Bethany Sutherland, Ph.D. Candidate at North Carolina State University (NCSU) Seeking a Postdoctoral Research Position

BETHANY SUTHERLAND, NC State University

     Abstract Number: 750
     Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers

Abstract
For my doctoral research, I have developed novel methods for an improved understanding of aerosol properties utilizing a combination of modeling and remote sensing. My work can be categorized into two main projects; one focused on air quality (surface PM_2.5 concentration estimation) and the other on the climatic role of aerosols (the direct radiative effect, DRE). My diverse experiences make me ideally suited to succeed as a postdoctoral researcher. Through my work at NCSU, and previously at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of Washington (M.S. in applied mathematics), Los Alamos National Laboratory, and New Mexico Tech (B.S. in physics) I have gained many valuable research and professional skills. I have experience with field campaign data collection (SECIONS, TRACER) and data analysis (DISOCVER-AQ, KORUS-AQ, etc.), as well as running and modifying 3D global models (GEOS-Chem, CESM). I have valuable professional experiences including writing funded NASA FINESST and NC Space Grant proposals, a first authored publication (with another in preperation and several co-authorships), and have presented my work at 11 national and international professional conferences.

My air quality project involved the development of several new methods for estimating surface PM_2.5 concentrations utilizing High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL)-derived aerosol types to inform on the likely chemical speciation and hygroscopic growth of particulates. These novel methods show promising results when applied to campaign data and compared to models. My DRE project is forward-looking and proposes a new method for estimating DRE that uses aerosol type-specific optical properties and HSRL-retrievals. This method could be implemented once a HSRL-like system is spaceborne and a modified version of GEOS-Chem is used to estimate the likely uncertainty.

I will be available for a new position fall 2024 and am excited about research positions that further our understanding of the role of aerosols in the climate system.