Master and/or PhD thesis in airborne pollen measurements using laser sheet particle counting

08.08.2024, Wissenschaftliches Personal

The Center of Allergy and Environment in co-operation with the Chair for Laser and X-ray Physics E11 is looking for a motivated PhD candidate, working in the EU-funded project "BioAirMet" (https://www.bioairmet.ptb.de/home). The aim is to develop a traceable method (light scattering and / or particle flow visualisation) for the calibration of automatic bioaerosol monitors with respect to particle size and number concentration.

The project could be started within the scope of a Master Thesis and continue with a PhD thesis if candidate is qualified.

In Europe, about 1 in 5 individuals is allergic, mostly against pollen. Thus, pollen are important airborne particles and hazards for human health and are consequently measured in the atmosphere. Although various methods have been developed and used since 1952, it has never thoroughly been checked, if the determined pollen concentrations are accurate. Since values strongly differ between the instruments used, especially between manual and automated pollen traps, it can be assumed that the numbers that are currently published are mostly wrong. The project is part of an EU-wide grant, tackling decades of a known problem in human health.

Your profile:
Bachelor or Master Degree in Physics or related fields
Experience / Major in laser and X-Ray physics
Enthusiasm and background in developing instruments, laser sheets and related software
Team player with the ability to work independently

Your project:
Develop and optimize instrumentation to dispense pollen as single particles in the air
Measure the number of pollen that pass through a laser sheet
Calibrate pollen measuring instruments and for the first time make accurate pollen counting possible.

We offer:
First results from a pilot study
Instrumentation to fulfill task
Working in a top-of-the-line institution, in an international consortium and addressing a world-wide health problem.

Application:
Please send your CV and letter of motivation (max. 1 page) to Dr. Inga Wessels (inga.wessels@tum.de) or Professor Jeroen Buters (buters@tum.de)
The position is open until 30/09/2024 or until filled.
Further information on our research group is available at www.zaum-online.de
and on the project at: https://www.bioairmet.ptb.de/work-packages (WP1)

Kontakt: inga.wessels@tum.de; buters@tum.de