CIRES / NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Research Scientist in Atmospheric Chemistry Measurements and Modeling

CIRES is an internationally recognized leader in innovative environmental science and research and is located at the University of Colorado Boulder. At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) conducts research to advance scientific understanding of the chemical and physical processes that affect Earth's atmospheric composition and climate. Within CSL, the Atmospheric Composition and Chemical Processes program investigates atmospheric constituents and chemical processes affecting air quality, the ozone layer, and climate. ACCP scientists conceive, construct, develop, and deploy advanced instrumentation to measure atmospheric trace gases and aerosols from ground-based and airborne platforms and interpret these observations using laboratory studies and atmospheric models. These efforts support major national and international field campaigns and provide fundamental understanding of the processes controlling atmospheric composition.

• Lead development, characterization, and deployment of advanced atmospheric instrumentation (25%). Lead the development, optimization, operation, and scientific application of chemical ionization mass spectrometry and complementary instrumentation for measurements of reactive trace gases and aerosols, with particular emphasis on airborne measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.
• Lead and participate in atmospheric field research (20%). Develop measurement strategies and lead or participate in domestic and international airborne and ground-based field campaigns. Coordinate instrument integration, field operations, mission science planning, and collaboration with other instrument investigators and project scientists.
• Conduct independent scientific analysis and research (20%). Analyze and interpret complex, multi-instrument atmospheric datasets to investigate chemical and physical processes controlling atmospheric composition. Develop new research questions and integrate observations from multiple measurement platforms and complementary datasets.
• Integrate atmospheric observations and chemical modeling (15%). Apply atmospheric chemical models, including global chemical transport and process models, to interpret field observations, evaluate model representations of atmospheric processes, and find opportunities to improve model predictive capability.
• Communicate scientific results and develop future research activities (10%). Publish research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present results at national and international scientific meetings. Develop new research directions, contribute to competitive research proposals, and build collaborations with scientists within NOAA, CIRES, universities, and other domestic and international research institutions.
• Provide scientific leadership and mentorship (5%). Provide scientific and technical guidance to students, postdoctoral researchers, technical staff, and other early-career scientists involved in atmospheric measurement and modeling activities.
• Perform other relevant duties as necessary (5%).

• This is a full-time Research Scientist position with a targeted start date on February 1,2027.
• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this role. Candidates must be qualified to work in the U.S in a full-time capacity and pass a federal clearance by the targeted start date of February 1, 2027.
• This position will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder but will be physically situated in the David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305, on a federal research campus.
• If you are the finalist, you will be required to pass a background check. Non-US citizens without green cards will have limited building access and require a federal escort in the building.
• The position involves both laboratory and computational research and participation in field measurement campaigns.
• Domestic/international travel will be required for field deployments, scientific meetings, and collaborative research activities.
• Field deployments may involve irregular work schedules, including extended hours during aircraft missions and other intensive measurement periods.
• Expected to work independently while contributing to highly collaborative research projects involving CIRES, NOAA, university, and other national and international partners.
• Contact Alex Baron (alex.baron@colorado.edu) of CIRES for further information concerning this position.

• CIRES offers a generous compensation package.
• The annual hiring salary range for this role is $89,500- $106,000. Salary is commensurate with education and years of experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
• Some relocation funds are available to help offset expenses, following CIRES/the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures.
• This position offers the possibility of some remote work, up to two days per week.
• CIRES/the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development, and a Mentorship Program.
• Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues.
• As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses, and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.
• David Skaggs Research Center is located less than 30 miles from Denver, which is a large, metropolitan city.
• CIRES/NOAA CSL provides an engaged and collaborative research environment and the opportunity to address fundamental questions in atmospheric chemistry relevant to climate, stratospheric composition, and air quality. This role works with a team possessing extensive experience developing and deploying advanced atmospheric instrumentation aboard research aircraft and other observational platforms.
• The position offers opportunities to lead instrument development and field measurements, integrate observations with innovative atmospheric models, develop new research directions, collaborate with national/international research partners, mentor early-career scientists, and contribute to future NOAA and CIRES atmospheric chemistry research programs.

• Ph.D. in chemistry, atmospheric science, physics, engineering, or a related field.
• More than six years of postdoctoral research experience or equivalent professional research experience in atmospheric chemistry or a closely related field.
• Proven experience conducting independent atmospheric research using advanced instrumentation, atmospheric observations, and atmospheric chemical models.
• Demonstrated experience leading research activities, instrumentation projects, or field measurement activities.
• Proven record of communicating scientific results through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national or international scientific meetings.

• Expertise in atmospheric chemistry and the chemical and physical processes controlling atmospheric composition.
• Expertise in the development, operation, and scientific application of advanced instrumentation for measurements of atmospheric trace gases or aerosols.
• Strong skills in scientific data processing, analysis, visualization, and interpretation.
• Ability to independently develop research questions and lead collaborative scientific activities.
• Ability to work effectively with scientists, engineers, technical staff, students, and collaborators in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Excellent written and verbal scientific communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple research priorities and provide scientific and technical leadership.

Please note that while the position details both required and preferred skills and experience, we invite applicants to apply even if they do not have the preferred skills outlined in this section. If you meet the requirements and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply. We encourage on the job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position.

• Experience with chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CIMS) or related mass spectrometric techniques for atmospheric measurements.
• Experience developing/deploying instrumentation aboard high-altitude research aircraft.
• Experience conducting measurements and research in the upper troposphere/ lower stratosphere.
• Experience with global atmospheric chemical transport models such as GEOS-Chem.
• Experience integrating aircraft, ground-based, satellite, and/or monitoring-network observations with atmospheric models.
• Experience developing or modifying atmospheric chemical mechanisms, heterogeneous chemistry schemes, or aerosol process representations in numerical models.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, Fortran, high-performance computing, and/or cloud computing environments.
• Experience preparing competitive research proposals and developing domestic or international scientific collaborations.
• Experience supervising or mentoring students, postdoctoral researchers, or technical staff.