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TWO MASTER STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Employer
University of Waterloo
Location
Waterloo (Region), Ontario
Closing date
Dec 10, 2020

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Discipline
Biogeosciences, Geochemistry, Hydrology
Career Level
Student / Graduate
Education Level
Bachelors
Job Type
Internship
Relocation Cost
No Relocation
Sector Type
Academia

Job Details

POSITIONS DESCRIPTION
These MSc positions are related to a project recently funded by the Global Water Futures, ‘Managing Urban Eutrophication Risks under Climate Change: An Integrated Modelling and Decision Support Framework’ at the University of Waterloo. The project aims to develop a toolbox for assessing the vulnerability and exposure of Lake Ontario’s water quality to excessive phosphorus (P) export due to urbanization and climate change. The focus will be on eutrophication risks and Cladophora growth in the littoral zone of the Western basin of Lake Ontario (WLO) driven by urban P inputs from Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe, which includes the Greater Toronto Area.


Position #1: We are seeking a Master student to study how water quality changes, driven by urban P loads and frequency of algal blooms, affect recreational water use possibilities in Lake Ontario. The student will apply biophysical modelling and mapping tools to the littoral zone of the WLO and investigate how changes in ecosystem status are likely to affect recreational ecosystem services along the shoreline of WLO. This research is expected to contribute to Lake Ontario management actions by informing decision-makers (i) how changes in lake water quality are expected to affect valuable recreational ecosystem services, and (ii) to analyse cost-effectiveness of different management options for reducing urban P export.


Supervisors: Prof. Philippe Van Cappellen, Prof. Roy Brouwer, Dr. Rute Pinto


Eligibility: Applicants should hold a degree in environmental science, eco-hydrology, environmental geography, environmental or ecological economics, or a related discipline. The candidate should have good quantitative skills (for example in statistics or mathematical programming), as well as interest in spatial analysis of large datasets (for example using ArcGIS). Funding is available for two years.


Position #2: We are seeking a Master student to study the retrieval algorithm of Cladophora and Chl-a concentration utilizing remote sensing sensors to calibrate the developed algal growth model of western Lake Ontario. This research is a collaboration between Ecohydrology Lab at the University of Waterloo and ReSEC Lab at Wilfrid Laurier University. The research will contribute to assembling the suite of modeling and assessment tools that will link variable urban nutrient export fluxes to the ecological, social and economic impacts of eutrophication in the receiving surface waters.


Supervisors: Prof. Philippe Van Cappellen, Prof. Homa Kheyrollah Pour


Eligibility: Students interested should have a strong background and experience in one or a
combination of Geography, Physics, Earth Science, Geomatics, and Biology. Strengths in
programming, writing, statistical analysis, and the ability to work both independently and in a
team are essential. The candidate should have good quantitative skills, Python programming as
well as interest in spatial analysis of large datasets. Funding is available for two years.
Application Information Enquiries: For further information about position #1, please contact
Dr. Rute Pinto (rute.pinto@uwaterloo.ca). Further information about position #2 can be obtained
by contacting Dr. Kheyrollah Pour (hpour@wlu.ca).


Application Process: Interested candidates can submit a letter of application for position #1 to
Dr. Rute Pinto (rute.pinto@uwaterloo.ca), and for position #2 to Dr. Kheyrollah Pour
(hpour@wlu.ca). The letter of application should include (1) a cover letter outlining the
student’s interest and motivation to work in the project, (2) relevant background and experience
to increase eligibility, and (3) a full curriculum vitae.


Closing date: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. The positions will remain
open until filled. Only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

Company

The research program in ecohydrology is motivated by the need for science-based approaches to evaluate and predict the ecological impacts of the use of water resources by humans (see our Mission Statement.) Our research team therefore provides a natural rallying point for the wide range of expertise and strengths in the areas of water science, technology and policy present at the University of Waterloo (see The Water Institute). The collaborative research program in ecohydrology specifically aims to determine the pathways and rates of biogeochemical processes that control the fluxes of nutrients, greenhouse gases and contaminants across the interfaces separating groundwater from surface water bodies, model the coupling of hydrological, geochemical, ecological and biological processes at these interfaces, and assess the implications of interactions between groundwater and surface water for ecosystem health, water quality and environmental management along the aquatic continuum, from headwaters to the coastal zone.
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