Postdoctoral Position in Environmental Engineering

Application Window

The Apte Group at University of California, Berkeley is searching for one to three outstanding postdoctoral researchers to conduct innovative interdisciplinary research centered on air pollution and aerosols. Broadly, we are interested in how air pollution connects to other major local and global challenges, including environmental justice, environmental health, climate change, energy, and development.

Focus Areas: The specific area(s) of research will be determined based on available funding and mutual interest between the successful candidate and Prof. Apte. Active areas of research in Prof. Apte’s lab group include the development and application of air pollution assessment methods at the local, national and global scale. Current priority research areas include:

Methods:

• Hyperlocal air quality mapping: Methods and applications of mobile monitoring for mapping urban air pollution sources and impacts at high spatial resolution using a combination of fast-response analyzers and spectrometers.

• Reduced-complexity air quality models: Development and application of reduced-complexity models (InMAP) for use in California, USA, and South Asia.

• Hyperlocal inverse modeling: Development and application of inverse modeling methods to characterize fine-scale emissions patterns in cities.

• Other: observation and modeling methods, including satellite remote sensing, sensor networks, and chemical transport models.

Applications and Themes:

• Air pollution disparities: Investigations of air pollution disparities faced by frontline / overburdened / disadvantaged communities in California and elsewhere in the US. We use a wide range of modeling and measurement methods to understand drivers of current inequalities and identify impactful solutions to address these disparities.

• Particulate matter exposure in disadvantaged communities: Major upcoming mobile monitoring field campaign focused on mapping and characterizing aerosols in disadvantaged communities across California.

• Air pollution in South Asia: Ongoing research partnerships to understand sources of and solutions to air pollution in India and elsewhere in South Asia.

• Aerosol dynamics and atmospheric chemistry: Characterization of how atmospheric and/or aerosol processes influence human exposures to emissions.

• Energy and climate change: Investigations of how policies and energy transitions aimed at addressing climate change will impact exposures and disparities associated with air pollutant emissions.

• Air pollution health impacts at local and global scales.

Available Resources: The Apte Group currently consists of approximately 12 researchers, composed of doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and professional staff. Our facilities include a mobile air quality laboratory for characterizing the composition of gaseous and particle-phase air pollutants, a dry lab with extensive scientific-grade gas and particle instrumentation, and state-of-the-art high performance computing facilities.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to work with Prof. Apte to develop a portfolio of high-quality research, contribute to mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, oversee modeling studies and/or field campaigns, and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

Bargaining Unit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/resources/employment-policies-contracts/bargaining-units/postdoctoral-scholars/contract/

Lab: https://apte.berkeley.edu/

• PhD or equivalent international degree, or enrolled in a PhD or equivalent international degree granting program.

• PhD (or equivalent international degree).
• No more than three years of post-degree research experience.

• A PhD degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Health, or a related field must be awarded by the start date of the project.
• A track record of peer-reviewed publications should be evident by the time of application.
• A technical background related to air pollution is preferred. This could include field measurements, modeling and/or other air pollution observational/analysis, or other technical methods.
• A background in aerosol measurements is desirable for some potential projects.

• 3 required (contact information only)

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.