[ES_JOBS_NET] MSc and PhD Opportunities: Forecasting and Biogeochemistry of Bloom-Affected Lakes

[Erika Marín-Spiotta]

Date:    Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:03:26 +0000
From:    Jason Venkiteswaran <jvenkiteswaran at WLU.CA>
Subject: MSc and PhD Opportunities: Forecasting and Biogeochemistry of
Bloom-Affected Lakes

FORMBLOOM (Forecasting Tools and Mitigation Options for Diverse Bloom-Affec=
ted Lakes) seeks 2=964 graduate students (MSc and/or PhD) to research the d=
rivers of freshwater cyanobacterial blooms and develop tools for bloom pred=
iction and mitigation.=0A=
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Successful applicants will work in a co-supervised environment with Prof. H=
elen Baulch (School of Environment and Sustainability and Global Institute =
for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan), Prof. Sherry Schiff (Depar=
tment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo), and Pro=
f. Jason Venkiteswaran (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, =
Wilfrid Laurier University) and will enroll in the MSc or PhD program at on=
e of those universities. Opportunities to work at multiple universities are=
 available.=0A=
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Start dates: September 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018.=0A=
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Project Summary:=0A=
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Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in lakes and reservoirs constitute a major thre=
at to human health and, by extension, to the Canadian economy. HABs, especi=
ally those associated with cyanobacteria (cyano-HABs), have direct impacts =
on the safety of drinking water supplies by producing a variety of liver an=
d nerve toxins in addition to causing taste and odour problems. Cyano-HABs =
have been increasing in recent years across Canada from Newfoundland to Bri=
tish Columbia. There is an urgent need to improve the science and to develo=
p risk management tools for cyano-HABs.=0A=
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Field campaigns in Buffalo Pound, Saskatchewan, Lake 227, Ontario, and Cone=
stogo Lake, Ontario combined with laboratory experiments and modelling exer=
cises will evaluate the contributions of nutrients, metals, and lake struct=
ure to the timing and severity of cyano-HABs. Carefully selected samples an=
d datasets from other lakes and reservoirs across Canada (including the 47-=
year dataset from IISD=96ELA) will be incorporated into cyano-HAB forecasti=
ng and mitigation efforts.=0A=
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Graduate student research projects will (1) examine nutrient and trace meta=
l dynamics through bloom progression; (2) assess links between physical con=
ditions, sediment-surface redox and cyano-HAB development; and (3) perform =
long-term data analysis with a focus on winter conditions and bloom severit=
y.=0A=
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Graduate students will benefit from working with a multi-university and mul=
tidisciplinary research team and will interact with partner organizations a=
nd ecosystem managers. Students will have opportunities to participate in e=
nhanced training opportunities associated with the NSERC CREATE in Water Se=
curity, and the Global Water Futures program.=0A=
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Eligibility:=0A=
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Students will perform applied lab and field research, and require quantitat=
ive abilities, a hearty appetite for boat-based field work, and possess str=
ong verbal and writing skills. Students with experience with sensor-based i=
nstrumentation are particularly welcomed.=0A=
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Applicants should send their areas of research interest in a cover letter, =
with CV, unofficial transcripts, and contact information of three reference=
s as a single PDF file to Prof Jason Venkiteswaran, jvenkiteswaran at wlu.ca.=
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FORMBLOOM is funded by the Global Water Futures program, gwf.usask.ca.=0A=
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