The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Lab (www.tianrenwu.com) led by Dr. Tianren Wu at the University of Cincinnati is looking for a highly motivated Ph.D. student to work on interdisciplinary IAQ research projects, beginning August 2024. The lab focuses on characterizing the fate and transport of indoor air pollutants, improving IAQ sensing technology, and advancing engineering control and mitigation strategies. The successful candidate will join the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management in the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Research Projects:
The successful candidate will work on the characterization of indoor air pollutants by using an online high-resolution chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS).
(1) Volatile organic compound (VOC) dynamics in an indoor aquatic center. Use of personal care products, liquid-to-air transfer of disinfection byproducts, and human emissions result in elevated VOC concentrations in indoor swimming pools. Some of these VOCs exhibit enhanced chemical reactivity and have adverse human health effects upon inhalation exposure. The PhD student will work on a research project to analyze the data measured by a Proton-Transfer-Reaction Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) in a large indoor aquatic center and characterize indoor VOC dynamics.
(2) Formation of highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) from ozonolysis of human skin oils. Human skins continuously produce skin oils, which contain a series of unsaturated organic compounds. They can readily react with indoor ozone to form various VOCs. Recent studies found that these reactions also result in indoor aerosol formation, which may be associated with the HOMs formed from the ozonolysis of human skin oils. However, the mechanisms of this HOM formation remain unknown. The PhD student will play a major role in investigating the formation of HOMs in controlled chamber experiments and realistic indoor environments by using an online CIMS.
Qualifications:
(1) The candidates must hold an undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering, environmental science, chemical engineering, chemistry, atmospheric chemistry, or related fields.
(2) A master’s degree in relevant fields is highly desirable but not required.
(3) Previous experience with mass spectrometry, aerosol measurements, or ambient air trace gas analysis is desirable.
(4) Proficiency with Matlab, or other programming and numeric computing languages, such as IGOR, Python, and R.
(5) A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0;
(6) Good written and verbal communication skills.
Application Documents:
(1) Resume/Vitae.
(2) A letter describing the candidate’s qualifications, research experience, and research interests (max. 2 pages).
(3) A sample of technical writing (e.g. journal publication, thesis, research report, or course project).
(4) A copy of unofficial transcripts.
(5) Contact information for two references.
Interested candidates could reach out to Dr. Tianren Wu via email for more information. To apply, please combine the application documents into a single PDF file and send it to Dr. Tianren Wu (wutr@ucmail.uc.edu) with the subject line "PhD Student Application_Your Name".
Please refer to https://ceas.uc.edu/academics/departments/civil-architectural-engineeri… for general admission requirements.
About the University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a renowned public research institution located in Ohio that offers students a top-notch education in a vibrant and diverse setting. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". In the 2021 U.S. News & World Report rankings, UC was listed as the 196th best global university and tied for 65th best public university in the U.S. According to the National Science Foundation, UC spent $480 million on research and development in 2018, ranking it 54th in the nation. With over 300 academic programs, including highly ranked programs in engineering, business, and architecture, students are sure to find a field of study that suits their interests and career goals.
About the City of Cincinnati
Home to seven Fortune 500 companies, Cincinnati’s thriving professional landscape empowers us to change the world, and its widely recognized cultural attractions like professional sports, nationally ranked parks and a renowned art scene fuel us to go above and beyond. Our urban identity is at the core of who we are, forever inspiring us to deepen our community impact.