NIST Secondary Organic Aerosol Chemistry
NIST seeks proposals to study the chemical reactions and kinetics of volatile organic compounds that form atmospheric aerosols, using novel methods.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Supports postdoctoral research on the chemical mechanisms and kinetics of secondary organic aerosol formation from atmospheric volatile organic compounds using novel experimental and analytical methods at NIST.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; requires contacting a NIST research adviser prior to application.
Description
This fellowship opportunity, offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focuses on advancing the understanding of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) chemistry. SOA formation from atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOC) is a critical but uncertain factor in estimating global radiative forcing. The research aims to probe the chemical mechanisms and kinetics of VOC oxidation reactions that produce condensable aerosol material.
Experimental work involves initiating reactions of photolabile precursors via ultraviolet photolysis within a laminar flow cell. A moveable probe samples the evolving particle distribution, allowing time-dependent monitoring of particle and gas-phase properties. Researchers may apply a variety of diagnostic techniques including tandem differential mobility analysis (tDMA), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), tandem mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), UV-VIS, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
Proposals are encouraged to explore novel reaction schemes or innovative analytical strategies to deepen the understanding of SOA formation chemistry.
