A position for a doctoral researcher in molecular atmospheric science at HELSINKI UNIVERSITY
At the Department of Chemistry of the University of Helsinki, two doctoral researcher positions in molecular atmospheric science. This is an exciting opportunity for ambitious students who want to make ground-breaking discoveries that will help make environmentally sustainable policy decisions.
Possible topics:
- Atmospheric oxidation reactions
Solving the reaction mechanisms of oxidation reaction pathways. This includes the use of quantum chemical calculations, the utilization of machine learning approaches and kinetic modeling. The goal is to combine the obtained reaction mechanisms with the rate coefficients of chemical transport models in order to gain a deep understanding of the formation of oxidized organic compounds in the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Structures of oxidized organic compounds
New instrumentation is used to obtain structural information of oxidation reaction products directly from the reaction chamber. This includes the development of mass selection techniques and the measurement and analysis of the matrix-isolated vibrational spectrum. The goal is to develop a technique for obtaining accurate molecular structures from oxidation reaction studies.
- Atmospheric clustering mechanisms
Modeling the chemical composition and stability of atmospheric clusters. Methods include quantum chemistry, quantum machine learning and cluster dynamics. The goal is to find out the mechanisms and compounds responsible for the formation of atmospheric aerosol particles.
- Secondary formation of organic aerosols
Finding the molecular properties that best describe the particle-forming ability of oxidized organic compounds and deriving a parameterization that can be used in climate models. The goal is to understand how changes in emissions of precursor compounds affect the climate.
We offer the opportunity to work in an international, multidisciplinary research community with excellent research infrastructure and support services. Occupational health care and other personnel benefits are included in addition to a competitive salary. The University of Helsinki is one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary research universities and is among the top 100 in the Shanghai list. Finland will again be the happiest country in the world in 2022.
We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate for a new research group that studies atmospheric oxidation reactions and the formation of aerosol particles. The work is carried out at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Helsinki. Completing a doctoral degree in Finland takes about 4 years and is full-time with a starting salary of 2500-2700 euros/month.
How to apply
To apply, send (as a single pdf file) an academic CV (including a possible list of publications), a motivation letter, diplomas and the contact details of two referees.
Send your application through the electronic recruitment system of the University of Helsinki (by clicking “Apply now”). Internal applicants (i.e. current employees of the University of Helsinki) must submit their application via SAP Fiori (by clicking “Employee login”).
The application period ends on 31 October 2022 (23:59)but the position can be filled as soon as a suitable person is found.
The recommended start date is as soon as possible, but flexibly. The applicant must have (by the start date) a master’s degree in chemistry, physics, atmospheric science or related fields. The applicant must be highly motivated for academic research and have the ability to work both independently and as a member of an international and versatile team. People of all genders and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
More information is available from Dr. Nanna Myllys (nanna.myllys(at)helsinki.fi).