The Cyprus Institute (CyI) is a non‐profit research and educational institution with a strong scientific and technological orientation, emphasizing international collaborations, cross‐disciplinary research, innovation, and post graduate education. CyI, through its established research centers, addresses challenging issues that are important at both the regional and international levels. Many of its research activities are being carried out in partnership with leading institutions in the respective thematic areas.

The Cyprus Institute invites applications for an Associate Research Scientist in Atmospheric Sciences at the CyI's Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE‐C) in the framework of the EU‐H2020 “EMME‐CARE” (Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre; http://emme‐care.cyi.ac.cy/; TEAMING Grant no. 856612), and in cooperation with EU Advanced Partners (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany; University of Helsinki in Finland; and CEA in France).

Position Description 

Greenhouse gases (GHG) and pollutants emissions from the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region have been rising quickly in the last decade and mitigation efforts will be required to keep the goal of the Paris Agreement. In support of national inventories, atmospheric in‐situ and satellite observations of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4) and co‐emitted pollutants (NO2, CO) can be used to quantify emissions and their variability in response to human activities and climate change.

We seek for a motivated researcher in the field of atmospheric modeling and / or data assimilation to build and apply inversion models that will reduce uncertainty on greenhouse gas and co‐emitted pollutants emissions from the EMME region. The goal is to develop new emissions monitoring tools using satellite observations of column integrated CO2 concentrations from OCO2 and OCO3 instruments and of CH4 and NO2 / CO e.g. from S5P TROPOMI and GOSAT. The main system could be the LMDZ PYVAR CIF atmospheric data assimilation system built at LSCE (Laboratoire des Sciences du Climate et de l’Environnement, CEA, France) with a regional zoom over the region of interest.

The selected candidate will be expected to develop a successful research activity on modeling atmospheric GHGs within CARE‐C (Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus), as part of a long‐term collaboration with the LSCE, under the responsibility of Prof. Philippe Ciais and Dr. Frédéric Chevallier. The main output will be new estimates of greenhouse gases and pollutants emissions with a low latency, in support of regional mitigation awareness and policies.
High profile scientific publications are expected from the research as well as policy relevant material such as comparison with official inventories, and regular bulletins of the greenhouse gas budgets of different countries and cities in the Mediterranean and Middle East area.

Supervision and co‐supervision of graduate students, the development of new research projects and involvement into existing ones will be facilitated and supported by scientific and administrative staff at CARE‐C. The successful candidate will be expected to support new research thrust with thehighest international standards, leveraging CyI and CARE‐C resources (45 million euros in the  framework of EMME‐CARE) and utilizing the highly competitive research facilities of the Cyprus Institute such as the “Cy‐Tera” HPC (http://web.cytera.cyi.ac.cy/) and the Cyprus Atmospheric Observatory (CAO, http://www.cyi.ac.cy/index.php/cao.html) which is part of international networks (WMO‐GAW, EMEP, ACTRIS, TCCON).

The successful candidate will be working in a highly international team at CARE‐C (100 research staff from 15 different countries), within a green and peaceful environment (Athalassa Forestry Park) next to all commodities, where English is the exclusive language (for both research and administration). This position may be renewed and possibly turned into an indefinite working contract based on performance and funds availability.

Responsibilities/activities to be involved in:

• Adapt and apply the atmospheric inversion system LMDZ‐PYVAR to quantify greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions in the Mediterranean and Middle east region
• Compare top‐down atmospheric estimates of emissions with bottom‐up activity data and inventories and analyze their mutual consistency
• Work collaboratively with the Greenhouse Gases Emissions Group at CARE‐C and the SATINV team at LSCE
• Write peer reviewed scientific publications about the result of the research
• Develop new research projects with regional stakeholders and research teams in CARE‐C and teaming partners (CEA, MPIC, Univ. Helsinki)
• Supervise graduate students and staff working on the relevant projects

Required Qualifications

• PhD degree on Research Fields such as Atmospheric physics, air quality, greenhouse gas atmospheric modeling
• A minimum of 3 to 5‐year post‐doctoral research experience
• Knowledge of data assimilation / statistics
• Programming skills e.g. python, R, fortran and modeling
• Handling of large datasets
• Statistics and data analysis
• Knowledge of European research programs (e.g. Copernicus)
• International mobility (Europe, Middle East) for scientific collaborations
• Have a demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as working as part of a team
• Capability to develop and manage research projects
• Supervision of students and young scientists
• Excellent interpersonal skills aimed at maintaining contacts in academic, business and governmental circles.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is a prerequisite.
• Strong organizational skills.

Research/Academic experience required:

• Track record of peer reviewed publications
• Track record of conferences communications (e.g. invited presentations)
• Writing of scientific publications
• Presentation of research results to a range of audience (scientific, non‐scientific)

Application
For full consideration, interested applicants should process their application using the Exelsys job platform based on the instructions given. Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae including a short letter of interest and a list of three (3) referees (including contact information) (all documentation should be in English and in PDF Format). For further information, please contact Prof. Philippe Ciais, (p.ciais@cyi.ac.cy). Please note that applications which do not follow the announcement’s guidelines will not be considered.

Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. 

Contact person: Prof. Philippe Ciais

Deadline: 24/9/2021

Reference number: CARE‐C_ARS_21_06