Postdoctoral Scholar – Atmospheric Chemistry, Emissions, and Air Quality Modeling
Location: University of California, Irvine (Carlton Research Group)
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Position Overview
The Carlton research group at the University of California, Irvine seeks an atmospheric chemist/modeler interested in using observations to understand and improve the representation of atmospheric sources and chemistry across scales, from individual roadways to the regional atmosphere.
The scholar will primarily work on two key projects:
- GOTHAAM: Lead atmospheric modeling designed to interpret aircraft and surface observations collected in the northeastern United States.
- Brake and Tire Wear: Translate laboratory and field measurements of non-tailpipe emissions into model-ready emissions information. Evaluate their effects on ambient concentrations through a combination of Gaussian plume dispersion and 3-dimensional modeling. The researcher will work closely with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) scientists.
Key Responsibilities
- Configure, run, and evaluate model simulations for the GOTHAAM study period.
- Compare modeled chemical composition with observations and diagnose model-measurement discrepancies.
- Investigate the roles of emissions, atmospheric processing, multiphase chemistry, and chemical-mechanism representation.
- Develop and process model-ready emissions information for brake and tire wear using laboratory measurements and existing inventories.
- Conduct fine-scale roadway dispersion and source-attribution analyses in collaboration with regulators.
- Develop reproducible analysis workflows using Julia, Python, and/or related scientific computing tools.
- Lead peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
- Mentor other scientists.
Qualifications
- Education: Ph.D. in atmospheric science, chemistry, environmental engineering, or a related discipline by the start date.
- Required Experience: Atmospheric modeling, quantitative data analysis, and scientific programming.
- Preferred Experience: CMAQ or another three-dimensional chemical transport model.
- Advantageous Skills: Emissions inventories, SMOKE, WRF, Linux/HPC computing, aircraft or field observations, dispersion modeling, or model-measurement evaluation.
- Note: Candidates do not need prior expertise in every component of the position; we particularly value a strong desire to learn.
How to apply:
· Online: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF10275
· please email Professor Ann Marie Carlton at agcarlto@uci.edu with the subject line “Postdoctoral Position – Atmospheric Chemistry and Modeling.”