Postdoctoral Research Scientist:  Cavity Enhanced Spectroscopy

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research scientist position to participate in several projects
involving Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) and Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (CEAS).  The
principle responsibility will be as lead in a project to design and construct a continuous wave CRDS based
instrument to determine the isotopic 13C/12C and H/D ratio in trace levels of methane gas.  Such measurements 
provide constraints on the sources and sinks of methane gas.  Applications include design and building of
an instrument that can be used at sea to study methane extracted from ocean water and to determine if such 
an instrument could be included in a future Mars mission.  Other projects include (1)Development of an 
ultra-broad bandwidth CEAS instrument that utilizes a supercontinuum light source (currently covering the 
0.5-1.8 microns but potentially extendable to 5 microns) and Brewster Angle Prism retroreflectors.   We
plan to use this instrument for combustion studies.  (2) Characterizing an optical cavity made from CaF2
retroreflection prisms that should allow high sensitivity broad bandwidth detection in the 230-600 nm spectral
region.  (3) Development of a trace NO gas detector, in collaboration with the UVa medical school, for medical
diagnostics.  

The position is available starting immediately and is for one year with a second year available upon mutual 
agreement.  Prior experience with laser spectroscopy and instrument building is highly desired.  Candidates 
should send a curriculum vitae, a list of publications (including identifying the 2 or 3 papers that you
believe represents you best work), a description of prior experience in instrument design and construction,
and arrange to have two letters of recommendation sent, preferably by Email as PDF files sent to
Lehmann@virginia.edu.  Candidates will be considered until the position is filled.