Project assistant in analysis of forestry data

Description of the workplace 

The position is at the Division of Combustion Physics at Lund University. The aerosol research group studies atmospheric aerosol particles and their impact on climate and air quality using in-situ and satellite measurements, process modelling and global modelling. The group is part of the strategic research area MERGE (https://www.merge.lu.se) with a focus on climate modelling. Aerosol research has been conducted in Lund since the 1970s and is today a profile area at LTH. See homepage: https://www.lth.se/english/research/profile-areas/aerosols/.

The department has about 70 employees and is located in the Enoch Thulin Laboratory at the Department of Physics. We actively promote a friendly and supportive work environment, with a well-being group that arranges social activities such as game nights and excursions.

The assistant will be linked to the modelling work within the division and work with model data on how forests release organic gases into the air, so-called terpenes, and how these emissions affect the concentrations at different measuring stations, with which the models' results are validated. With the help of this, it can be determined whether different emission databases of terpenes are uncertain and need to be improved, in order to better simulate atmospheric concentrations and the airborne aerosol particles these substances form and with which the climate is strongly affected. The position is funded by the Horizon Europe project CLIMB-FOREST, which aims to propose alternative forest management practices for a future resilient and climate-cooling forestry in Europe.   

We offer 

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.
Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee Work at Lund University 

Work duties 

You will work with the evaluation of three different emission databases and compare with measured emissions of terpenes to understand how the emissions depend on weather and other conditions, making it possible to understand how uncertain the emission databases are and how we can constrain them towards the measured ones. An analysis is made of how the uncertain emissions propagate in uncertainties around modeled terpene concentrations with the atmospheric model ADCHEM through a comparison with measured concentrations. The terpenes contribute to aerosol particle formation, and thus inaccuracies in the emission database of terpenes also propagate to uncertainties in modeled aerosol concentrations, which are also compared with measured data.

You will work with measurement data at the Swedish forest stations Hyltemossa and Norunda and the Finnish Hyytiälä to compare modelled with measured emissions and concentrations. An analysis is then included in a suitable analysis and visualisation tool to illustrate the conditions at the stations and over modelled concentrations.

You will not run or develop models or perform new measurements. Duties also include writing scientific publications related to the research. You are expected to participate in project meetings and present results at scientific conferences.

Qualifications

 
Required qualifications for the position are: 

• Master's degree from a related research area.
• Modeling experience.
• Knowledge of programming for analysis of measurement data and visualization.
• Experience from scientific publishing and participation in conferences.
• The work requires independence and the ability to cooperate.

Additional qualifications for the position are: 

• Experience in evaluation of ADCHEM model data of terpenes and aerosol particles.
• Experience in data evaluation of measured terpene emissions, concentrations and aerosol particles, especially the particle number size distribution at different field stations in the Nordic countries.
• It is a merit if the assistant has worked with several different emission databases of terpenes.
• Education in tree physiology.

Further information 

The employment is limited in time with a scope of 100 % starting on 1 September 2026, or as agreed, and lasting 3 months.

How to apply 

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificates or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)”  

Welcome with your application!