PhD fellowship in Atmospheric Chemistry

PhD fellowship in Atmospheric Chemistry- PhD Project on formation processes of highly oxygenated molecules in the atmosphere

Department of Chemistry
Faculty of SCIENCE
University of Copenhagen

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in atmospheric chemistry focusing on oxidation of volatile organic compounds. The position will commence on 1 September 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

The oxidation of organic compounds in the atmosphere is a source for aerosol particles that affect both human health and climate. Early stages of particle formation requires vapours of very low-volatility. The current project funded by Novo Nordisk Foundation will focus on one group of such vapours called highly oxygenated organic molecules and will apply both experimental and theoretical methods to determine the pathways and rates of their formation. The successful candidate will lead the relevant experiments in an oxidation flow reactors, develop and apply highly sensitive mass spectrometric tools, process measurement data and perform computations. Training will be provided in atmospheric phenomena, atmopheric oxidation, chemical ionization mass spectrometry, experimental methods and data analysis.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for exceptional candidates with experience in Atmospheric Chemistry. Applicants can have a background from Chemistry, Atmospheric or Environmental Science. We are looking for candidates who have experience in both experimental and theoretical methods interested in conducting interdisciplinary research that bridges laboratory experiments and real atmosphere. Ideally, the candidate has already at least one year of Master degree completed.

Our group and research

The successful candidate will be a part of a group led by Assistant Professor Olga Garmash. In the group, we integrate laboratory and field measurements of atmospheric composition to understand the chemical reactions that lead to the formation of particulate matter in urban and remote environments. We are a newly established international research group currently consisting of three people. Our group has a wide international collaboration and access to state-of-the-art facilities. We work towards fostering and inclusive, supportive and team oriented work environment.

The group is a part of Physical Chemistry Section, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. We are located at Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Copenhagen. Further information on the Department is linked at http://www.science.ku.dk/english/about-the-faculty/organisation/.

Supervisor isAssistant Professor,Olga Garmash, Department of Chemistry, [email protected] Direct Phone: +4593588642

Principal Supervisor is Professor, Henrik Grum Kjærgaard, Department of Chemistry.

Expected starting date: 1 September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Duration: 3 years as PhD fellow or up to 5 years within integrated MSc and PhD programme

The PhD programme

Depending of your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

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Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Atmospheric Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, or Physics. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme

If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Chemistry.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year.

A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,820.

When you have obtainedtheMSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Completing and passing the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
• Carrying through an independent research project under supervision
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participating in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution
• Obtaining experience with teaching and other types of dissemination related to the PhD project
• Disseminate project results in international peer-review journals as first author
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Documented knowledge in atmospheric science subject
• Documented experience working in an atmospheric chemistry lab; experience working with photochemical reactors is an advantage
• Experience in using analytical equipment in gas-phase oxidation studies
• Experience with analysis of experiemental data
• Familiarity with conducting quantum chemical computations and relevant software
• A curious mind-set with a strong interest in combining physical chemistry methods with atmospheric science in context of solving global challenges
• Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, capacity for analytical thinking, ability to collaborate, creativity, initiative, independence, and an openness to other cultures
• Excellent English skills, written and spoken

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position. CV should also include information on reference contacts.
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)

Application deadline:

The deadline for applications is Monday 24 June 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Kilde: Jobnet.dk