Atmospheric Physicist / Chemist

Based at CEH's Edinburgh site (14 months)

We are seeking to employ a motivated Atmospheric Physicist/Chemist for a period of 14 months to join the Reactive Gases and Aerosols Group at CEH's site near Edinburgh.

Over recent years, this team has acquired a range of analysers to study the concentrations, chemical composition, formation processes, processing and surface/atmosphere exchange of atmospheric aerosols. This includes instrumentation to measure organic and inorganic precursor gases (e.g. volatile organic compounds by PTRMS; ammonia and nitric acid by wet-chemical denuder analysers, optical spectrometers and CIMS) and aerosol composition (e.g. by aerosol mass spectrometry, AMS, and steam jet aerosol collectors, SJAC). In particular, the group has combined these analytical online techniques with micrometeorological flux measurement approaches to become a global leader in the measurement of the surface/atmosphere exchange (emission/deposition) of aerosol chemical components.

The CEH Reactive Gases and Aerosols Group has deployed this instrumentation in a range of field campaigns to quantify urban sources of aerosol to (i) provide source attributions of organic aerosol, (ii) quantify the input of sulphur and nitrogen containing particles into sensitive ecosystems, (iii) study the controls of deposition rates and (iv) investigate processes leading to the formation of secondary organic aerosol.

Main Duties

The successful candidate will take part in field campaigns in the Brazilian Amazon to make measurements of aerosol chemical composition with an Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) and/or a wet chemistry analyser for reactive gases and aerosols (GRAEGOR/MARGA), and analyse existing datasets obtained during field deployments in urban and rural settings in the UK within projects funded by NERC and Defra.

Skills Required

The successful candidate will hold:

• A degree in physics, chemistry, environmental science or a related discipline, together with a PhD or equivalent experience
• Be able to demonstrate good oral and written communication skills, and should be able to contribute their own ideas for lines of research on predesigned projects
• Ideally have some experience with one of two principal analytical techniques deployed for this work: either aerosol mass spectrometery, or sampling of reactive gases and/or aerosol components with wet chemical systems based on continuous denuders and steam jet aerosol collectors/particle-into-liquid samplers with online analysis by ion chromatography
• An understanding of aerosol science is an advantage.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team is essential, as well as the ability to learn new analytical techniques quickly and to analyse/manipulate large datasets
• Good numerical background and some experience with programming environments
• An aptitude for conducting measurements in urban and rural settings, be willing to work in the Amazon region and hold a full driving license

Salary

The salary for this post is £26,180 progressing to £29,410 per annum. In addition NERC offer 30 days’ annual leave and 10½ days’ public and privilege holiday per annum.

Closing date for applications: 12 October 2012

Interview date: 7 November 2012

Only online applications will be accepted. Applications are handled by the RCUK Shared Services Centre; to apply please visit their job board at http://www.topcareer.jobs/ and complete an online application form. Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format (e.g. large print, Braille, audio or hard copy), or who are unable to apply online should contact the RCUK Shared Services Centre by telephone on 01793 867003.

Please quote reference IRC66507