PhD Position in Atmospheric Chemistry (CLOUD Experiment)

You have recently obtained a master’s degree in chemistry, atmospheric science, physics, or similar with excellent grades and you are a skillful and innovative experimentalist. As this project requires close collaboration within the consortium, candidates are expected to be excellent team players. Good programming skills (Matlab/IGOR-PRO and Labview/C) are required. Good laboratory experience in analytical chemistry using mass spectrometer instruments is prefered. Good knowledge of atmospheric chemistry (gas phase oxidation chemistry, photochemistry, multi-phase chemistry, aerosol formation) is required.

The PhD project objective is to conduct measurements of several key components of nucleation precursor gases and their clusters (dimers, trimers, etc.) during the CLOUD experiments at CERN by operating a nitrate-CI-APiTOF mass spectrometer. Concentration of gaseous sulphuric acid and H2SO4- i-mer clusters are measured quantitatively (including frequent calibrations). Various highly oxidized organic molecules (HOMs) and their clusters (dimers, trimers, etc.) are measured. Studies to identify and calibrate methane sulphonic acid (MSA) are conducted. The project involves close cooperation with other ESRs of the network to study reaction pathways of HOM formation, aerosol nucleation and growth involving MSA, as well as applying Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) for automated grouping of peaks, and tests of the TOFWERK wall-less inlet. You will perform dedicated experiments at the CLOUD atmospheric simulation chamber at CERN (http://cloud.web.cern.ch/cloud ) within a broad international collaboration. You will operate purpose-built chemical ionization mass spectrometers and particle counters, develop new experimental approaches, analyze and interpret data. Close cooperation with other ESR students of the network is foreseen.