The Paul Scherrer Institute is with 1400 employees the largest research centre for the natural and engineering sciences in Switzerland and a worldwide leading user laboratory. Its research activities are concentrated on the main topics structure of matter, energy and environmental research as well as human health.
The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC) studies the effects of emissions from energy use on the atmospheric environment. The aerosol research in our laboratory involves emission characterization, field campaigns, smog chamber studies and long-term measurements at high alpine site Jungfraujoch.
Atmospheric aerosol particles have an impact on the earth’s climate by their interaction with solar radiation and by modification of cloud properties. These effects remain the largest source of uncertainty in our current understanding of the earth’s climate system.
Within this project we will investigate to which extent galactic cosmic rays influence the formation of new aerosol particles (via nucleation) and if they exert an influence on cloud droplet and ice crystal formation. Measurements will be conducted at the CLOUD chamber at CERN, at the PSI smog chamber and in the field.
For this research we are looking for a
PhD Student
in Aerosol Physics
Your tasks
- Research in the field of aerosol nucleation and cloud formation
- Application of state-of-the-art aerosol instrumentation including scanning particle mobility spectrometers and a series of condensation particle counters (CPC) operating at different supersaturations for the determination of a particle size distribution in the diameter size range 2.5-15 nm
- Employment of optical particle counters for the measurement of cloud droplets and ice crystals in the super-micrometer size range
- Conducting laboratory experiments using the CERN CLOUD chamber, the LAC smog chamber as well as field experiments at various sites
- The PhD studies will be done at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, while the practical work will be carried out at PSI and at CERN
Your profile
- Master or equivalent degree in physics, chemistry, or environmental sciences
- Interest in atmospheric processes combined with initiative and enthusiasm to conduct research in a multidisciplinary team
- The candidate must have affinity for practical work; Specific knowledge in the area of aerosols or nanoparticles measurements is advantageous
- Basic programming skills and proficiency in spoken and written English are prerequisites
http://www.psi.ch/lac
http://aerosolforschung.web.psi.ch
http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/Research/CLOUD-en.html
http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/english/research/inter_projects/clouditn/index.html
For further information please contact Prof. Dr Urs Baltensberger, phone +41 56 310 24 08 or Dr Ernest Weingartner, phone +41 56 310 24 05 .
Please submit your application online for the position as PhD Student (index no. 5502-01).
Paul Scherrer Institut, Human Resources, Miriam Zehnder, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
http://www.psi.ch/pa/offenestellen/