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Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN: The CLOUD-MOTION Innovative Training Network

Geneva

  • Organization: CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Junior level - Junior - Only open to Nationals of all CERN Member States and Associate Member States
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Physics and Mathematics
    • Education, Learning and Training
  • Closing Date: Closed

The EU-funded Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme has two main strategic objectives: to strengthen the scientific and technological base of European industry and to encourage its international competitiveness, while promoting research that supports EU policies.
 
CLOUD-MOTION is a 4-year project providing a training network for the career development of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) at 10 partner institutions across Europe.
 
The environment
CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Physics, is the world's largest laboratory for particle physics. Around 10,000 users from more than 100 countries come to CERN for their research, creating one of the most stimulating and rewarding environments for young reseachers in Europe. Many are working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's most powerful collider and largest research instrument. When you're part of CLOUD at CERN, you will join a research team that values science, technology, creativity and quality. We encourage new ideas from young scientists. You will work with a supportive team from 20 institutes in Europe, the United States and Russia that includes enthusiastic young scientists as well as some of the world's top experimental and theoretical researchers in aerosol nucleation and growth. You will carry out research at the cutting-edge CLOUD facility that addresses one of the most challenging problems in atmospheric science: to understand how aerosols and clouds are affecting climate change.
 
 
How can you take part?
You have a Bachelors' or Masters' degree in Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science or a closely-related science?
You have strong computational skills and good experimental skills?
You are an highly organised person with independent, self-driven personality?
You have good communication skills, and good spoken and written English?
 
 
Apply now!  Two 3-year PhD student (Early Stage Researcher) positions are open: ESR 3 and ESR4 in Atmospheric Research at CERN (CLOUD experiment).
 

Job Reference:

FELL-ITN-CLOUD-MOTION-2017-1

Publication date:

04/10/2017

Closing date:

30/11/2017

Role Description

ESR 3:

Applications are invited from highly-motivated individuals wishing to carry out a PhD thesis on atmospheric research conducted at the CLOUD facility at CERN, with special focus on ion processes and their effects on aerosols and clouds. The successful applicant will be supervised by Prof. Jasper Kirkby at CERN. You will be based at CERN, Geneva, and enrolled as a PhD student at Goethe University Frankfurt.

You will focus on ion processes and their effects on aerosols and clouds. This will involve understanding ion production in the CLOUD chamber from galactic cosmic rays and the pion beam, ion non-uniformities due to imperfect mixing, and ion loss mechanisms, using data obtained with the Neutral and Air Ion Spectrometer (NAIS) and Cluster Ion Counter (CIC). The effect of ions on aerosol particle nucleation and growth will be investigated. You will also develop a charged cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) generator for a variety of monodisperse aerosol. The design will be based on electrospray generation and allow adjustment of CCN charge polarity and magnitude. You will use this novel CCN source at CLOUD to investigate the effect of charge on CCN activation threshold, intra-cloud aerosol scavenging and ice nucleation. You will also take on management responsibilities for coordinating the CLOUD-MOTION ESRs and their analysing instruments during measurement campaigns at CERN. You will be fully integrated within the overall CLOUD research programme, and be a co-author or lead author on CLOUD publications. In addition to close involvement with the CLOUD experimental facility at CERN, you will have the opportunity for secondments to partner institutes.

ESR4:

Applications are invited from highly-motivated individuals wishing to carry out a PhD thesis on interdisciplinary atmospheric research conducted at the CLOUD facility at CERN, with special focus on advanced Linux-based data acquisition systems and process modelling.

The following skills are required: Advanced computational skills and good experimental skills. Linux, C++ and Python programming, data acquisition systems, readout of diverse instruments, data processing, and process modelling.

The successful applicant will be supervised by Prof. Jasper Kirkby at CERN, and Prof. António Amorim and Prof. António Tomé at the University of Lisbon. You will be based at CERN, Geneva, and enrolled as a PhD student at the University of Lisbon.

You will have a major responsibility for the design and development of the Data Acquisition (DAQ) system for the CLOUD facility and for the integration, readout and monitoring of the analysing instruments and control systems during measurement campaigns at CERN. You will also contribute to the development of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the stirred air mixture inside the CLOUD chamber to achieve a quantitative understanding of velocity flows, mixing times and inhomogeneities. You will validate the CFD model with measurements using a flow sensor probe projected inside the CLOUD chamber. The model will be used to optimise the rotation speeds and directions of the two mixing fans in the CLOUD chamber. In collaboration with other ESRs in the network, you will use the CFD model to evaluate the impact of inhomogeneities in temperature, trace gases, ions and particles on physics measurements such as aerosol particle nucleation rates, ion-ion recombination rates, particle loss rates to the chamber walls, or ice freezing temperatures.  You will be fully integrated within the overall CLOUD research programme, and be a co-author or lead author on CLOUD publications. In addition to close involvement with the CLOUD experimental facility at CERN, you will have the opportunity for secondments to partner institutes.

Eligibility conditions

ESRs must, at the time of recruitment

  • (i) be in possession of a university degree, and (ii) have a maximum of four years of full-time research experience, including any period of research training, after obtaining the degree which formally allowed them to embark on a doctorate in the country in which the degree/diploma was obtained or in the host country (irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged).
  • ESRs cannot be PhD holders at the start of their employment contract.
  • The European Commission's mobility rules state: At the time of recruitment by the host organisation, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Short stays such as holidays and/or compulsory national service are not taken into account. Applicants for CERN positions cannot have been at CERN for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.
  • Proficiency in English is required; training in languages can be provided through the ITN's training budget.

Documents required

Applications should include:

  • a completed electronic application form;
  • a Curriculum Vitae;
  • a copy of the last (highest) qualification;
  • a short letter of motivation;
  • two letters of recommendation to give as broad as possible overview of your academic and/or professional achievements.

In the comments field of the application form, please select the research project for which you would like to be considered.

The application and ALL supporting documents have to be submitted using CERN's e-recruitment system by the application deadline.

For further information, please contact Dr Jasper Kirkby

What We Offer

  • Attractive remuneration under employment contract for 36 months.
  • In accordance with the European Commission's allowances for ITNs, there is an additional training allowance to cover training activities, conference attendance, etc.
  • Employment contracts are expected to start on 1 February 2018.

Selection Procedure

  • The selection process will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and may include a video interview.


This vacancy is now closed.
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