PhD Position in the area of Airborne droplet dynamics
We are looking for a highly motivated Ph.D. candidate to investigate the dynamics of airborne droplets. Understanding energy and scalar fluxes across the air-sea interface is crucial for a number of environmental challenges, including weather, climate and sea state forecasting. The Air-Sea Fluxes group at the Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics conducts laboratory- and field-based research, by developing and deploying unique, novel high-resolution imaging systems to investigate submillimeter-scale turbulent dynamics in multiphase environments such as the ocean surface.
The project is part of the project “Airborne Transmission of SARS Coronavirus – From Fundamental Science to Efficient Air Cleaning Systems (CORAERO)”, funded by the Helmholtz Association (Germany). It will be conducted together with partners from the Technical University of München, as well as others. The candidate will develop and use novel imaging techniques to quantify, understand and parametrize airborne microdroplet and aerosol dynamics, with multiple applications, including the airborne transmission of disease, as well as the role of sea spray for atmosphere-ocean heat and momentum fluxes. Close collaboration with the other research areas of CORAERO is expected.
Your tasks:
- designing, planning and performing laboratory and field (offshore platform in coastal waters) experiments, using state-of-the-art imaging techniques
- developing computational codes to process and understand large experimental datasets (e.g., image processing)
- analyzing experimental results; developing conceptual models and parameterizations
- scientific publication and presentation
- working as an integral part of a motivated multidisciplinary team within the institute and with external academic partners
Essential qualifications:
- a MSc degree in oceanography, fluid mechanics, geosciences, physics, mechanical engineering or related disciplines
- programming skills in one or more languages (Matlab, Python, R, C, Fortran)
- excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken)
- high degree of motivation, creativity, and flexibility
- ability and willingness to participate in sea-going research