UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Employment Opportunities in the Department

Postdoctoral Researcher in Atmospheric Remote Sensing

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in atmospheric remote sensing at the Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (JIFRESSE-UCLA). As part of a multi-institutional effort, including the JIFRESSE-UCLA, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, we are establishing a core U.S. IASI atmospheric composition science team and develop the capability to process IASI Level-1C (calibrated radiances) at NCAR. We will use this new processing platform as a test-bed for enhancing the radiative transfer and retrieval algorithms for tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) in partnership with our European collaborators. We will also perform cross-satellite instrument comparison of trace gas retrievals under the optimal estimation framework using CO and O3 data with MOPITT and TES.
The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to the initial analysis by studying the radiance residuals and retrieval characteristics from the IASI retrievals performed at NCAR. They will be part of the team that suggests modifications and updates to the algorithm and then evaluates the impact of the changes. In the second phase of the work, the postdoc will focus on intercomparisons of TES and IASI. This is expected to include processing IASI radiances through the TES prototype scheme, and then creating a matched TES-IASI dataset for statistical analysis to characterize biases.
The successful candidate will work with Dr. Annmarie Eldering at JIFRESSE-UCLA and JPL, as well as Dr. Kevin Bowman and Dr. John Worden at JPL, but will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at all of the participating institutions.
Candidates should have a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences or a related field, with experience with radiative transfer and retrievals, as well as data analysis. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled. The position is for one year, renewable for up to two additional years. Interested applicants should send curriculum vitae and the names and contact information of three references to Dr. Annmarie Eldering ( ).
UCLA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to excellence through diversity.

Oct 11, 2011: Post doctoral Researcher Position

The successful applicant will lead the UCLA portion of a multi-institution collaborative combined laboratory and field measurements study of reactive oxygen species in particles. The project involves use of multiple tools, among them HPLC, ICP, and chemical kinetics modeling. Field projects will take up to two months each year, and will require travel off site/away from the area. The position will involve close collaborations with several other institutions.
Requirements: Candidates should have a Ph.D. in a relevant field by the time of the appointment. A record of accomplishment in the field, including recent publications, should be demonstrated. Familiarity with some of the following: aqueous chemistry, laboratory methods, aerosol and separations instrumentation, field measurements and kinetics modeling is highly desirable. The successful candidate must have an excellent driving record and strong communication and teamwork skills. Title and salary will be commensurate with experience, within the flexibility of the funding sources. UCLA also offers excellent benefits.
Interested applicants should send a curriculum vitae, a list of three references, and any other relevant documentation, to Prof. Suzanne Paulson, Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 7127 Math Sciences, 156505, Los Angeles CA 90095-1565, USA ( ). Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Terrestrial Biogeochemistry at UCLA

The Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences at the University of California Los Angeles, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work in the area of trace gas analysis of biosphere-atmosphere exchange. The main focus of the position will be on the carbon and water exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere, specifically to investigate the two concurrent fluxes of photosynthesis and respiration, and understand the response of terrestrial systems to climate change. The project will involve automated measurements of atmospheric trace gases (e.g., CO2, H2O, isotopes, CH4, Carbonyl Sulfide) with laser spectroscopy instruments coupled to leaf and soil chambers, and combine observations and modelling. The candidate is expected to spend time in the field, including three months continuously in 2011 as part of a research team on climate change experiments in the High Arctic tundra in Thule, NW Greenland.

A PhD degree in a discipline such as environmental science, chemistry or physics is required. Scientists with experience in trace gas and isotopic measurements are encouraged to apply. Programming skills (e.g. IDL, Matlab) to analyze high-frequency data sets, and/or experience in stable isotope or eddy-covariance methods would be a plus.

The initial appointment is for one year, and may be extended for up to three years. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled. Please send a CV with the names of two references by email to Ulli Seibt ( ).

The University of California Los Angeles is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows in Atmospheric Chemistry at UCLA

The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of California Los Angeles, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to work in the area of remote sensing of atmospheric trace gases in the tropical upper troposphere from NASA’s Global Hawk platform. The successful candidate will adapt an airborne multi-axis DOAS system to the Global Hawk platform and participate in the NASA-ATTREX field missions in California (2011), Guam (2011), Hawaii (2012), and Australia (2013). The MAX-DOAS data from these field experiments will be analyzed and interpreted using radiative transfer inversion models. The project is a collaboration between the research groups of Jochen Stutz (UCLA) and Klaus Pfeilsticker, Institut für Umweltphysik, University of Heidelberg, Germany. The position is primarily at UCLA, but the candidate is expected to spend time in Germany as well. Scientists with experience in atmospheric spectroscopy and/or radiative transfer are encouraged to apply. A PhD degree in a discipline such as atmospheric/environmental science, chemistry or physics is required. The initial appointment is for one year, and may be extended for up to four additional years. Annual salary depends upon qualification, starting at $45,000.

The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled. Please send a CV with the names of three references by email to Jochen Stutz (

The University of California Los Angeles is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity..edu).