Job Details

CIRES/Ziemann Research Group Post-Doctoral Associate

Position Number: 6965238
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Laboratory and Research

CIRES/Ziemann Research Group Post-Doctoral Associate

Requisition Number: 70264
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 20-Mar-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder welcomes applications for a Post-Doctoral Associate within the Ziemann Research Group. This position will be responsible for conducting laboratory studies of the products and mechanisms of monoterpene oxidation and aerosol formation using an environmental chamber and a suite of analytical instruments and methods.

The Ziemann Research Group has decades of experience conducting laboratory studies aimed at identifying and quantifying gas- and particle-phase products formed from the oxidation of volatile organic compounds emitted from biogenic and anthropogenic sources and then using this information to develop chemical mechanisms that can be used to improve air quality models.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At CIRES, more than 900 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.

The Ziemann Research Group conducts laboratory studies of the reactions of volatile organic compounds including alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, and oxygenates with OH and NO3 radicals and O3 in order to identify and quantify gas- and particle-phase products. Experiments are conducted in a Teflon environmental chamber, and products are analyzed using a variety of types of mass spectrometry, gas and liquid chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and wet chemistry.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Conduct environmental chamber studies of reactions of selected monoterpenes with OH radicals over a range of oxidation regimes using chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) to analyze gas and aerosol products in real time and collect filter and impinger samples for subsequent offline analyses (10%).
Analyze filter extracts and impinger samples for mass and chemical composition using gravimetry, thermal desorption CIMS, ion trap mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and derivatization-spectrophotometry (40%).
Use IGOR-based Tofwerk software to analyze CIMS data to determine molecular formulas of gas and aerosol reaction products (15%).
Use results of chemical analyses from environmental chamber experiments to identify, quantify, and determine volatility of gas and aerosol reaction products (10%).
Use gas and aerosol product analyses to develop explicit and simplified reaction mechanisms and kinetics models for a range of oxidation regimes (5%).
Prepare and present results to scientific audiences via journal publications, conference presentations, and/or user-group meetings (15%).
Perform other duties as necessary (5%).

What You Should Know

This is a one-year position with the expectation for renewal for a total of two and one-half years.
The anticipated start date is as soon as possible.

What We Can Offer

CIRES offers a generous compensation and benefits package.
The annual hiring salary for this position ranges from $65,000 - $70,000. Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
Some relocation funds are available to help off-set moving expenses, following CIRES and the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures.
CIRES and the University of Colorado boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development and a Mentorship Program.
Boulder is a vibrant community with access to mountain parks, dog parks, miles of trails, rivers, lakes, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, theaters, museums, and sports venues.
As an employee at CU Boulder, you will have free access to the regional public transit system, an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that service Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be open. Be Boulder.

What We Require

A PhD degree in chemistry, atmospheric science, environmental science, or a related discipline.

What You Will Need

Knowledge of atmospheric chemistry.
Ability to conduct mass spectrometry measurements and data analysis.
Ability to learn new laboratory methods for environmental chamber studies and organic chemical analysis.
Ability to learn organic oxidation reaction mechanisms.
Strong work ethic and interest in conducting challenging research on complex atmospheric organic oxidation reactions and aerosol formation.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV.
Cover letter briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
If you are identified as a finalist, Professor Ziemann will request two letters of recommendation at a later time.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.

Please apply by March 20, 2026, to be considered for this position.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/CIRES-Ziemann-Research-Group-Post-Doctoral-Associate/70264