Open date: October 2, 2023
Next review date: Monday, Oct 16, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Monday, Nov 20, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Interested in using your atmospheric modeling skills to help address climate change? The Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology group at UC Berkeley invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to participate in a modeling project whose broader impacts are to reduce emissions of methane, a short-lived climate pollutant and potent greenhouse gas, from landfills. The postdoc should also eed to mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
The project is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and we will be working in close collaboration with the University of Delaware, UC Davis, and industry partners.
Project overview:
Landfills contribute 26% of anthropogenic methane emissions in the US and are now widely recognized as key mitigation targets for climate change action. Accurate emissions estimates are required to keep track of annual emissions and to identify landfills emitting too much methane so that mitigation strategies such as landfill gas capture can be implemented to reduce emissions. There is, however, limited knowledge on which measurement technologies actually provide accurate measures of the emissions from landfills. In this work, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model will be used to predict methane emissions at two landfills with extensive field data available. The WRF model will be used to assess the accuracy of several current or emerging measurement technologies that rely on wind to generate the downwind plume. We expect that this project will improve uncertainty estimates for methane emissions from different measurement technologies at much less cost than field testing alone.
The postdoc will gain important research experience in moving promising numerical and field-research findings towards novel and societally impactful methane measurement technologies. This includes gaining experience in the design, setup, evaluation, and interpretation of atmospheric simulations. The postdoc will gain experience working with field data, model output, and collaborating closely with research and industry partners.
Under direct supervision of and direct interaction with the Principal Investigator, the Postdoc Employee will:
Lead the team effort in atmospheric modeling of methane emissions from landfill sites, including evaluation of emerging measurement technologies.
Participate in the analysis, organization and interpretation of data collected from landfill sites and from model output.
Write scientific peer reviewed papers for publication, periodic reports to funders, present results at select conferences with presentations and posters.
Participate in weekly meetings, in developing ideas for new technical advances, in writing proposals.
PhD or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in a PhD or equivalent international degree granting program.
PhD or equivalent international degree.
The candidate should have no more than three years of post-degree research experience.
Desired skills:
In addition to a PhD in a relevant atmospheric science or engineering field, candidates should possess the following skills and training or a demonstrated ability to fill in gaps in their background:
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Help contact: tinakc@berkeley.edu
UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).
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