Opportunities

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.

The Department of Geological Sciences (https://geology.ufl.edu/) in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida invites applications in all areas of physical hydrology (groundwater and/or surface water) for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-accruing position at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning August 16, 2023.  We encourage applicants with research interests related to the fundamental scientific understanding of all aspects of physical hydrology, including but not restricted to sources, fluxes, and flowpaths of water, solutes, or other fluids (e.g. gases, hydrocarbons, and other non-aqueous phase liquids) from microscopic to regional and global scales.  Research methods used by applicants are open and could include geophysical, experimental, and modeling approaches; Earth and space-based observations and monitoring; and machine learning/artificial intelligence that could take advantage of the HiPerGator supercomputer (https://news.ufl.edu/2020/07/nvidia-partnership/).  The successful candidate will (1) have initiated a strong research program, (2) provide a compelling plan for future research, (3) demonstrate the ability to contribute significantly to graduate education and mentoring undergraduate, MS, and PhD students, and (4) be able to fill curricular needs for students in Geological Sciences through teaching existing courses (e.g., Groundwater Geology, Hydrogeologic Modeling) or by developing new courses.  Opportunities for teaching and research collaboration exist across campus through the UF Water Institute (https://waterinstitute.ufl.edu/), which administers the Hydrological Sciences Academic Concentration.

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent, or have completed the PhD requirements by August 2023. The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a full benefits package.

The Department of Geological Sciences is committed to maintaining an environment that welcomes diversity of ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity, and expression. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. Please see http://geology.ufl.edu/department/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/ for more information about diversity and inclusion in the Department of Geological Sciences.  The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a range of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

For full consideration, applications must be submitted online at https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/523690/assistant-professor-in-physical-hydrology. Applications must include: (1) a brief letter of application, summarizing the applicant's qualifications, interests, future research goals, and suitability for the position, (2) a complete curriculum vitae, (3) a research statement detailing current activities and future research plans, (4) a statement summarizing teaching experience and interests, and (5) a list of names and contact information of at least three references. Applicants are asked to articulate their commitment to cultivating an inclusive and equitable teaching and research environment in their teaching and research statements and cover letter. After initial review, applicants who are chosen to receive further consideration will be asked to request confidential letters of recommendation from the references.

Applications will be reviewed beginning October 15, 2022 and only complete applications will be reviewed at this time.  The position will remain open until filled and applications received after the initial review date will be considered at the discretion of the search committee and/or hiring authority.  Inquiries about the position should be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jon Martin (jbmartin@ufl.edu).

All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a review of criminal records, reference checks, and verification of education.  The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered official if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States require evaluation by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law. If accommodations due to disability are needed in order to apply for this position, please call (352) 392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Accommodations during an interview and for University employees can be arranged through the Accessibility Services of the Human Resources Department.  The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

We invite applications for one PDF to participate in a collaborative research project to advance the detection, quantification, characterization and modeling of microplastics at the watershed scale. The research project will combine field sampling, (geo)chemical and spectroscopic methods, economic analyses and fate and transport modeling.

The PDF will focus on cost-benefit analyses of microplastics pollution to support decision making for economically efficient microplastics risk mitigation strategies. The PDF student will delineate various options related to the waste hierarchy (prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, dispose) in the context of a circular economy to eliminate plastic waste and promote resource recovery. (Dr. Roy Brouwer).

The PDF student will work closely together within a highly interdisciplinary team of researchers from University of Waterloo. The university-based research team will regularly interact with scientists at stakeholder organizations, including Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ontario Clean Water Agency, Region of Waterloo, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, City of Brantford, Hoola One Technologies, EPCOR Water Canada, and Environmental Defence.

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 areas: aquatic biogeochemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental engineering, reactive transport modeling, environmental risk assessment, environmental economics and climate change impact analysis.

Please submit your application package electronically as a single pdf file to Nancy Goucher (nancy.goucher@uwaterloo.ca). In your email, include “Microplastics_yourname” in the subject line. Your applications should contain:

• Your motivation for applying to the position
• Which position you would like to be considered for
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of transcripts (unofficial transcripts will be accepted at the application stage)

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 kilometres 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 others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

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

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.