Postdoctoral Research Associate position open
We are currently looking for a qualified postdoc to work on projects in the Sheesley and Usenko labs at Baylor. Full listing included in the link below:
Graduate student positions in Atmospheric Chemistry and Polar Research at Baylor University
July 2023:
Graduate student positions
The research group of Dr. Rebecca Sheesley currently has two graduate assistant positions available to study air quality and atmospheric chemistry pertaining to natural and anthropogenic impacts on urban and remote systems. Students are needed for the following projects:
- (BC)2 : tracking influence of wildfires on Texas urban air quality through measurement of aerosol optical properties (funded by TCEQ)
- The (BC)2 network has been collecting aerosol optical observations in Texas since 2019. This is a large dataset which includes observations of wildfire and dust storm impacts on Texas cities. Wildfire and dust can impact urban air quality and are of importance for potential human health impacts as well as to understand potential climate forcing. Students on this project will gain valuable instrument, field work, large dataset, satellite and spatial analysis experience and will collaborate with the Usenko research group at Baylor and researchers at the University of Houston. Applicants are encouraged with previous coursework and/or experience in chemistry, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, atmospheric science or data analysis.
- TRACER-MAP: Mapping Aerosol Processes across Houston during convective cell events project is an ASR and ARM project that is operating during the US Department of Energy project: TRACER
- The Project Objectives are to:
- Conduct aerosol (particle size, distribution and composition, CCN concentration and activity, aerosol optical properties), gas (VOC and trace gases) and meteorology (including boundary layer height) measurements at satellite sites across Houston to complement and enhance measurements at AMF1 and ANC during the TRACER campaign and make campaign data available to the ARM community for future modeling efforts.
- Determine spatial variability across the Houston metropolitan area of aerosol characteristics in pre- and post-storm scenarios in terms of particle size, distribution, composition, CCN activity and optical properties.
- Determine how urban aerosol processing differs between pre- and post-storm atmospheres in terms of particle growth, aging and CCN activity utilizing integration of observations and modeling.
- Identify potential influences of convective transport (e.g. downdrafts) on particle size, number and composition through the interpretation of in situ and airborne tracer measurements.
The TRACER-MAP campaign completed a series of successful moves around Houston in July and August.
- The Project Objectives are to:
Graduate students will have the opportunity to participate in large, multi-institution field campaigns, to learn new online and offline analytical instrumentation (e.g. proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, tricolor absorption photometer, nephelometer, accelerated solvent extraction of aerosol filter samples, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, thermal desorption GCMS-MS, ion chromatography), to learn data analysis techniques (e.g. data management in MATLAB and IGOR and source apportionment by positive matrix factorization and chemical mass balance modeling), back trajectory analysis and remote sensing (e.g. satellite based aerosol optical depth, fire counts, and smoke products). We are looking for students from a variety of backgrounds including chemistry, environmental science, geosciences or engineering. Previous experience with air quality or atmospheric chemistry is not required. Application for PhD positions is preferred, but Masters applicants are welcome as well.
The Sheesley and Usenko research groups have strong ties in Texas and beyond and students will have the opportunity to collaborate with other research groups and present their work at national and international conferences. The Department of Environmental Science at Baylor University is a growing department with strong support from the University. Please contact Sheesley (Rebecca_sheesley@baylor.edu) and/or Usenko (Sascha_usenko@baylor.edu) if you are interested.
https://blogs.baylor.edu/rebecca_sheesley/
Anticipated start date winter or fall 2024. The successful candidate will receive a competitive stipend with health insurance and full tuition waiver. Applications will continue to be accepted until positions are filled. For more information on graduate studies at Baylor http://www.baylor.edu/environmentalscience/index.php?id=55219 To apply to Graduate School at Baylor https://grad.baylor.edu/apply/