Senior Research Associate

Senior Research Associate: Atmospheric Chemistry Modelling of Halogenated Very Short-Lived Substances

Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) seek a Senior Research Associate to study the impacts of halogen chemistry on atmospheric composition. This is a 3-year position with a start date in early 2023 sought.

With the Kigali Amendment coming into force, the Montreal Protocol enters a new phase in which production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) will be controlled in most major economies. This landmark achievement will enhance the Protocol's already-substantial climate benefits, in addition to its success in protecting Earth’s ozone layer. However, recent scientific advances have shown that challenges lie ahead for the Protocol, due to (1) newly discovered production of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) thought to be phased-out, (2) rapid growth of ozone-depleting Very Short-Lived Substances (VSLS) not controlled under the Protocol, and (3) the potential for damaging impacts of halocarbon degradation products. The successful candidate will investigate how regional and global emissions of industrial VSLS have changed over time and apply the UKCA chemistry-climate model (CCM) to investigate the impact of these emissions on atmospheric ozone.

Lancaster University is a UK top-15 university in all three main domestic league tables and was 2020 International University of the Year (Sunday Times Good University Guide). LEC forms one of the largest most prestigious European groupings of environmental researchers and is the University’s largest department. Atmospheric Science is a major LEC research theme and the atmospheric science group is extensively involved in major national and international research projects and is renowned for research excellence.

Role

Funded as part of the new £4M NERC InHALE (Investigating HALocarbon impacts on the global Environment) project, you will conduct research under the supervision of Dr Ryan Hossaini to support the UN Montreal Protocol in protecting Earth’s ozone layer and climate. You will work closely with the project consortium to investigate how emissions of halogenated VSLS have changed over time and their impact on ozone and ozone trends.

Specific activities you will perform:

• Develop time-varying emissions inventories for halogenated VSLS.
• Develop the UKCA CCM to include an up-to-date representation of halogenated VSLS.
• Evaluate the representation of tropospheric and stratospheric halogen species in UKCA by utilising measurement data (e.g. ground-based, aircraft, satellite).
• Perform CCM experiments to quantify the contribution of VSLS to stratospheric halogens under present day and future conditions.
• Determine dynamical and chemical drivers of ozone variability and trends.

Where appropriate:

• Participate in national and international meetings to disseminate findings and to learn of current advances in the field.
• Lead the writing of research papers and other publications.
• Contribute to the LEC atmospheric science group website and help organise group meetings.

The University provides an environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee, whilst promoting the importance of wellbeing for all our colleagues. We have a range of support networks available for our employees, and more information on these can be found on the ‘Working at Lancaster’ information page.

We are committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies on an individual basis. The University recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in higher education.

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.

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