Job Description: The UC Davis Air Quality Research Center seeks an Assistant Project Scientist for the collaborative development of an active research program focused on chemical analysis of ambient particulate matter samples from both IMPROVE and CSN national networks. He/she will help to determine research goals in consultation with the Principal Investigator, design specific projects, develop methods and techniques, trouble-shoot problems, interpret results and plan follow-up experiments. The applicant will also provide leadership, supervision and training for postdoctoral researchers, students and other laboratory co-workers. He/she will communicate the results of these activities to the respective funding agencies.
The applicant will be expected to: evaluate measurement error, uncertainties and long-term trends in IMPROVE and CSN network data; develop calibration standards, reference materials and measurement protocol for TOR analysis; design and carryout inter-laboratory comparisons studies, as well as interact and collaborate with on- and off-campus researchers; communicate research results to the funding agencies for IMPROVE and CSN. The applicant is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and up-keep of the related instruments present in the analytical laboratory. He/she will also develop laboratory quality assurance procedures and validation checks to ensure efficient and effective quality control of the data.

The applicant will publish research results in peer-reviewed publications, either independently or in collaboration with the PI and/or other members of the research team. Additionally, he/she will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field of research and will serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications as appropriate. The applicant is encouraged to engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service as time permits. Teaching classroom courses is not an expectation of this position.

Qualifications:

• PhD in atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, chemistry or related field with a minimum 3 years of research experience in atmospheric sciences.
• Strong background in air quality sampling, experimental design, and statistical data analysis.
• Strong publication record.
• Previous experience with chemical analysis of atmospheric particulate matter is required.
• Previous experience with thermal-optical analysis is preferred. Previous programming experience in R and SQL is strongly preferred.

Applications can be sent from February 6 until May 31, 2025.

https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06964