The Catchment and Wetland Sciences group (caws.ualberta.ca), led by Dr David Olefeldt, studies impacts of disturbances and land management practices on catchment and wetland functions. We have a strong focus on northern peatlands and peatland-rich catchments, with current research conducted on the Boreal and Taiga Plains of western Canada. Here we study topics related to greenhouse gas fluxes, water quality, soil biogeochemistry, terrestrial-aquatic linkages, hydrogeology, permafrost thaw, wildfire, thermokarst, and soil carbon storage.
We are currently looking for at least one new graduate student at either PhD or MSc level to join our group for the fall of 2017, to carry out research with focus on shallow lake biogeochemistry in northern Alberta and in the Northwest Territories. Proficiency with GIS software is an advantage, as well as general knowledge of biogeochemistry, ecology, or aquatic sciences. Specific research topics include impacts of climate change on methane emissions from ponds located in different ecozones of western Canada, or research on impacts of forest management and wildfire on pond water quality. Interested students with suitable backgrounds and qualified GPA scores are encouraged to explore the information on graduate studies provided by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Department of Renewable Resoruces. How to apply: Please send a letter of interest to [email protected]. Include resume/CV describing your skills end education, university transcripts and names of three referees. Positions will be open until suitable candidates have been hired. Full funding for these graduate opportunities is available through Graduate Research Assistant Fellowships, but students are expected to supplement this funding. This may include NSERC funding or other external sources. The University and the Department of Renewable Resources also provide competitive recruitment awards between $5,000 and $10,000 for outstanding MSc applicants, and between $3,000 and $17,000 for outstanding PhD applicants. Graduates from a Canadian University with a GPA>3.7 on a 4.0 scale and international students with equivalent academic accomplishments usually receive a recruitment award.
