New

CIRES / NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory, PTR-ToF-MS Post-Doctoral Associate

CU Boulder
paid time off, tuition assistance
United States, Colorado, Boulder
Aug 11, 2026
Requisition Number: 73972 Location: Boulder, Colorado City Boulder State Colorado Employment Type: Research Faculty Schedule: Full-Time Posting Close Date: 13-Aug-2026 Date Posted: 11-Aug-2026 Close All Job Summary The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder encourages applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position within NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, Colorado. The successful candidate will work in the Tropospheric Chemistry (TC) program along with federal and university employees engaged in research of trace gases and aerosol particles and their impacts on air quality and climate. Our group develops and deploys world-class instrumentation to measure these species in the field on stationary and mobile research platforms, including research aircraft. The successful candidate will become a key member of the CIRES and NOAA CSL's TC Program. This position involves investigating the emissions and atmospheric chemistry of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), during the NASA FarmFlux Earth Venture Suborbital program (EVS-4) in 2027 and future CSL missions and research. The candidate will participate in field research, collecting in-situ atmospheric observations of VOCs aboard a NASA heavy-lift research aircraft during the FarmFlux mission. Data will be used in airborne eddy covariance flux calculations, emissions source identification, source apportionment analyses, and thermodynamic models. Results will be used for comparisons to emissions inventories and assessing the air quality and climate impacts. This position requires domestic travel for field work and scientific meetings totaling up to 3 months per year. This position requires the use of PTR-ToF-MS or other CIMS instruments in close collaboration with other CSL scientists including from the modeling community for the evaluation and improvement of satellites, weather, air quality, and climate models. Individuals without CIMS field campaign experience, but with relevant scientific background in mass spectrometry, instrumentation, modeling and data science, or laboratory studies, are encouraged to apply. CSL has a collaborative lab culture, and we are looking for a candidate who actively subscribes to this philosophy. Successful candidates will demonstrate competency and sensitivity for collaboration. CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Who We Are 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. In the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) of NOAA, researchers develop and use instruments to make scientifically valuable atmospheric measurements, conduct laboratory experiments, design and implement field missions, analyze observations, and use sophisticated computer models to better understand how our changing atmosphere is influencing climate - and therefore people. What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be Analyze and interpret PTR-ToF-MS VOC measurements from FarmFlux and other CSL research and use data for research studies including air quality, wildfires, and climate, as well as measurement studies designed to inform numerical model improvement efforts. (50%) Participate in the planning of group short- and long-term research strategies. (10%) Participate in field campaigns; specifically, the NASA FarmFlux mission. (30%) Present results at scientific meetings and publish them in peer-reviewed literature. (10%) What You Should Know Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position. Additionally, candidates working in the U.S through a visa or a work permit are not eligible for hire in this specific role. The targeted start date for the appointment is October 1, 2026. This is a 2-year position with the possibility for extension. You may be required to travel for field campaigns for up to 3 months per year. 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, a federal campus. If you are the selected finalist, you will be required to pass a federal laboratory background clearance for site access. Contact Sarah Albertin (sarah.albertin@colorado.edu) with any questions. What We Can Offer CIRES offers a generous compensation package. The annual hiring salary range for this position is $65,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on CIRES internal career track classification. This position will be filled at the postdoctoral associate career track level. Some relocation expenses are available for this position following CIRES and the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures. This position can accommodate a hybrid work modality. CIRES and 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 receive a pass allowing free access to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities. Benefits At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program. Be Statements Be flexible. Be talented. Be Boulder. What We Require A Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, meteorology, atmospheric science, environmental engineering, or a closely related field. We will consider candidates who provide examples that demonstrate the following: Experience in experimental physical/atmospheric sciences. Experience in data analysis and programming (such as MATLAB, IDL, or other image visualization software). What You Will Need Demonstrated ability to perform atmospheric composition research, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present at national/international conferences. The ability to work in a team and participate in the development of original research projects. What We Would Like You to Have Please note that while the position details both required skills and desired skills, applicants do not need to have all of the desired skills and experience to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications, have passion for the work, along with experience in a related field, you are encouraged to apply. We provide on-the-job training for any additional skills or knowledge that become relevant to the position. Desired skills include: Experience with PTR-ToF-MS or other CIMS instruments. Experience working with VOC data. Experience coding in MATLAB, Igor, or LabVIEW. A record demonstrating the ability to communicate science through publication and conference presentations. Specific examples of experimental physical sciences experience that are desired include the following: Participate in field measurements. Analyze complex data sets. Troubleshooting and resolving problems with instrumentation. Ability to work in a collaborative environment. Ability to work well in teams, be determined and meet deadlines. Special Instructions To apply, please submit the following materials: Resume or CV. Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position. If you are identified as a finalist, the search committee will request a letter of recommendation at a later time. If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment. This position will close on August 13, 2026. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs. In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.