NRC Postdoctoral Openings
Up to two National Research Council Associate positions are available at the
Air Force Research Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base, 15 miles northwest
of Boston, Massachusetts. We perform laboratory research to better
understand the chemistry and physics of the upper atmosphere. The research
is conducted in an academic style and results are published in the open
literature. U.S. citizenship is required for these positions, and
applicants should be either soon-to-be or recent (past five years) PhD's.
A modest-length proposal, written with input from an AFRL staff member, is
due 15 Jan 2001 together with supporting documentation. The position is
nominally for one year, although it is typically extended to two years
contingent on mutual agreement. Salary is $55,000/year plus $1500 per post
PhD year of experience. See http://national-academies.org/rap
<http://national-academies.org/rap> for further details. We encourage
submissions from motivated individuals, including those who wish to broaden
their experimental knowledge base. Please contact the appropriate scientist
(see below) for further information.
Position 1: Experiments in the COCHISE (COld CHemical Infrared Simulation
Experiment) facility will be pursued. The first of two present areas of
investigation is the REMPI and LIF spectroscopy of small hydrocarbon
reactions with hyperthermal oxygen atoms, with particular attention paid to
the rovibronic states of the product molecules. The second area of research
involves the spectroscopy and kinetics of excited nitrogen atom collisions
with oxygen molecules [fast N + O2 --> NO(v, high J) + O]. The details of
the very highly rotationally excited product states of NO will be
investigated as a function of precursor state. Metastable species will be
monitored using spectrometric and cryogenic interferometric detection of
visible and IR emissions respectively. Please contact Dr. Steve Miller at
781.377.2807 or [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> for further information.
Position 2: Experiments in the laser laboratory investigating energy
transfer in key aeronomic processes will be pursued. Notably, these include
vibrational energy transfer in collisions of NO and CO2 with oxygen atoms.
Techniques such as laser-induced fluorescence, transient diode laser
absorption, and time-resolved Michelson interferometry will be used to
detect the relevant species. Complex spectral and kinetic models will be
developed to analyze and interpret the resultant data. Please contact Dr.
Jim Dodd at 781.377.4190 or [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> for further information.
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