Faculty Assistant

#
** Job Description Summary
** Organization's Summary Statement:  The Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS) at the University of Maryland College Park is seeking a Faculty Assistant to support atmospheric chemistry and air quality research at NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) in College Park, MD. The successful candidate will play a key role in instrument research and development, calibration and engineering, and deployment, as well as data acquisition, analysis, and collaboration with NOAA scientists and partners.
The Faculty Assistant will:  
1. Advance Atmospheric Measurement Methodologies – Participate in the calibration and characterization of state-of-the-art optical gas analyzers (e.g., chemiluminescence, pulsed fluorescence, UV/IR absorption, cavity ringdown, and broadband cavity-enhanced spectrometry). Investigate sources of measurement uncertainty and contribute to the development of improved calibration strategies.
2. Contribute to Instrument Development for Field Research – Support the design, laboratory testing, and field integration of novel atmospheric measurement systems on mobile and airborne platforms, including a next-generation 4-channel Broadband Cavity-Enhanced Spectrometry (BBCES) instrument for NO, NO₂, NOy, and O₃. Collaborate with ARL and colleagues from other NOAA Laboratory researchers to optimize optical, flow, electrical, and data acquisition subsystems for mobile and  airborne deployments.
3. Develop and Apply Research Software Tools – Create and adapt scientific software for data acquisition, quality assurance, and instrument control using programming languages such as JavaScript, Python, Matlab, C, and LabVIEW. Innovate computational approaches to ensure robust data integrity, automated workflows, and adaptability for evolving research platforms.
4. Support Urban Net Meteorological Monitoring – Assist with expanding and operating the Urban Net observational network in the Washington, D.C.–Maryland region, as well as in focused periodic (usually annually) field campaigns in other parts of the country. Participate in the deployment of new sites, trouble shooting of meteorological instrumentation, integration and calibration of atmospheric and meteorological sensors, and evaluation of high-resolution datasets for urban air quality  research.
5. Perform Data Analysis and Contribute to Scientific Publications – Conduct advanced data analysis, including calibration refinement, background correction, and statistical evaluation of atmospheric measurements at high temporal resolution. Prepare publication-ready datasets, co-author manuscripts, and contribute to technical reports supporting NOAA’s air quality and climate research missions.
6. Engage in Scientific Collaboration – Work closely with NOAA, university, and federal research partners to support instrument innovation and field campaigns. Contribute to the design and evaluation of measurement strategies, present results to collaborators, and assist in disseminating research outcomes to the broader scientific community.

Qualifications:

● U.S. citizen.  
● Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Chemistry, Atmospheric Science, Electrical or other Engineering, or a related field.  
● Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation, electronics, optics, or atmospheric measurements.  
● Proficiency in scientific programming as noted above for data visualization and analysis.  
● Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including, with the handling and processing of large scientific datasets.  
● Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
Physical Demands:
Sedentary and laboratory work.
Preferences: N/A      Licenses/

Certifications:

N/A#
** Additional Job Details
**** Required Application Materials:*
* ** CV, Cover Letter, and contact details for at least 3 references*
* ** Best Consideration Date: 01/07/2026*
* ** Posting Close Date:*
* ** Open Until Filled:
Yes**#
** Financial Disclosure Required
** No

For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit .#
** Department
* * CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic Science#
** Worker Sub-Type
** Faculty…