Future graduate student research opportunities

The Vision and Neurodevelopment lab is seeking applicants for full-time graduate student positions in the Vision Science Graduate Program. The successful student will join a dynamic group researching typical and atypical development of eye movements, reading, and motor ability. Specifically, the lab investigates functional consequences of pediatric eye conditions such as amblyopia (‘lazy eye’) on children on maturation of these important life skills using psychophysics, eye tracking (EyeLink 1000 Plus, Tobii Glasses 2), and body tracking (GAITRite mobile walkway, Qualisys motion capture system) techniques.

The geological records of past glaciations provide insights into the long-term evolution of continental glaciers (ice sheets). There is an extensive cover of glacial sediments and landforms, as well as borehole records, in northeastern Ontario and northwestern Quebec that contain clues about the last glaciation. These geological archives also play an important role, via their physical properties, for regional water resources and land management.

Professor Musselman leads the Functional Nanomaterials Group and is recruiting graduate students to work on projects developing novel, thin-film coating materials and manufacturing processes.

The Functional Nanomaterials Group has helped pioneer the development of spatial atomic layer deposition, a high-throughput coating technique. The scalable manufacture of coatings with nanometer-scale precision can address global sustainability and health challenges. Imagine a world without single-use plastic waste, with widespread low-cost photovoltaic power, and with rapid point-of-care diagnosis of health conditions.

Work on an exciting project focused on developing a high-throughput genomic library of C. difficile to investigate stress defense responses and the molecular mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. The successful applicant will employ cutting-edge approaches in molecular microbiology, genomics, bioinformatics, and high-throughput phenotypic screening.

The objective of this project is to develop robust scenarios for the deployment of a marine-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approach that accounts for the interaction between physical (climate and ocean), technical, and social factors. Current climate projections indicate that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations will exceed levels consistent with the Paris Climate Agreement target of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 to 2 ℃ making carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere a crucial element of national climate responses. The key question facing decision-makers is not whether to undertake CDR but which methods of CDR should be pursued. 

Research focus is on developing functional probiotics using synthetic biology, with applications in health biotechnology and food safety. In addition, producing and degrading bioplastics using synthetic biology, focusing on clean technology and environmental sustainability.

Join a team researching micro, nano, and quantum resonators created by the interaction of light, (lower frequency) electromagnetic fields, and micro/nano-scale mechanical structures with a view to; discover new phenomena, learn how to integrate then to best advantage and create novel sensors.

This project explores the reception of the Psalms in poetry from Late Antiquity (300-700 AD) to the middle Byzantine period (1000-1300 AD), with a focus upon Greek poetic paraphrases of the Psalms. The research involves cross-cultural study of the literary influence of the Psalms and the intersection of classical Hellenic or Roman culture and Christian literature. The project involves the editing and study of unpublished Greek manuscripts alongside careful evaluation of the linguistic and literary characteristics of poetic paraphrases of the Psalms.

Seeking an interdisciplinary PhD student to examine how foresight and futures thinking can support municipalities in navigating long-term, equity-oriented urban climate transitions. The student will be embedded within a collaborative research initiative based at the University of Waterloo and will work closely with five municipalities across Canada to explore how participatory and strategic foresight approaches can be used to reimagine urban futures, guide decision-making under deep uncertainty, and reduce the risk of maladaptation. This research will combine empirical investigation with conceptual development, contributing both to scholarly debates on urban climate governance and to practical tools and insights for municipal practitioners.
 

Seeking a highly motivated doctoral student to join an interdisciplinary research project examining the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in addressing climate-driven vulnerabilities in informal urban settlements in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with a primary case study in Mérida, Mexico.

Informality is the dominant mode of urbanization in the Global South, where most future urban growth is projected to occur. Rapidly expanding but underserved informal settlements are disproportionately exposed to climate risks, including extreme heat, flooding, and water insecurity. Many cities in the LAC region face the triple challenge of the aftermath of rapid urbanization, climate change, and inequalities in access to services, infrastructure, and political representation.