Empa

Physicist or Chemist for atmospheric measurements using laser spectroscopy to improve our understanding of carbon cycling

Dübendorf, Schweiz

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Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. Empa is a research institution of the ETH Domain.

The Laboratory for Air Pollution / Environmental Technology focuses on the emissions, transport, and fate of anthropogenic air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Our research provides the scientific ground for most effectively reducing their impact by assessing and driving technical solutions supporting emission reduction, and by guiding decision makers in the field of environmental politics.

Stable isotope and radiocarbon analysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) are the most direct tools to distinguish biogenic / renewable sources and fossil fuel combustion, and to support mitigation efforts towards carbon neutrality. We aim for long-term and continuous monitoring of CO2 stable isotopes (13C, 18O) in ambient air at remote locations (e.g. Jungfraujoch), and we will establish the world-wide first spectrometer for continuous radiocarbon (14C) analysis in atmospheric CO2.

As part of the Swiss contribution to the ICOS network (https://www.icos-switzerland.ch) and a recently SNSF funded research infrastructure, we are looking for a highly motivated physicist or chemist with strong interest and skills in analytics, automation and data analysis.

Physicist or Chemist for atmospheric measurements using laser spectroscopy to improve our understanding of carbon cycling

Your tasks

Contribute to the development of a laser spectrometer platform for CO2 stable isotope analysis and its integration into an automated commercial 14CO2 spectrometer (SCAR) for first continuous radiocarbon measurement in ambient air.
Regular maintenance and servicing of a CO2 isotope spectrometer at the high alpine research station Jungfraujoch.
Analyse and visualize measurements, develop, validate and automate calibration schemes.
Communicate results in meetings, project reports and scientific journals.

Your profile

MSc or PhD degree in physics, chemistry, or a related discipline.
Strong skills in analytics / measurement techniques and interest in complex automated setups.
Software skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB or R, 3D CAD).
Good verbal and written communication skills in English. German skills are highly advantageous.
Self-responsibility and willingness for open communication and committed teamwork.

Our offer

We are a dynamic research team, dedicated to advancing the use of laser spectroscopy to address environmentally relevant and health related research questions. We are offering a multifaceted and challenging position for 2 years (with the possibility of extension) in a modern research environment with excellent infrastructure. Working place will be at Empa in Dübendorf.

Appointments start preferably by beginning 2025. All applications received before 31 October 2024 will receive full consideration.

We live a culture of inclusion and respect. We welcome all people who are interested in innovative, sustainable and meaningful activities - that's what counts.

We look forward to receiving your complete online application including a letter of motivation, CV, transcripts of diplomas and contact details of two reference persons. Please submit these exclusively via our job portal. Applications by e-mail and by post will not be considered.