[ES_JOBS_NET] Postdoc and PhD positions at Concordia University and the Université de Montréal

[Oliver Sonnentag]

Dear all, we have the following Postdoc and PhD positions available at
Concordia University and the Université de Montréal:

*Land surface–atmosphere interactions (the Postdoc position is open for
immediate start, entry in January 2020 is preferred for the PhD positions)*



We are looking for three to four highly motivated individuals for PhD and
Postdoc (Horizon Postdoctoral Fellow:
https://www.concordia.ca/sgs/postdoctoral-fellows/funding/horizon.html)
positions focusing on changes in land surface-atmosphere interactions in
the Northwest Territories and Québec. Funding packages include two-
($47,500/year plus benefits) and four-year stipends ($22,000/year) for the
Postdoc and PhD positions, respectively. Additional sources of funding
include university fellowships, tuition remission (international students),
and research and teaching assistantships. Total value of funding packages
will depend on position and applicant, but will be generous for highly
qualified applicants. Additional funding can be applied for through
external sources (e.g., Natural Sciences and Engineering and Research
Council of Canada).



*PhD1: Land surface-atmosphere interactions near the boreal treeline.
*Supervised
by Dr. Oliver Sonnentag/Université de Montréal (UdeM) this position is
based in the Département de géograhie at UdeM. The goal is to examine how
shrub encroachment and boreal treeline migration affect land surface
characteristics of tundra landscapes using eddy covariance, and automated
and manual chamber techniques. The study area includes two nearby research
sites near Inuvik, NT, Havikpak Creek (subarctic woodland with continuous
permafrost) and Trail Valley Creek (mineral upland tundra with continuous
permafrost) where eddy covariance measurements of carbon, water and energy
fluxes and ancillary measurements and detailed hydrology, permafrost and
snow surveys have been made since 2013 and the early 1990s, respectively.



*PhD2: Land surface-atmosphere interactions near the southern limit of
permafrost. *Supervised by Sonnentag this position is based in the
Département de géographie at UdeM. The focus of this project is on a better
understanding of land-atmosphere interactions by studying ecosystem-, plot-
and leaf-scale measurements of carbon, water and heat fluxes made with the
eddy covariance and different chamber techniques. The study area includes
two research sites in the Northwest Territories near the southern limit of
permafrost, Scotty Creek (boreal peat landscape with sporadic permafrost)
near Fort Simpson and Smith Creek (boreal peat landscape with discontinuous
permafrost) near Wrigley, around 200 km north of Scotty Creek. Permafrost
along the southern limit of its distribution undergoes dramatic changes in
hydrological regimes due to rapid permafrost thaw. At Scotty Creek these
changes lead to wetland expansion at the expense of boreal forest coverage.
The project aims to expand on ongoing eddy covariance and chamber
measurements at Scotty Creek in comparison to the recently instrumented
Smith Creek research site. More specifically, the PhD student will examine
if permafrost thaw-induced changes in land-atmosphere interactions observed
at Scotty Creek can be used to project similar changes at Smith Creek as
the regional climate keeps getting warmer.



*PhD3/Postdoc: Land surface-atmosphere interactions over a man-made
reservoir and surrounding lands.*Supervised by Dr. Ali Nazemi/Concordia
University this position is based in the Department of Building, Civil and
Environmental Engineering at Concordia University (PhD3 is co-supervised by
Nazemi & Sonnentag). The project aims at developing advanced modeling and
post processing tools that can convert the information obtained through a
multi-sensor platform developed by Nazemi’s lab to a new hyper-resolution
understanding of water and heat fluxes over man-made reservoirs and
surrounding lands. The objectives include building up four modeling tools
for (1) processing eddy covariance measurements over open water, (2)
processing remotely-sensed surface temperature measurements over the water
body and surrounding lands, (3) converting area-averaged flux measurements
to corresponding hyper-resolution estimates, and (4) developing new tools
for downscaling satellite measurements for fine-scale understanding of past
water and energy exchange at reservoirs in Québec, Canada and globally.
This project provides a unique training environment due to combining both
field work with advanced modeling in one standalone package. The already
existing infrastructure will provide an exceptional opportunity for the PhD
student/Postdoc fellow to acquire hands-on experience with state-of-the-art
in situ and remote sensing measurement technologies. In addition, the PhD
student/Postdoc fellow will obtain a deep understanding and hands-on
experience in Big Data post-processing and modeling. The knowledge and
skill sets obtained can be applied in other applied or research contexts
related to water security, hydrology and climate change.



*Ideal applicants for all three positions should have *

1)   a strong quantitative (including programming skills in Matlab and/or
R) and technical background obtained through a Master’s/Diploma degree (for
PhD1 – PhD3) or a PhD (for Postdoc) in ecology, biogeosciences, civil
engineering, environmental sciences, hydrology, etc.,

2)    previous exposure to some aspects of the projects (e.g., [high
latitude] ecosystems/ecohydrology/catchment science/biogeochemistry),

3)    (some) wilderness outdoor experience as the project requires frequent
traveling to and extended stays at the sites (PhD1 & PhD2),

4)    the ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team
setting consisting of university and government researchers, Indigenous
communities (PhD1 & PhD2) and municipalities (PhD3/Postdoc), and

5)    proficiency in English (UdeM is a francophone research university, so
knowledge of French is of great advantage but not mandatory).



Please email questions regarding the PhD and Postdoc positions/admission
processes and application packages consisting of cover letter, curriculum
vitae, an English writing sample (ideally a publication), copies of
academic credentials, and names and contact information of at least two
referees to:

oliver.sonnentag*at*umontreal.ca (PhD1 – PhD3)

ali.nazemi*at*concordia.ca (PhD3/Postdoc)

The review of applications will commence immediately until the positions
are filled.


Thanks for sharing with potential interested candidates.

Regards, Oliver

Oliver Sonnentag, PhD

Professeur agrégé & Chaire de recherche du Canada en *Biogéosciences
atmosphériques en hautes latitudes*

Département de géographie

Université de Montréal

520 chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine

Montréal, QC H2V 2B8

Canada
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