Home	Jobs	Journals	Calendar	Discussion	Links

Post-doctoral and Graduate Research Positions in Northern Peatland Ecology, Biogeochemistry, and Trace Gas Exchange  We have recently begun several related research projects on the measurement and modelling of the carbon dynamics, biogeochemistry and hydrology of northern peatlands to determine the sensitivity of the carbon pools and trace gas exchanges to climate and land-use change.  Applications are invited for the following two post-doctoral fellowships (PDF) and three PhD research assistantships (PhD-RA) at McGill/Carleton/Trent Universities: 1.     PDF A (2 years duration) to simulate the fate of the peatlands of the Ontario Far North, including the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL) in future climate change scenarios.  The HBL is one of the largest and most complex peatland systems in the world.  We would like to adapt two biogeochemical models, the McGill Wetland Model and the DeNitrification DeComposition model (DNDC) for use in this scenario analysis.  Applicants should have experience in ecosystem modelling and coupling ecosystem models with climate models.  The MWM is written in FORTRAN and DNDC is written in C++.  Starting Summer 2012.  PhD in Biogeosciences and/or related environmental sciences required. (Lead scientist:Roulet)  2.     PDF B (2 years duration) or a PhD-RA to study the net ecosystem exchange from two eddy covariance sites in the Hudson Bay Lowlands and the NEE associated with a whole ecosystem manipulation in southern Canada.  This research is exploring the relationship between NEE, gross ecosystem production (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) and the climatological, hydrological and ecological setting of peatlands.  Experience in micrometeorological measurements of carbon, energy and water exchanges is highly desirable. Starting immediately.  PhD (or MSc) in Biogeosciences, Micrometeorology, and/or related environmental sciences required.  (Lead scientists: Humphreys, Lafleur and Roulet)  3.     PhD-RA to develop the algorithms to calibrate and adapt light use efficiency models and also emerging radar imagery to estimate the spatial and temporal variability of peatland ecosystem production and respiration.  Most of this research will focus on new eddy covariance sites in the Hudson Bay Lowlands but other sites in the Arctic and boreal will also be used. Starting immediately. M.Sc. (or B.Sc.) in Physical Geography, Biogeosciences, Ecology and/or related environmental sciences required. (Lead scientists: Moore and Roulet)  4.     PhD-RA to examine the role of moss and the controls on moss NEE in peatland ecosystems.  Part of this project will involve manipulation experiments of peatlands wetness and temperature.  It is anticipated that this research will be undertaken at the Mer Bleue research site in southern Ontario.  Experience in peatland ecology, carbon exchanges and/or hydrology desirable. Starting immediately.  M.Sc. (or B.Sc.) in Physical Geography, Biogeosciences, Ecology and/or related environmental sciences required.  (Lead scientists: Humphreys and Roulet) 5.     PhD-RA to simulate and empirically test the complex feedbacks among peatland structure and function and hydrology.  This study focuses at this stage on the development of peatland micro- and mesotopography.  Experience in ecosystem dynamics and some systems modelling is highly desirable.  Starting September 2012. M.Sc. (or B.Sc.) in Physical Geography, Biogeosciences, Ecology and/or related environmental sciences required.  (Lead scientist: Roulet) If you are interested in any of these positions contact either Professors Nigel Roulet (nigel.roulet@mcgill.ca), Elyn Humphreys (elyn_humphreys@carleton.ca), Tim Moore (tim.moore@mcgill.ca), or Peter Lafleur (plafleur@trentu.ca).