Vacancies in Canadian Arctic Atmospheric Research

The High Arctic is changing rapidly and these changes are important, both within the region and as their influence propagates out to lower latitudes. Using measurements from the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) at Eureka, Nunavut and measurements from other sites around the Arctic and the rest of the globe, the Probing the Atmosphere of the High Arctic (PAHA) project will investigate the atmosphere of the Canadian High Arctic. This project operates in association with the NSERC CREATE Training Program in Arctic Atmospheric Science (CREATE-AAS). More details about PEARL and the CREATE-AAS projects can be found at at http://www.candac.ca and http://www.candac.ca/create/

Post-Doctoral Fellows are needed for the following projects and institutions:

Composition Measurements - University of Toronto - Measurements of atmospheric composition, made with UV-visible and Fourier transform infrared spectrometers at PEARL, are being used to investigate biomass burning and continental influence on the Arctic, greenhouse gases related to the carbon cycle, and ozone and related species. This PDF position will involve instrument operations; the collection, retrieval, numerical analysis of data; and interpretation of the measurements to address scientific questions related to long-range transport in the Arctic, the carbon cycle, and ozone depletion and recovery.

Clouds and Aerosols - Université de Sherbrooke / Dalhousie University - Active / passive remote sensing measurements from ground-based and satellite sensors will be employed to better understand the bulk and per-particle tropospheric and stratospheric properties of clouds and aerosols over the Arctic. This PDF position will involve the collection, validation, source determination and analysis of cloud and aerosol properties as well as associated precipitation dynamics in order to better understand the variability of aerosol-induced, Arctic cloud formation and the radiative forcing impacts of this variability.

The Polar Vortex - University of Saskatchewan - The Polar Vortex theme focuses upon hemispheric linkages with ENSO, QBO, solar activity and oceans. Candidates are expected to have a rich graduate or post-graduate background in atmospheric sciences [0-90km] especially dynamics, which includes winds and waves [planetary, tidal and gravity waves]. Data from archives [radars, satellites, GCM-assimilation] are to be used, requiring sophisticated analyses e.g. complex correlations, 'remotesensing' techniques, wavelets, frequency /wave-number spectra, vortex characterization, teleconnections, and EP flux.

Mesospheric Observations - University of New Brunswick - PEARL is home to a number of upper atmosphere instruments and these are linked to a broader network of instrumentation covering the Polar Cap. This PDF position would require expertise in statistical analyses of spatial/temporal time series and the sampling associated with satellites and ground based instruments with the objective of the diagnosis of tides and gravity and Rossby waves.

Lidar Measurements - Dalhousie University - There are several lidar instruments at PEARL measuring clouds, aerosols, water vapour, ozone and other atmospheric properties. The continued development and analysis of data from these lidars is a requirement for several of the PAHA projects. The PDF position will involve the technical aspects of the lidar systems including upgrading, operating and developing analysis software. On the scientific side the lidars will be operated in concert, in part to investigate stratosphere-troposphere coupling. System upgrades will include installing new counting electronics and upgrading the data acquisition software.

Satellite Validation - University of Toronto - Satellite validation establishes the accuracy and reliability of satellite measurements through comparisons with well-characterized data sets. We are using the PEARL data set for validating current satellite missions focusing on trace gases and aerosol properties. This PDF position will involve conducting statistical comparisons between PEARL and satellite data sets (initially ACE, GOSAT and OSIRIS); employing innovative comparison methods; and collaborating with satellite science teams and other ground-based measurement sites.

Depending upon the development and interests of the candidates and the PAHA project, there may be opportunity for field work at PEARL. This would entail working in the High Arctic in remote conditions far from medical and technical resources. Depending upon the season, temperatures can vary from -55C to +20C and PEARL is deep inside the Arctic Circle with long period of 24-hour darkness in the winter and 24-hour daylight in the summer.

Applicants should submit a resume and a statement indicating how they would expect to contribute to one or more of the above projects. Applicants should also arrange for two academic references to be submitted. Applications and references should be sent by e-mail in either PDF or DOC format to applications@candac.ca

Review of applications will begin on May 15, 2013. Decisions will be made before June 15, 2013.

Appointments under this program will be limited to a maximum of two years. Other conditions will be those of the university of residence for the PDF.

Graduate Students

There are also opportunities for graduate students at both the M.Sc and Ph.D. Level for projects broadly similar to the ones discussed above for the PDFs at several Canadian universities starting on or after September 2013. Interested students are invited to access the web-sites listed in the introduction and contact potential supervisors directly. Alternatively send an e-mail to applications@candac.ca giving an outline of your qualifications and interests and we will direct it as appropriate. Most graduate students associated with these projects have the opportunity to work at PEARL and to participate in outreach activities in the Arctic and Southern Canada in addition to their regular programs.

Undergraduate Summer Internships

The CREATE-AAS program has an undergraduate summer internship program for Arctic Atmospheric Research. More details can be found at http://www.candac.ca/create/ and it is not too early to be thinking about summer 2014!!

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. All the universities involves are Employment Equity/Affirmative Action employers. They encourage applications from qualified Aboriginal people, persons with a disability, visible minority group members and women.