Masters and Doctoral research opportunities in hydrological change in the Canadian Arctic,

Professors Philip Marsh and Roderick Melnik, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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The Arctic has vast numbers of lakes that cover a large percentage of the total land surface. Although these lakes are hydrological and ecologically important and very sensitive to a warming climate, our understanding of the current state of these lakes or how they may change in the future is poorly known. Our funded project is aimed at improving the monitoring and prediction of Arctic lakes through the integration of Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) remote sensing and high-resolution lake hydrology modelling. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/swot.asp

This project is focussed on the western Canadian Arctic but will have cross Arctic applications. Our trailvalleycreek.ca research station has long term hydrologic monitoring and research and as a result is a unique natural laboratory for carrying out this project.

We invite applications to the following MSc and PhD positions:

1. PhD. Mathematical modelling of coupled climate and hydrologic processes for increased predictive capabilities,

2. MSc. Field studies of lake hydrological processes and variability across the ITC, and

3. PhD. Physics based hydrologic modelling of lake dominated watersheds along the ITC.

Position 1 will be in the Interdisciplinary Mathematical and Statistical Modelling PhD program at Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) with focus on integrating physics-based mathematical models into a unique hydrologic model platform as required to consider the impacts of climate change, thawing permafrost, and vegetation change on the hydrology of the Canadian Arctic. Prior experience with CFD and high-performance computing would be considered an advantage for this position. Positions 2 and 3 will be in the Geography and Environmental Studies Department at Laurier. Through both the Modelling and Geography programs you will find a unique combination of students, research associates, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty exploring a wide range of research interests through a combination of field studies, modelling, and remote sensing. This combination will offer you a unique, challenging and stimulating research environment.  Further information on both programs is available at:

https://www.wlu.ca/programs/science/graduate/mathematical-and-statistical-modelling-phd/index.html

https://uwaterloo.ca/waterloo-laurier-graduate-program-in-geography/ 

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Ideal candidates should have previous degrees in relevant disciplines (e.g., numerical methods, hydrology, geography, environmental science, engineering, physics, and/or atmospheric science), and should possess aptitude and enthusiasm for understanding the integrated impacts of climate change on Arctic lakes. For the modelling positions, we especially encourage applicants with an interest in high-resolution hydrologic modelling, and proficiency in numerical methods, physics and with appropriate modelling tools. Experience in northern environments is an asset for all positions but is not required.

Graduate students at Laurier receive competitive funding packages that come from a combination of teaching assistantships, internal scholarships, and research assistantships. All students are strongly encouraged to apply for a variety of external scholarships. Students in Melnik’s and Marsh’s research teams have been very successful in receiving such external awards over the past years. Canadian applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Funding for Arctic field research is provided by external research grants.

https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/graduate-and-postdoctoral-studies/funding-at-a-glance/index.html

 

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible by contacting both Drs. Marsh and Melnik. Please submit a cover letter highlighting relevant experience and your interest in joining our research team, a list of courses taken and marks, and a curriculum vitae to pmarsh at wlu.ca and rmelnik at wlu.ca with the subject line “Mathematical Lake Hydrology Graduate Students”. Applicants will be reviewed in order they are received until successful candidates are found.

 

Dr. Philip Marsh, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Water Science, Wilfrid Laurier University

www.trailvalleycreek.ca

Dr. Roderick Melnik, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Mathematical Modelling, Wilfrid Laurier University

https://m3ai.wlu.ca/