Aurora

Employment & Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunity: School Partnerships Program Volunteer

Overview: The School Partnerships Program (SPP) pairs UBC Let’s Talk Science volunteers with teachers in the Metro Vancouver region to deliver STEM outreach programs to students in grade K-12 classrooms, with a specific focus on delivering these programs to schools in underserved communities. The volunteers commit to running 3 fun, hands-on STEM activities in their paired teacher’s classroom over the course of the school year (November 2025 - June 2026). Each visit will be approximately 1-hour long. As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to either design your own activity, borrow a kit from the Let's Talk Science Inventory, or follow a lesson plan which aligns with the curriculum and subject interests of the partnered educator. 

Responsibilities:

• Attending a mandatory, one-time volunteer training orientation in mid-October
• Planning and organizing science activities in collaboration with paired teacher's science curriculum
• Committing to lead 3 x 1-hour in-person activities over the course of the school year

Requirements:

• Passion for science communication and science outreach
• Strong general background in popular fields of science (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Neuroscience, Earth Sciences, Botany, etc.)

Application Process: Students interested in volunteering can apply by filling out the survey.

Deadline to Apply: October 1, 2025

Postdoctoral Research Scientist - The Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CCCma)

The Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (CCCma), a section of the Climate Research Division of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), invites applications for a postdoctoral research scientist to develop and evaluate the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (CMAM) focusing on dynamics and transport in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS).

Dynamics, transport, and chemistry in the middle atmosphere determine the distribution of stratospheric ozone and play an important role in climate variability and change. Simulations of the middle atmosphere using CMAM have played a crucial role in Canada’s contributions to international scientific assessments of ozone depletion for more than two decades. Recent development work with CMAM has focused on updating the version of the ECCC climate model CMAM is built on, by integrating the model components with the latest version of the Canadian Earth System Model (CanESM), Canada’s state-of-the-science global climate model.

As a part of the CMAM development team, the postdoctoral research scientist will evaluate the climate and variability of the UTLS simulated by CMAM, including transport through the tropopause of water vapour and aerosols as well as simulation of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). Sensitivity of the UTLS climate simulated by CMAM to vertical resolution and parameterized physics will be examined, and diagnostic software will be developed to compare results with other climate models and with observations. This includes preparation of diagnostics for anticipated water vapour and aerosol observations from the High-altitude Aerosols, Water vapour and Clouds (HAWC) satellite mission.

A Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences, physics, engineering, or a related discipline within the past 3 years is required. Candidates are expected to have established their ability to conduct original, independent scientific research, and familiarity with code development using complex scientific models, preferably global climate, or similar numerical models. The ability to program in FORTRAN and python, familiarity with the python scientific stack, git version control, and experience with Linux systems are all desirable. Working well in a team setting, and skill at communicating research results orally and in writing to a range of audiences are also important.

The position is administered by the Postdoctoral Research Program (PRP) and interested applicants are required to submit an application to the PRP inventory. The postdoctoral position is awarded for one year with the possibility of renewal for a second and third year.

The successful applicant will work under joint supervision by Drs. James Anstey and Jason Cole, starting in fall/winter 2025 and will be located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Interested candidates can contact Dr. James Anstey (James.Anstey@ec.gc.ca) and Dr. Jason Cole (Jason.Cole@ec.gc.ca) for additional information. Review of applications in the PRP inventory will begin 6 October 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

eDNA for Alpine Hydrology PhD student - University of Bern

Do you like environmental DNA, hydrology, and frozen water (i.e., ice and snow)? Are you looking for a PhD position? Then consider joining me in Bern for this exciting interdisciplinary project that will take you to the high mountains of two continents! Fully funded by the SNSF - US NSF Weave program  at the Geography Institute of the University of Bern! 

For more details, please see here.

News & Events

Innovation OnBoard (IOB) - Wednesday, September 24

Innovation OnBoard (IOB) is a student-led initiative that fosters entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration among students. This 6-month program includes 10 workshops, lectures, an innovation fair, and a pitch competition with cash prizes. 

Join them for their first event on Wednesday, September 24, for a valuable workshop on Where to Start with Entrepreneurship, a dynamic introduction to the world of innovation, ventures, and collaboration. Their guest speaker, Hassan Pardawalla, will share real-world insights and practical tips from his own entrepreneurial journey. Join if you are interested in:

• Understanding the foundation of starting a venture
• Learning how to validate your ideas against market demand
• Connecting with like-minded peers who are also taking their first steps in entrepreneurship

📅 When: Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 PM
📍 Where: Chemical and Biological Engineering Building Room 102
🎟️ RSVP: On EventBrite!

MSc Thesis Defense: Ian Goan 

Petrochemistry of iron-titanium oxide minerals from ultramafic–mafic plutonic rocks: A comparison of magnetite and ilmenite from closed (Skaergaard intrusion, East Greenland) and open (Alaskan-type intrusions, British Columbia) magmatic systems

Date & Time: Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 2:30 pm

Location: ESB 5104