Job description

Within the consortium project CAINA (Cloud-Aerosol interaction in a Nitrogen-dominated Atmosphere (link)), we are looking for a PhD student to investigate new particle formation in the atmosphere and its importance for the production of cloud condensation nuclei. 

The interaction of aerosol particles with clouds has an important, but uncertain cooling effect on the climate. Globally, approximately half the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are produced by new particle formation, where precursor gases in the atmosphere condense to form nanometre-sized particles. However, the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood, especially in regions where reactive nitrogen is the dominant pollutant. In this project, we will investigate how new particles form under high concentrations of reactive nitrogen, how they grow to CCN sizes, and how important this process is for aerosol-cloud interaction in the region. 

This PhD project will be conducted in a close collaboration with the Cyprus Institute, where advanced mass spectrometry and nanoparticle counting methods are available for investigating new particle formation and subsequent growth to CCN. For our atmospheric measurement campaigns, we will make use of the extensive aerosol-cloud measurement infrastructure available at the Ruisdael observatory (www.ruisdael-observatory.nl) in the Netherlands. A stay at Cyprus Institute for training and method development is foreseen in this project.  

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate who enjoys finding answers to fundamental scientific questions by making highly precise and challenging measurements in the ambient atmosphere. If you are interested in aerosols, clouds, and climate, data analysis and you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary team of PhD students and enthusiastic senior researchers, we encourage you to apply for this position.

Link to the full advertisement 

Use this link to apply for the position. Deadline for applications extended until April 17th, 2023