Aurora

Employment & Opportunities

Job Opportunities for EOAS Graduate Students

Applications are invited for the following positions: 

• Vancouver Summer Program Instructors
• Graduate Academic Assistants for Course Development 

Full details and application information are available here.

Open Postdoc Position - Caltech

Postdoctoral Researcher: Southern Ocean carbon export fluxes estimated from space

Position Summary: The transfer of carbon from the surface to the deep ocean largely occurs through the sinking of particulate matter. However, in certain locations, strong vertical ocean currents also carry organic carbon away from the surface, a process known as the ocean’s mixing pump. Estimates suggest that the mixing pump accounts for up to 50% of the total carbon export from the surface in energetic regions, like the Southern Ocean.

This project will leverage data collected from NASA’s SWOT and PACE satellite missions to study the Southern Ocean mixing pump. The SWOT mission provides sea surface height measurements at kilometer-scale resolution with opportunities to estimate vertical ocean velocities. The PACE mission measures the intensity of light at fine resolution (5 nm), which permits an assessment of community composition and its evolution over a seasonal cycle.

This project aims to produce a quantitative, large-scale assessment of the mixing component of the ocean’s biological pump in the Southern Ocean. The study will evaluate the ocean features and physical processes that shape the mixing pump to understand future changes to this component of total carbon export. This is a collaborative project between Caltech and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, with opportunities to work with Andy Thompson, Christen Frankenburg, Lia Siegelman, and other faculty at both institutions.

Minimum qualifications:

• PhD in the earth sciences, data science, applied mathematics, or other related field;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills as demonstrated through a track record of publications and presentations;
• Ability to pursue research independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience analyzing large data sets or using machine learning techniques;
• Prior research experience in submesoscale dynamics and/or biogeochemical cycling.

Timeline and application: This is a 2-year postdoctoral position (with initial appointment for 1 year with a second year pending good progress). The position will remain open until filled, although a start in summer or early fall 2026 is preferred.

To apply please submit a cover letter (explaining interest and relevant qualifications), CV (including list of publications), and contact information for up to three references by email to Andy Thompson (andrewt@caltech.edu). References will only be contacted for shortlisted candidates. A Group Resources and Expectations Guide is provided at here. Questions about the
project may be directed to Andy Thompson (andrew@caltech.edu) or Lia Siegelman (lsiegelman@ucsd.edu).

News & Events

UBC ReROW IDEAthon 2026 – Design Competition + Cash Prizes

IDEAthon 2026: (Re)Imagine Spaces is a free, interdisciplinary design competition where undergraduate students collaborate to reimagine a prominent campus public space — Flagpole Plaza near the Rose Garden.

Event details:

• Dates: March 28–29, 2026
• Location: KAIS Rooms 2020 / 2030
• Day 1: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (design competition)
• Day 2: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (final presentations, judging, awards)

What students will do:

• Work in interdisciplinary teams (3–5 students, from different departments)
• Develop creative, practical, and research-informed design solutions
• Explore social, environmental, aesthetic, safety, and transportation dimensions of public space
• Present their ideas to faculty and invited reviewers

Students can sign up as a team or individually (we’ll match individuals into teams). Registration is now open.

Experts Tackle the Future of Responsible Mining in Canada – May 7 Webinar 

We invite you to join us online on May 7 for “Critical Minerals, Critical Responsibilities,” a timely webinar as part of the RSC College Webinar Series. Speakers will explore how Canada's mining sector can meet rising demand while advancing sustainable and equitable practices. 

Speakers: 

• Ken S. Coates (FRSC) is President of Coates Holroyd Consulting, a research firm working primarily on Indigenous and rural development, Indigenous history and rights. He is also Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan. 
• Nadia Mykytczuk (RSC College) is President and CEO of MIRARCO (Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation) and Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines at Laurentian University. She is an award-winning expert on bioleaching and mine remediation who works across sectors and disciplines to deliver sustainable mining practices, enabling our transition to global clean energy. 

Moderator: 

• Mita Dasog (RSC College) is an Associate Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at Dalhousie University. Her team integrates green chemistry, materials science, and environmental engineering to advance renewable energy and circular economy solutions. 

The webinar will include short presentations, a moderated discussion, and audience Q&A, providing space for engagement and dialogue. 

2026 Advanced Climate Dynamics Courses (ACDC) summer school: Landscapes and Climate

The  2026 Advanced Climate Dynamics Courses (ACDC) summer school on Landscapes and Climate will be happening this summer at the Abisko Scientific Research Station in Abisko, Sweden, from Aug 16-29. Applications are due April 15th. 

Climate and Landscapes

We will explore how the climates of the past and present are shaped by the distribution of the continents, oceans, orography (land topography), and ice sheets. We will also explore the relationship between the climate and vegetation, focusing on selected warm periods of the past (e.g., the Eocene and Pliocene). Special consideration will be given to the impact humans have had on climate throughout the Holocene due to land-use change through deforestation and the expansion of farming, and current plans for afforestation in support of carbon capture. Finally, we will examine the relationship between the evolution of life and climate over Earth’s history. More information and a link to the application are found here.

 Summer school activities are a combination of classroom-based lectures, group research projects, short and long field trips (including a weekend backpacking trip, weather permitting), and ample free time to connect with other students and faculty, and to explore the incredible Abisko National Park.  

The school is targeted towards advanced graduate students. Students should have a strong grounding (i.e. completed graduate coursework) in climate dynamics or related fields. More information and the link to the application form is available at the website above, or feel free to reach out to me or any of the other organizers with questions. Students with a research focus on field studies, observations, remote sensing, theory, modelling, etc. are all encouraged to apply!