Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project: Ground Based Remote Sensing of Cloud Microphysics
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PI name & contact details:
Professor Colin O’Dowd, MRIA, Fins P, FRMet
Tel: +353-87-811-4988 email: colin.odowd@nuigalway.ie
School:
Physics (Agreed with Head of School)
Research Centre:
Director: Centre for Climate & Air Pollution Studies (C-CAPS)
Research centre website:
www.macehead.org
www.nuigalway.ie/c-caps
http://www.nuigalway.ie/physics/staff_pages/c_odowd/
PI website & CV:
Summary of PI Metrics: Director of Ireland’s leading Centre for climate & air pollution research (65
researchers) with a particular focus on atmospheric composition and biogeochemical cycling, both
measurement based (at the WMO Mace Head Supersite) and large-scale climate modelling. PhDs ~20 over
last 8 years; Funding ~18M€; Large-scale international project/Coordination ~28; Publications:180 papers (5
Nature/Science), h-index 44. Awards: 2012 IoP Appleton Award; 2011 Member Royal Irish Academy; 2009
FRMetS; 2007 DSc Uni. Manchester; 2006 FInsP; 2004 Smoluchowski Award. PI has high-level collaborative
links with Brazilian Environmental Physics Professor Paulo Artaxo, University of São Paulo. Currently, we coauthor two highly-cited papers.
Project Title:
Ground Based Remote Sensing of Cloud Microphysics
Project Description: NUIG/CCAPS, at Mace Head, deploy a CLOUDNET suite of ground-based meteorological,
aerosol and cloud remote sensors (microwave humidity/temperature, aerosol LIDAR, and cloud RADAR
profilers) and, combining these sensors in a synergetic manner, have been at the forefront of development of
cloud microphysical parameters relevant to aerosol-cloud-climate interactions. This PhD involves further
development of the retrievals to multiple clouds types and will contribute to reducing the uncertainty in
aerosol-cloud-climate interactions.
Key Words: remote sensing; cloud microphysics; RADAR; LIDAR.
Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway: • NUI Galway/C-CAPS operates the world leading
marine Global Atmosphere Watch station which monitors and researches Essential Climate Variables and runs
the most sophisticated aerosol-cloud in-situ and remotely-sensed measurements operationally – no other
station operates the same level of instrumentation worldwide. • The PI & NUI Galway were the 1st in the
country to implement a structured Graduate Education Research Programme (in Environment & Climate) to
enhance the learning and training experience and opportunities. • C-CAPS is heavily connected to the
leading groups in Europe having led, and participated on large-scale international projects within which
researcher exchange, summer student schools, and advanced study schools are a regular occurrence.
Excellent exposure, exchange and collaborative opportunities exist for the student (e.g. the PI produced ~20
internationally-collaborative papers in each of the last four years and has the highest research metrics within
the NUIG STEM areas currently). • C-CAPS operate large-scale climate-air pollution studies with a focus on
marine continental interactions. Although most countries have such activities, the unique opportunity offered
by CCAPS is an integrated Earth System approach specifically integrating the most current and advanced
atmospheric measurements and process in the models.
Name & contact details for project queries: as above
Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply:
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Geosciences
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Engineering and other technological areas
Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences)
Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing
Aerospace
Pharmaceuticals
Sustainable Agricultural Production
Oil, Gas and Coal
Renewable Energy
Minerals, Minerals Technology
Biotechnology
Nanotechnology and New Materials
Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters
Bioprospecting and Biodiversity
Marine Sciences
Creative Industry
New technologies in constructive engineering
Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders
arrangements):
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ ____
Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _____
Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____
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