Postdoctoral Fellow

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information

Working Title	Postdoctoral Fellow
Position Location	Fort Collins, CO
Research Professional Position	Yes
Posting Number	202200918AP
Position Type	Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title	Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week	40
Proposed Annual Salary Range	$50,000-$60,000
Employee Benefits	Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date	08/01/2022
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on	07/11/2022
Description of Work Unit	As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a land-grant institution, with enrollment of more than 33,000 students. CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program. CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $400 million in research funding annually, putting the university among top federally funded public universities without a medical school. Colorado’s Front Range is a high-tech hub with companies such as Woodward, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM, Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcomm, AMD, Xilinx, Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins. Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver. The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It consistently ranks high on quality of life measures by numerous publications; see https://www .fcgov.com/visitor/awards for the complete list. The city offers a pleasant climate with excellent schools and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby. For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website: www.visitftcollins.com. The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at CSU offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience. Made up of 43 faculty members, 10 staff members, 1,000 undergraduate students, and 125 graduate students, ME is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus. State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and $11M in annual research funding provide groundbreaking opportunities focusing on health, materials, and energy, for graduate students to enhance their educational concentrations. Award-winning faculty offer industry and academic perspective, and equip each graduate with the tools needed to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. The Mechanical Engineering program at CSU includes majors in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering-Mechanical Engineering; both curriculum combine classroom learning with engineering practice. The department recently added specialties for Aerospace Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, offering undergraduate concentrations, a graduate certificate, a Master of Engineering (M.E.) with specialization, and a Master of Science (M.S.) with a specialized master’s thesis. Our goal is to give our graduates the engineering skills they need to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields. Our students are integral members of our research groups and their thesis and dissertation topics focus on cutting-edge research. Further information about the Department can be found at www.engr.colostate.edu/me/. The postdoctoral scholar will work in the Laboratory for Air Quality Research (LAQR), which is directed by Prof. Shantanu Jathar. Work in LAQR is focused at the intersection of energy and the environment. The LAQR group leverages laboratory experiments, field measurements, and numerical models to study the emissions, evolution, and properties of fine particles (or atmospheric aerosols) arising from energy and combustion sources. Between 2015 and 2021, LAQR has received nearly $2 million in primary research funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Energy Office of Science, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the state of Colorado, and an additional $2 million as a collaborating group through EPA, NSF, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. LAQR researchers have published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals including Science, Nature, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Position Summary	Organic aerosols (OA) are an important fraction of fine mode atmospheric aerosols and, consequently, OA impact air quality, climate, human health, visibility, and ecosystems. Yet, the sources, evolution, properties, and impacts of OA remain uncertain. We are seeking two Postdoctoral Fellows to study the emissions, formation, and properties of OA from emerging sources (wildfires, volatile chemical products, and food cooking) and understand their contribution to air quality in urban environments. These studies will be supported by projects funded through the Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and National Science Foundation. Studies will include, but not be limited to: (i) data analysis and interpretation of environmental chamber and oxidation flow reactor experiments performed at CSU and partner research institutions, (ii) development and validation of chemical mechanisms and parameterizations using laboratory data to predict aerosol formation and evolution, (iii) application of Eulerian and Lagrangian box models to estimate and evaluate the photochemical evolution of urban emissions, and (iv) development and application of three-dimensional models to study source-resolved, urban and regional air quality in North America. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work extensively with collaborators, both within CSU (Chemistry, Atmospheric Science) and outside of CSU (universities, national laboratories). This is a one-year appointment with the option to renew based on performance and availability of funding.
Required Job Qualifications	PhD in engineering or physical sciences, and Experience in air quality, atmospheric chemistry, or environmental science.
Preferred Job Qualifications	Strong background in analyzing and interpreting laboratory and field data, Experience in developing and using box and/or 3D atmospheric models, Expert user in at least one computing language (Matlab, Python, R, C, C++, etc.), Prior publication record demonstrating expertise in air pollution science, and Ability to lead and/or be part of large collaborative teams.
Diversity Statement	Ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion through research, teaching and outreach with relevant programs, goals and activities.

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category	Data Analysis and Interpretation
Duty/Responsibility	Collate, synthesize, and analyze environmental chamber and oxidation flow reactor data, Perform analysis to study the photochemical evolution of air pollutants, and Analyze and interpret mass spectrometer data to understand formation and evolution at the species level.
Percentage Of Time	30%

Job Duty Category	Numerical Modeling and Analysis
Duty/Responsibility	Develop numerical codes in Fortran and Python to represent physicochemical evolution of OA, Modify and evaluate chemical mechanisms and parameterizations for use in box and 3D models, and Perform atmospheric modeling using a combination of Eulerian and Lagrangian models.
Percentage Of Time	50%

Job Duty Category	Literature Review and Technical Communication
Duty/Responsibility	Prepare manuscripts for publication in the peer-reviewed literature, Prepare and present posters and presentations at national and international conferences, and Help write annual reports for sponsors. Travel approximately 5%.
Percentage Of Time	20%

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants	Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how education and professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current resume or CV, and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
Conditions of Employment	Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact	Shantanu Jathar, [email protected]
EEO Statement	Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] . The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] . The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] . Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement	Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.