Funded Master's and PhD Positions

Overview

Subject Area: Environmental Influences on Water Quality

Positions: 1

Summary:

Investigate hydrological and climatic controls on nutrient cycling in forested catchments

Degree: PhD

Detail:

Research Project #1: Boreal watershed carbon cycling

Description of Project #1: Canada is teeming with lakes, streams and wetlands. Clean, healthy fresh waters support biodiversity and provide extensive health, economic and cultural benefits to Canadian communities. However, rates of climate change in northern boreal regions are among the highest of anywhere on Earth. Rising temperatures, changes to precipitation and declining snow cover will fundamentally alter how water and chemicals move through the environment, and could threaten our valuable aquatic resources.

We invite expressions of interest for a student who will be eligible to enroll in the PhD program in Bioscience and Policy at The University of Winnipeg starting September 2025. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team to explore how rising temperatures, shorter winters and changing precipitation patterns alter watershed carbon cycling in boreal catchments. Depending on the interests and background of the student, the project will involve a combination of field work, lab work, data analysis and/or mathematical modelling.

Qualifications and Support: We seek an enthusiastic and dedicated colleague with an MSc degree in a related field (e.g., Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Geography, Earth Science). The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate how their background and goals fit with the graduate opportunity. The successful candidate will receive guaranteed funding support for two years, plus support for direct costs of research and conference participation. The incoming team member will also have access to the CFI-funded Water Quality Analysis Lab at UWinnipeg.

How to Apply: Serious expressions of interest can be sent to Dr. Nora Casson, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Influences on Water Quality and Associate Professor in the Department of Geography (n.casson@uwinnipeg.ca). Your email must include your 1) updated CV, 2) transcripts (unofficial acceptable at this time), and 3) a brief statement outlining why you want to join our team. Please include “Bioscience PhD Position 2024” in the subject line of your email.

Project Description: The Prairie Lab at the University of Winnipeg is searching for an exceptional and motivated graduate student to pursue M.Sc. research in the area of root ecology starting in May 2025. In collaboration with Living Lab Manitoba, this project will focus on long-term effects of grazing on the function of wet meadow rangelands. The successful candidate will measure root traits of plants that relate to the sequestration of carbon and the interception and storage of water in soil.

Potential candidates should expect to work outside in rural areas of Manitoba. Research areas will only be accessible by foot and some may be remote. Field work will start in May 2025 and continue until the end of August. Students should be prepared to find their own accommodation near research areas. Overnight camping may be required and students may need their own transportation.

Qualifications and Support: Suitable candidates will have a 4-year bachelor’s degree (honours preferred) in Biology or equivalent with courses in plant and soil biology, statistics, and GIS. Experience in research, plant identification skills, and strong writing and analytical skills are an asset. Candidates must also have a working knowledge of the flora of Manitoba or have experience in field botany. The successful candidate will receive hands-on training in the field and in the lab, including collecting voucher plant specimens for identification and the collection and preparation of root samples for analysis of anatomical traits and carbon. The successful candidate will receive two years of funding through research grants. Please note that preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet the requirements. Students in the Prairie Lab are mentored in their applications for internal and external funding, including support for travel to local and international conferences. Graduate students in the lab also participate in outreach presentations and professional development workshops.

How to Apply: Suitable candidates must meet the requirements of the Master of Science (MSc) in Bioscience, Technology and Public Policy program [PDF. Serious applicants should send a detailed C.V., transcripts, the names and contact details of three references, and a brief statement of interests and goals to Dr. Raf Otfinowski at r.otfinowski@uwinnipeg.ca. Potential candidates selected for an interview will be required to complete a lab and analytical skills interview on-site.

Project Description: The Prairie Lab at the University of Winnipeg is searching for an exceptional and motivated graduate student to pursue M.Sc. research in the area of restoration ecology starting in May 2025. In collaboration with Parks Canada, this project will focus on restoring the structure and function of northern fescue prairies in Riding Mountain National Park, MB. The successful candidate will measure long-term changes in the composition and diversity of historically grazed grasslands and assess the potential of northern fescue prairies to sequester soil carbon.

Potential candidates should expect to work outside in wilderness areas that can only be accessed by foot or by a four wheeler. As part of the project, you will work alongside Parks Canada ecologists and other students, and contribute to restoration projects ongoing in the park. Field work will start in May 2025 and continue until the end of August of each year in 2025 and 2026. Housing in the park is limited and students should be prepared to find their own accommodation. Overnight camping may be required and students will need their own transportation to the park.

Qualifications and Support: Suitable candidates will have a 4-year bachelor’s degree (honours preferred) in Biology or equivalent with courses in plant and soil biology, statistics, and GIS. Experience in research, plant identification skills, and strong writing and analytical skills are an asset. Candidates must also have a working knowledge of the flora of Manitoba or have experience in field botany. The successful candidate will receive hands-on training in the field and in the lab, including collecting voucher specimens of plants for identification and the collection and preparation of soil samples for analysis of soil carbon. The successful candidate will receive two years of funding through the Federal Student Work Experience Program. Please note that preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents who meet the requirements. Students in the Prairie Lab are mentored in their applications for internal and external funding, including support for travel to local and international conferences. Graduate students in the lab also participate in outreach presentations and professional development workshops.

How to Apply: Suitable candidates must meet the requirements of the Master of Science (MSc) in Bioscience, Technology and Public Policy program [PDF]. Serious applicants should send a detailed C.V., transcripts, the names and contact details of three references, and a brief statement of interests and goals to Dr. Raf Otfinowski at r.otfinowski@uwinnipeg.ca. Candidates selected to interview will be required to complete a lab and analytical skills interview on-site.