Opportunities

(1) Research scientist / post-doctoral fellow – Model Integration Specialist

Louisiana State University has two PhD positions available to study (1) Model-data synthesis of remotely sensed sediment data and (2) Innovative finance for coastal green infrastructure. More details on both of these positions are below:

(1) Model-data synthesis of remotely sensed sediment data: The widespread availability of remotely sensed data is transforming the field of coastal sciences and engineering. These datasets provide unprecedented volumes of spatial information which can be used to better understand coastal sediment transport and improve coastal models of sediment transport. However, historically hydrodynamic and sediment transport models have focused our process understanding and model calibration efforts on field campaigns or stationary point source datasets with limited spatial resolution. This project seeks to develop new methods to integrate spatial remotely sensed data with hydrodynamic and sediment transport models (i.e. Delft3D, ROMS, FVCOM) and develop new techniques to understand model-data performance. There is the potential to incorporate field data collection into this work. 

(2)  Innovative finance for coastal green infrastructure: Green infrastructure such as wetland and dune restoration is becoming an increasingly popular method for coastal communities to manage flooding, pollution, and other coastal engineering challenges. Benefit cost analysis is typically used to evaluate and determine financing for traditional infrastructure projects (such as levees, seawalls, and jetties) for funding. However, the multi-faceted benefits of green infrastructure projects can struggle to compete against gray infrastructure projects due to a lack of quantification of both direct (e.g. flooding/pollutant removal) benefits and indirect co-benefits (e.g. improved fish habitat, expanded recreational opportunities, etc.) associated with their construction. I am seeking a PhD student interested in studying benefit-cost analysis and innovative financing for coastal green and gray infrastructure for the purposes of sea level rise and climate change adaptation. 

Louisiana State University is Louisiana's flagship university with more than 35,000 students and provides stipends of $30,667/year for graduate students. We are part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the College of Engineering and the Center for Computation & Technology with excellent state-of-the-art computing facilities. Louisiana hosts a strong coastal research community both at LSU and across several research and federal institutions with many opportunities for collaboration.

Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and located along the Mississippi River close to Louisiana’s unique wetlands and swamp landscapes. Baton Rouge’s metropolitan area hosts a population of 870,000 and boasts a vibrant culture and excellent food scene (for more info see Living in Baton Rouge).

The starting date is either Spring or Fall 2024. There is no strict deadline, but it is recommended that interested students send their CV and short research statement by 22 September 2023 to mbrand@lsu.edu. LSU application deadlines are October 1 for international students November 15 for US Students for a spring semester start. Don’t hesitate to send me an email with any questions or to discuss any research ideas and opportunities beforehand.

Adaptive Management of Green Stormwater Infrastructure to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Watersheds

inclusion (EDI) as an integral part of academic excellence. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, eligibility, or a request for accommodation during the selection process, please contact a9ghosh@uwaterloo.ca.

CLAWAVE: Chemical Load Assessments for Watersheds: Automation and Visualization Experience

The PDFs and students will work closely together within a highly interdisciplinary team of researchers from University of Waterloo, University of Calgary, and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The PDF-1 and MSc-3 positions will be located at the University of Calgary, all others at University of Waterloo, with possibilities of secondments at ECCC locations in Burlington, ON, or Saskatoon, SK, .The research team will regularly interact with scientists at stakeholder organizations, including ECCC, DataStream, and Lake Winnipeg Foundation.

Applicants must have (or expect to soon complete) a degree relevant to the position applied for. Preference will be given to candidates with strong quantitative skills and demonstrated experience in one or more of the following or closely related areas: hydrology, water quality, biogeochemistry, data science, and human-computer interaction.

Please submit your application package electronically as a single pdf file to Anita Ghosh (a9ghosh@uwaterloo.ca). In your email, include “CLAWAVE_yourname” in the subject line. Your applications should contain:

• Which PDF, PhD-# or MSc-# position(s) you wish to be considered for
• A letter explaining your motivation to apply
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of transcripts (unofficial transcripts will be accepted at the application stage)

Closing date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Preference will be given to applications submitted before May 15, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We respectfully acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

University of Waterloo and University of Calgary regard equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as an integral part of academic excellence. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, eligibility, or a request for accommodation during the selection process, please contact a9ghosh@uwaterloo.ca.

Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund / Environment and Climate Change Canada Grant; Professors Dawn Cassandra Parker (co-PI) (PI: Michael Drescher, additional co-Is: Bruce MacVicar, Derek T. Robinson, Rebecca Rooney, and Maria Strack)

Project summary

Canada is a highly urbanized country where both intensification and greenfield residential development often reduce green infrastructure (GI). While cities are setting ambitious climate mitigation goals, they are concurrently losing GI’s contributions towards these goals. Novel green development standards create some developer incentives to provide GI, but on the whole, as GI on private lands creates public benefits but is financed by private costs, developer GI provision is too low. Further, cities lack complete and cost-feasible information on how greenhouse gas (GHG) profiles of developments evolve temporally. Our proposed research, led by a team of internationally recognized experts in modelling coupled socio-ecological systems, will:

• employ novel scientific methods to quantify urban terrestrial and wetland-based carbon stocks, sequestration and GHG emissions;
• develop a simple, dynamic carbon and GHG scorecard that will complement existing green building standards by tracking the state and trajectory of residential developments; and
• test the scorecard’s potential to induce developer behavioral change by incentivizing GI investments through social norms and status-seeking behaviour.

Professor Parker is recruiting for 1-2 master’s students, to start in Fall 2023. Student(s) will contribute in the following areas:

Application guidelines:

1. Only apply if 1) you meet all the admissions criteria for your program of interest at UW; and 2) you have substantive interest and, ideally relevant training for work related to this proposal;

2. Send an e-mail to Professor Parker with the heading “RISE 2022 graduate interest” and your name.

3. Include a short (1-page) letter explaining your interests in and preparedness for joining this research project. Evidence of preparedness includes previous coursework, work experience, theses, publications, and experience working in interdisciplinary research groups and with professional and stakeholders. Please also highlight any relevant lived experience or differential challenges you have faced relevant to your studies.

4. Include a recent CV, unofficial transcript, and writing/research sample.

5. Professor Parker will contact you for an interview; if you don’t hear back, unfortunately that means you were not selected, and I wish you good luck in your future studies.

Trainees will gain specific skills and experience in carbon and stormwater modelling and interpretation, development and application of software, participatory modelling with professional stakeholders, residential development landscaping design and planning, systems thinking, and knowledge translation and mobilization. Applicants with relevant experience in these areas should clearly articulate that experience in their letter of application.

All trainees will participate in Parker’s Urban Growth and Change Research Group (UGCRG) bi-weekly meetings, reporting regularly on their research, providing feedback on research, scholarship applications, and manuscripts to other group members, practicing presentations, and collaborating on public outreach

communications. trainees agree to follow the UGCRG lab guidelines, which describe our data and model management, confidentiality, and archiving protocols.

Trainees will also participate in sub-team and team meetings of the RISE research group, following its terms of reference. All trainees will interact regularly with researchers from Biology, Geography, Engineering, Environment, Economics, and Planning. Their many informal (project meetings, collaboration) and formal (project seminar series) will provide opportunities to develop multidisciplinary skills and knowledge. Throughout all project phases, senior trainees will interact with non-academic sector partners such as municipal governments, land developers, and not-for-profits. These experiences will build trainees’ inter-sectoral communication skills and networks outside of academia. Graduate trainees will build pedagogical skill sets as teaching assistants at the University of Waterloo, training their communication and teaching skills in classroom settings. All trainees will participate in research ethics training run by the U Waterloo Office of Research Ethics and in U Waterloo EDI training. This will include knowledge of resources to resolve conflicts and training to overcome unconscious biases.

Trainees often participate in the 3-Minute Thesis and the Map the System competition (a global competition where students adopt a systems-thinking approach to address complex social challenges). trainees will network with other researchers through WICI, which hosts student and general research talks, research symposia, workshops, and conferences. trainees can also access specialized training through Parker’s “Modelling the City,” “Introduction to ABM,” and SMART Healthy Cities Training Platform implementation science “Methods Café” course, and additional courses of the PI and co-I’s and across the University of Waterloo. PhD students at UW also have access to specialized teaching development programs. They will develop specific skills in research methods and theories, publication and research communication, knowledge mobilization and dissemination, data management and analysis, research ethics, interdisciplinary research, complex systems science, consultation and community engagement, project and human resources management, and leadership and teamwork.

Additional information on graduate student funding in the Environment faculty at the University of Waterloo is available here: See https://uwaterloo.ca/environment/graduate/future-graduate-students/funding-packages.) Students working on relevant topics may also apply for additional funding through the SMART Healthy Cities Training Platform (https://smart-training.ca)

The project is a collaboration between the Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation and the Waterloo Climate Institute. Additional information available at https://uwaterloo.ca/climate-institute/projects/residential-development-impact-scorecard-environment-rise.

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Seeking:

• manage data and data gathering logistics
• lead project communications (including contact management, webpage updates, etc.), in conjunction with community research partner staff and volunteers
• collaborate with the community research partner personnel in the development of community-oriented knowledge mobilization strategies and tools
• participate in the development of academic outputs, such as article manuscripts and conference presentations

Qualifications:

• current student at the Master's level in a Canadian post-secondary institution, or currently accepted for a Master’s program with the intent of starting the program in 2023/24
• training and/or experience in qualitative data collection and analysis
• experience with on-line survey design and administration
• strong writing skills
• friendly and effective communication skills, and an ability to liaise with a variety of existing community network partners and contributing to expanding these networks
• self-directed and highly organized, with great attention to detail
• interest and familiarity with the water (or environmental) activism movement in Canada and the US, including knowledge of key players, is an asset

Indigenous students and students from other equity-seeking communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Maximizing diversity of personnel, perspectives, and approaches within our research team is a priority.

Remuneration

This RA position pays hourly at $26.50/hour, depending on education level and experience, for approximately 150 hours of work (2 positions available). The contract can begin immediately or at the earliest convenience of the chosen candidate, but no later than May 1, 2023.

Work Setting

The successful candidate is expected to use their own computer and to complete the work at a location convenient to them. Neither a workspace nor a computer will be provided for this project. The work can be done anywhere and at any time within the bounds of project deadlines but will involve regular meetings with the research team for progress updates and troubleshooting. Some meetings will require the RA(s) to travel to Waterloo or Guelph.

To Apply

Those interested in this position should email Dr. Robert Case (rob.case@uwaterloo.ca) as soon as possible and no later than April 16, 2023, with a cover letter, a CV demonstrating relevant experience, a sample of past work relevant to this project, and the names and contact information for one or two references.

Robert Case
Associate Professor, Social Development Studies
Renison University College (Affiliated with the University of Waterloo) racase@uwaterloo.ca; 519-884-4404 x28683 https://uwaterloo.ca/scholar/racase/home

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MSc and PhD Opportunities at the University of Waterloo

• Your motivation for applying to the position and your research interests
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of transcript(s) (unofficial transcripts will be accepted at the application stage)
• Contact information for up to 3 references

Closing date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The positions will remain open until filled. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

The University is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River.

The University of Waterloo regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. As such, we encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Metis and Inuit), Black and members of racialized groups, individuals in the LGBTQ2+ communities, and contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Global Water Futures (GWF): Solutions to Water Threats in an Era of Global Change

The GWF program (http://gwf.usask.ca/) is a collaborative initiative between multiple Canadian universities and partner organizations funded through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. GWF aims to deliver risk management solutions for water resources and services – informed by leading edge water science and supported by innovative decision-making tools – in Canada and throughout the cold regions of the world.

We are looking to hire at the Post Doctoral Fellow (PDF) level in the area of Groundwater Modeling at the University of Waterloo (UW) as part of a multidisciplinary GWF modeling and forecasting team. The candidate will directly link to UW research strengths in hydrogeology, hydrology, ecohydrology, environmental (bio)geochemistry, high-performance computing, information systems, water economics, and water governance. The successful candidate will be directly involved in the GWF research projects and end-user needs. For more information about water research at the UW: https://uwaterloo.ca/water-institute.

Position:

The successful candidate will be able to engage in a wide range of topics, including groundwater flow and contaminant fate and transport modeling, groundwater-surface water interactions, integrated hydrologic modeling, vadose zone process modeling including freeze-thaw phenomena, source water protection, permafrost hydrology, ecohydrology and uncertainty and risk assessment analysis. Specific skills that would be beneficial for this position include: advanced numerical methods; ability to program in a high-level programming language; and experience with fully integrated, variably saturated hydrologic models applied at multiple scales and under freezing and thawing conditions. The candidate will work under the supervision of Professor David Rudolph and their performance will be assessed annually. Funding for the position is initially available for one year with the potential for an extension depending on funding.

Applicants:

Applicants must have a PhD in a relevant water science field or in civil/environmental engineering. They must demonstrate strong quantitative skills and have a track record of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications. Previous postdoctoral experience is desirable, but not necessary. Additional desired qualifications include experience supervising students, good communication skills and fluency in English. They must be able to work independently, as well as part of a multidisciplinary research team. They will be expected to produce peer-reviewed journal publications and technical reports. They will interact on a regular basis with external partners and practitioners.

Applications:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter in which they state their motivation and professional expectations. In addition, a curriculum vitae, academic transcripts and contact information of three references are required. All documentation submitted must be assembled in a single pdf file and sent to gwf-uw@uwaterloo.ca with PDSMOD-GWF-YourName in the subject line.

Applications will be accepted immediately and reviewed beginning October 7th, 2022. The positions will remain open until filled. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Equity Statement:

The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

A postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) position is available to participate in a research project to evaluate the impact of winter warming mitigation in controlling carbon losses from pan-Canadian wetland and permafrost ecosystems. The goal of this project is to advance the fundamental, process-based understanding of the function of soil biogeochemical processes in cold region environments during the fall-winter and winter-spring transitions and during the non-growing season (NGS) by creating the foundation for the predictive modelling of winter carbon losses in cold region wetland and permafrost ecosystems under current and future climates. The main tasks of the PDF will be developing reactive transport and bioenergetic models to simulate the biogeochemical transformations of carbon and nutrients under winter warming scenarios to quantify future northern wetland and permafrost ecosystems carbon balances during the period of NGS respiration.

Applicants must have a PhD in a relevant natural science or engineering field, and have a track record of research productivity, including peer-reviewed publications. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated skills and experience in numerical mathematical modeling, programming and numerical analysis in soil biogeochemistry and reactive transport modeling. The PDF will work within a multidisciplinary team with significant strengths in ecohydrology, environmental-(bio)geochemistry, microbiology, chemistry, hydrogeology and high-performance computing. Funding for the positions is available for up to two years. For further information regarding this position, or to submit an application, please contact Dr. Fereidoun Rezanezhad (frezanez@uwaterloo.ca).

Application Instructions

In your application email, please include “PDF-ACCS-YourName” in the subject line and attach a single file that contains:

• A cover letter stating your motivation for applying to this position and your research interests
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of unofficial transcripts
• Contact information for up to 3 references

Closing date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The positions will remain open until filled. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.