"CIRES/Ziemann Research Group Post-Doctoral Associate"

CIRES/Ziemann Research Group Post-Doctoral Associate

Requisition Number: 70264

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: Research Faculty

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 20-Mar-2026

Date Posted: 27-Feb-2026

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder welcomes applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate within the Ziemann Research Group. This position will be responsible for conducting laboratory studies of the products and mechanisms of monoterpene oxidation and aerosol formation using an environmental chamber and a suite of analytical instruments and methods. The Ziemann Research Group has decades of experience conducting laboratory studies aimed at identifying and quantifying gas- and particle-phase products formed from the oxidation of volatile organic compounds emitted from biogenic and anthropogenic sources and then using this information to develop chemical mechanisms that can be used to improve air quality models.

Who We Are

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 Ziemann Research Group conducts laboratory studies of the reactions of volatile organic compounds including alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, and oxygenates with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 in order to identify and quantify gas- and particle-phase products. Experiments are conducted in a Teflon environmental chamber, and products are analyzed using a variety of types of mass spectrometry, gas and liquid chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and wet chemistry.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

• Conduct environmental chamber studies of reactions of selected monoterpenes with OH radicals over a range of oxidation regimes using chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) to analyze gas and aerosol products in real time and collect filter and impinger samples for subsequent offline analyses (10%).
• Analyze filter extracts and impinger samples for mass and chemical composition using gravimetry, thermal desorption CIMS, ion trap mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and derivatization-spectrophotometry (40%).
• Use IGOR-based Tofwerk software to analyze CIMS data to determine molecular formulas of gas and aerosol reaction products (15%).
• Use results of chemical analyses from environmental chamber experiments to identify, quantify, and determine volatility of gas and aerosol reaction products (10%).
• Use gas and aerosol product analyses to develop explicit and simplified reaction mechanisms and kinetics models for a range of oxidation regimes (5%).
• Prepare and present results to scientific audiences via journal publications, conference presentations, and/or user-group meetings (15%).
• Perform other duties as necessary (5%).

What You Should Know

• This is a one-year position with the expectation for renewal for a total of two and one-half years.
• The anticipated start date is as soon as possible.

What We Can Offer

• CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
• The annual hiring salary for this position ranges from $65,000 - $70,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
• Some relocation funds are available to help off-set moving expenses, following CIRES and the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures.
• 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 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.

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.

What We Require

• A PhD degree in chemistry, atmospheric science, environmental science, or a related discipline.

What You Will Need

• Knowledge of atmospheric chemistry.
• Ability to conduct mass spectrometry measurements and data analysis.
• Ability to learn new laboratory methods for environmental chamber studies and organic chemical analysis.
• Ability to learn organic oxidation reaction mechanisms.
• Strong work ethic and interest in conducting challenging research on complex atmospheric organic oxidation reactions and aerosol formation.

What We Would Like You to Have

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 and experience 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 gas and liquid chromatography.
• Experience with infrared spectroscopy.
• Experience with wet chemical techniques.
• Experience with laboratory studies of chemical systems.
• Experience with data analysis methods for analytical instrumentation.
• Experience with kinetics modeling.
• Knowledge of mechanisms of atmospheric oxidation of organic compounds.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume/CV.
2. Cover letter briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
3. If you are identified as a finalist, Professor Ziemann will request two letters 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. Please apply by March 20, 2026, to be considered for this position. Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.