Interested in Joining the Group?
Graduate Position – Open call
Oct 2020: Graduate student position in Environmental Atmospheric Chemistry at Baylor University
The research groups of Dr. Sascha Usenko and Dr. Rebecca Sheesley currently have multiple graduate assistant positions available to study air quality and atmospheric chemistry pertaining to natural and anthropogenic impacts on urban and remote systems. Current projects include (1) tracking influence of wildfires on Texas urban air quality through measurement of aerosol optical properties, or (BC)2 and (2) mobile measurements of volatile organic compounds from Corpus Christi to San Antonio to track changing emission sources and chemistry. Additional large-scale project opportunities are anticipated. Graduate students will have the opportunity to participate in large, multi-institution field campaigns, to learn new online and offline analytical instrumentation (e.g. proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry, tricolor absorption photometer, nephelometer, accelerated solvent extraction of aerosol filter samples, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, thermal desorption GCMS-MS, ion chromatography), to learn data analysis techniques (e.g. data management in MATLAB and IGOR and source apportionment by positive matrix factorization and chemical mass balance modeling), back trajectory analysis and remote sensing (e.g. satellite based aerosol optical depth, fire counts, and smoke products). We are looking for students from a variety of backgrounds including chemistry, environmental science, geosciences or engineering. Previous experience with air quality or atmospheric chemistry is not required. Application for PhD positions is preferred, but Masters applicants are welcome as well.
The Sheesley and Usenko research groups have strong ties in Texas and beyond and students will have the opportunity to collaborate with other research groups and present their work at national and international conferences. The Department of Environmental Science at Baylor University is a growing department with strong support from the University. Please contact Usenko (Sascha_usenko@baylor.edu) and/or Sheesley (Rebecca_sheesley@baylor.edu) if you are interested.
https://www.baylor.edu/usenko/
https://blogs.baylor.edu/rebecca_sheesley/
Anticipated start date Jan or Aug 2021. The successful candidate will receive a competitive stipend with health insurance and full tuition waiver. For more information on graduate studies at Baylor https://www.baylor.edu/environmentalscience/index.php?id=953694
Contact Dr. Sascha Usenko if you are interested in joining the research group.
Email: Sascha_Usenko@baylor.edu
Office Ext: (254) 710-2302