Research Engineer for ACTRIS Sweden at the Department of Physics, Division of Nuclear Physics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Work duties

The position is connected to the Atmospheric Aerosol Group, studying airborne particles, within the Division of Nuclear Physics at the Department of Physics. Our research activities deal with role of atmospheric aerosols in the important environmental issues of climate and health.

The research engineer shall work fulltime within ACTRIS Sweden, a national research infrastructure project recently approved by the Swedish Research Council. The research engineer will handle and service several instruments for long-term observations of atmospheric aerosols and reactive trace gases at the Lund University combined ICOS-ACTRIS station at Hyltemossa in southern Sweden (60 km north of Lund; https://www.icos-sweden.se/hyltemossa). The research engineer will also maintain and further develop the additional equipment and buildings that are essential for the operation of the research infrastructure. The work will be carried out both in Lund and at the Hyltemossa station.

ACTRIS (www.actris.eu) performs long-term observations of short-lived climate forcers and pollutants (such as aerosols and reactive trace gases) as a basis for estimates of their effects on climate and air quality. ICOS performs long-term observations of long-lived greenhouse gases, most importantly carbon dioxide (https://www.icos-cp.eu/). All these observations are planned to run for several decades. Both ICOS and ACTRIS have attained European ESFRI Landmark research infrastructure status.

The approved five-year period 2022-2026 is the start-up and implementation phase of ACTRIS Sweden. ACTRIS Sweden is coordinated by Lund University, with four other Swedish universities and SMHI as participating Research-Performing Organisations.

The on-line in-situ instruments at the Hyltemossa station that will be handled and serviced by the  research engineer are instruments for (i) aerosol particle size  distributions in the interval 3 nm – 10 micrometer, (ii) aerosol particle light scattering (nephelometer), (iii) aerosol particle light absorption (soot photometer), (iv) aerosol particle chemical composition using mass spectrometry, (v) cloud condensation nuclei and (vi) reactive trace gases (volatile hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone).

All observations with these instruments will be performed in full compliance with the recommendations issued by European ACTRIS. The work duties also include quality assurance of the observations and quality control of the acquired data as well as reporting data to the central ACTRIS data base.

Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• A PhD or equivalent research qualification within the subject of the position.
• Experience in handling and servicing several instruments for long-term observations of atmospheric aerosols and reactive trace gases.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Driver´s license for cars.

Other merits

• Experience in experimental work on atmospheric aerosols and reactive trace gases within European ACTRIS or similar infrastructures or networks for short-lived climate forcers and pollutants.
• Experience in experimental work on atmospheric aerosols, in particular experience in on-line in-situ instruments for observations of aerosol particle size distributions, aerosol particle light scattering, aerosol particle light absorption, cloud condensation nuclei and aerosol particle chemical composition using mass spectrometry.
• Experience in experimental work on reactive trace gases.
• Experience in analysis of large aerosol data sets obtained with on-line in-situ aerosol instruments.
• Experience in programming and using software for control and evaluation of data from on-line in-situ aerosol instruments.
• Demonstrated ability to publish in leading international scientific journals.
• Experience in supervision and tutoring, in particular on experimental work using on-line in-situ aerosol instruments.

We will place great emphasis on personal suitability. Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills within a research group responsible for the operation of a national research infrastructure, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen the research infrastructure work within the department, as well as contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment

Permanent position, 100 % research engineer.

Probationary employment might be applied.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications should include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the employment corresponds to your qualifications. The application should also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).