The Scholarship

PhD Student (Physics, Applied Mathematics, Simulation Science or Computer Science)

Inverse Modeling and Tomography in Atmospheric Remote Sensing

Ref.  D070/2010

With 4400 staff members Forschungszentrum Jülich is the largest interdisciplinary research centre in Germany focusing its research in the fields of health, environment and energy, and information technology.

For a research project at the Institute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere – Stratosphere (ICG-1), we are seeking a Ph.D. student to join our team working on improving new methodology and algorithms for remote sensing measurements. The intention is to identify trace species, temperatures, and cloud properties in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.

Background:
The construction of next-generation remote-sensing instruments, combining imaging Michelson interferometers and infrared detector arrays, makes high demands on data processing and scientific interpretation. The two German research centers at Jülich and Karlsruhe are constructing such an instrument in a joint project. The instrument known as GLORIA-AB (Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere – AirBorne)will fly on the new German High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO) and is proposed for an ESA satellite mission.

Tasks:
The PhD position will focus on the derivation of water vapor and cloud properties. This includes the integration of a high-precision forward model into the retrieval processor and the construction of appropriate regularizations as well as the investigation of their influence on precision, accuracy and spatial resolution. The candidate will have the opportunity to participate in measurement campaigns and perform a scientific analysis of this data.

Our software is mainly written in C++ and Python and runs on supercomputers at Forschungszentrum Jülich. We use several state-of-the-art software development tools, such as unit tests, mercurial, buildbot, scons, doxygen, moinmoin wiki, etc.. Python modules used extensively are numpy, scipy, matplotlib, mayavi2 and others. We are currently porting or wrapping substantial parts of the C++ code to python using Boost::Python.

Requirements:
A university degree in a scientific subject (physics, mathematics, computer/simulation) with a good final grade (in the German system 2.0 or better); sound mathematical and programming skills (C++ and/or Python); a well-developed ability to work in a team with international colleagues; ability to work independently. Prior knowledge of atmospheric science would be of advantage.

For more information please contact Dr. Martin Kaufmann, Institute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere – Stratosphere (ICG-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, e-mail: m.kaufmann@fz-juelich.de.

Equal opportunity is a cornerstone of our staff policy. Applications from disabled persons are welcomed. Payment of the PhD fellow will be based on salary grade 13/2 Collective Agreement for the Civil Service (TVöD). Depending on the candidate’s profile and the subject of his/her PhD thesis an additional allowance may be granted.

Please send your application with the relevant documentation to: Mr K. Beumers, Institut für Chemie und Dynamik der Geosphäre (ICG-TA), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425 Jülich, Germany; e-mail: k.beumers@fz-juelich.de.

Closing date for applications is October 29, 2010.

Application Deadline : 29 October 2010