Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Chemistry programme. The position is available from August 2024 or later.
Title:
Center for Chemistry of Clouds (C3) funded PhD in Quantum Chemical Modelling of Aerosol Processes
Research area and project description:
Aerosol particles are ubiquitous constituents in the ambient atmosphere. Aerosol particles influence the global climate, by scattering sunlight away from Earth’s surface and acting as seeds for cloud droplet formation. Combined, these effects lead to an overall cooling of the Earth, directly counteracting the warming effect of greenhouse gases.
According to the IPCC, aerosol particles pose the largest uncertainty in global climate forecast. This uncertainty is originating from the lack of understanding for how aerosol particles grow up to sizes, where they can influence cloud droplet formation.
Using quantum chemical (QC) methods, this project will investigate aerosol processes that influence water uptake. This involves co-condensation of vapours on aerosol surfaces, cluster formation, multi-phase chemical reactions and aerosol phase state. We are in particular interested in the influence of organics on water uptake processes.
The project involves quantum chemical calculations to understand the formation of local clustering centers on aerosol surfaces. Machine Learning (ML) techniques will be applied to boost the QC exploration of chemical space. Depending on the interest of the candidate the division between different elements in the project (QC calculations, ML, coding, ect) can be tailored accordingly.
Assistant Professor Jonas Elm will handle day-to-day supervision in all scientific and other matters. Professor Ove Christiansen will act as the official PhD supervisor. The project is funded via the center of excellence for chemistry of clouds (C3) by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF).
For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. When - as here - you apply for a specific project, please simply copy the project description above, and upload it as a PDF in the application. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found.
Qualifications and specific competences:
Applicants to the PhD position must have or soon complete either: a master’s degree (5+3 scheme) or a bachelor´s degree plus one year of Master´s studies (4+4 scheme), within Chemistry, Physics, Nanoscience or related fields.
The successful candidate should have a strong interest in applying quantum chemical calculations for studying molecular systems of atmospheric relevance. The candidate should have previous experience with electronic structure theory methods such as density functional theory and coupled cluster and have basic knowledge of computer programming (e.g., Python). Explicit knowledge about atmospheric chemistry is not required but will count positively in the assessment.
The ability to work independently and having good communication skills are expected. The candidate will have the opportunity of spending time abroad in an international research group and attending international conferences throughout the project.
Place of employment and place of work:
The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Chemistry, Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Contacts:
Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact:
Assistant Professor Jonas Elm, e-mail: jelm@chem.au.dk
How to apply:
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide. Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying.
When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/
Please note:
At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website, you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.
