerosol particles and climate science).
• Practice of working with programming in Python, Matlab, bash and Fortran.
• Experience in working with mathematical statistics and Machine Learning methods.
• Experience working with aerosol and trace gas observations, aerosol dynamics, gas-phase chemistry, dispersion modelling, Chemistry Transport Models or Earth System Models.

Basis of assessment

Selection to postgraduate studies is based on the expected ability to perform well in the studies. The evaluation of the ability to perform well is based primarily on the results of studies at the basic and advanced levels, in particular:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of the study.
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Written and oral communication skills
• Other experience relevant to postgraduate studies, such as professional experience.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications may be written in English or Swedish and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

The English version of this announcement is an interpretation of national formalities expressed in the Swedish text. In case of uncertainties, the Swedish text applies.