Employment & Opportunities

Scientific Innovation Project Coordinator - Metro Vancouver

The Liquid Waste Services Department at Metro Vancouver is seeking a Scientific Innovation Project Coordinator to join the Collaborative Innovations Team within the Policy, Planning and Analysis Division. This position will have a significant role in moving the needle on wastewater innovation and regional sustainability. The normal work place for this position is Metro Vancouver’s Head Office in Burnaby.

This role:

• Develops initiatives for technological innovations in wastewater operations in areas such as resource recovery, renewable energy, process optimization and sustainability; investigates problem or opportunity, performs research and complex technical analyses to evaluate the application of scientific advancements involving microbiological, biochemical and related processes to wastewater operations; liaises with internal collaborators, academic institutions, research organizations and industry in the review of innovative approaches and technologies.
• Develops proposals to investigate the viability of prospective innovations and presents recommendations to senior management, political committees, professional groups and other stakeholders; outlines project scope, including methodology, plans, participants, budgets, deliverables and timelines; drafts reports, grant applications or other information to support proposals.
• Coordinates approved projects to develop the innovation in partnership with external parties; directs, coordinates and participates in the work of staff and oversees contractors; reviews technical reports for accuracy and compliance with project objectives; drafts partnership agreements, organizes financial accounts, monitors budgets and contracts; evaluates progress towards objectives and provides related updates.
• Evaluates overall effectiveness of the innovation project upon completion; recommends next steps, alternative direction for improving processes and future opportunities; reports on outcomes as required.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external parties; aligns the interests of external parties to selected innovative initiatives; develops relationships with professionals and researchers from diverse fields of study.
• Maintains currency on emergent scientific discoveries and technological advances related to the field of wastewater operations.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of materials such as records, technical and status reports, project and experiment specifications.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:

• Degree in microbiology, biology, chemistry or other applied discipline; eligibility for registration in a professional association related to the work; considerable related experience in water or wastewater utility operations; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, methods and techniques of researching, evaluating and analyzing scientific approaches to technological innovations in wastewater operations.
• Considerable knowledge of wastewater collection and treatment processes, including the physical, chemical and microbiological processes at work within engineered systems and their environmental impact.
• Considerable knowledge of sources of data and current literature, trends, research methodology and developments in scientific fields related to the work.
• Considerable knowledge of the methods, principles, practices of operating computer and peripheral equipment and software related to the work.
• Ability to review problem or opportunity, research and analyze technical data, and synthesize concepts towards an innovative purpose, drawing on scientific knowledge, industry experience and professional networks.
• Ability to develop clear and concise reports and proposals, detailed project specifications and related documentation, and to coordinate project resources and monitor budgets, contracts and agreements.
• Ability to coordinate projects and to direct, coordinate and participate in the work of staff, direct and oversee contractors, and liaise with external partners to evaluate progress towards objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of internal and external contacts.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and to make presentations to stakeholders.
• Driver’s Licence for the Province of British Columbia.

To apply, click here and search for Job ID 20780.

Two $2000 Bursaries - Pacific Salmon Foundation Stewardship Community Bursary

Pacific Salmon Foundation is pleased to announce the 2020 Stewardship Community Bursary.

The spirit of this bursary is to reduce financial barriers to achieving success for aquatic stewardship volunteers enrolled in education and training programs that support their goal of a career in salmon recovery.

Applicants must be a full time student in good standing in at least second year of an accredited program that leads to a career supporting Pacific salmon. The application window is open through October 30. Instructions and a downloadable application form can be found here.

PhD, MS, and MPS Applications Open - University of Miami's Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

The PhD (fully-funded opportunities), MS, and MPS (Mater of Professional Science) applications for Fall 2021 are open at the University of Miami's Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Apply Online.

At RSMAS, PhD students are supported as Graduate Research Assistants during their tenure (typically 5 years). These assistantships provide an annual salary of $30,312 (USD), and tuition and health insurance are provided. A list of PhD Assistantships are available here. More assistantships will post to this site on a weekly basis. Fall 2021 applications received prior to January 1, 2021 will be reviewed; to increase your chances for an assistantship, apply by December 1, 2020.

MPS students enroll in the same courses as PhD and MS students, and patriciate in an internship and/or research in the field in lieu of a traditional thesis/dissertation which is required for MS/PhD students. MPS degree has rolling admission until June for international applicants and July for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. PhD/MS applicants who want to be considered for the MPS program in addition to PhD or MS, can do so at no extra cost by checking the box for “Master of Professional Science” on the application form.  This allows an individual to apply for multiple graduate programs at RSMAS for one application fee.

There are also 4 Rosentiel Opportunity Scholarships available that provide high-achieving students from historically underserved or underrepresented populations, and/or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to earn a master’s degree from the Rosenstiel School at no cost or significantly reduced tuition cost (student fees still apply). For more information, please contact Josh Coco, Executive Director of the Rosentiel School at < >.

Director Opening - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research (WSL)

In line with its mandate. The ETH Board is responsible for proposing a candidate for this position to the Swiss Federal Council. It is planned that the person appointed will hold a joint professorship at ETH Zurich and EPFL.

Requirements
You have an internationally recognized scientific record in environmental sciences, climate change and/or sustainability. You have demonstrated your integrative skills as an experienced manager of a research institution, a large research group, or large interdisciplinary projects. You are familiar with the thematic foci of WSL and the implementation of research results together with public authorities and practitioners. You aim to collaborate with other research institutions, in particular with the institutions of the ETH Domain, and to co-develop a vision in order to strengthen the Domain's ability to dynamically respond to new challenges and perform mission-driven, impact-oriented research. You are able to establish strategic guidelines and will commit yourself to developing WSL’s future and helping to proactively shape the entire ETH Domain. You are willing to hold office for at least one
four-year term of office.

You are a dynamic person with wide interests, strong leadership skills and the ability to lead development and change processes. You are familiar with Swiss and European political and legislative processes and can successfully interact with the various stakeholders. You have excellent interpersonal and communicative skills, an understanding of Switzerland's cultural diversity and a good command of German, French and English.

Applications
Applications from women are particularly welcome.
Please send your complete application to by 30 October 2020. The President of the ETH Board, Prof. Michael O. Hengartner, will be pleased to provide additional information ( , phone +41 58 856 86 01).

Tenure-Stream Position - Elizabeth May Chair in Sustainability and Environment - Dalhousie University

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University invites applications for the Elizabeth May Chair in Sustainability and Environmental Health, an endowed tenure-track faculty position at the rank of assistant professor. The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the Faculty of Science provides a dynamic setting for innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship that addresses important societal challenges related to the interaction of earth system processes and human development.

They are seeking an exceptional emerging scholar whose academic activities in research and teaching are focused at the intersection of earth systems science, human use of resources and sustainable development with consequences for human population health. They are particularly interested in applicants who have established scholarship in the area of One Health and/or Exposure Science, who employ or have experience in the application of spatial methods, and who can contribute expertise to departmental and university-wide geospatial information science and technology certificates and programs. Finally, they are especially interested in candidates whose research aligns with at least one of the Dalhousie University priority research areas (Ocean Studies; Advanced Materials and Clean Technology; Health and Wellness; and Governance, Society and Culture)

Eligible applicants must hold a doctoral degree, must demonstrate research excellence and productivity, have the potential to attain external grant funding for their research program, and have a strong interest and aptitude for the teaching and mentoring of students. Ideally candidates will have training in the environmental sciences, public or population health science and demonstrate competency in the application of epidemiologic principles and associated analytical methods required to explore associations between environmental conditions and health outcomes.

The successful candidate will contribute to innovative, interdisciplinary environment and health research and will be expected to cooperate and work with other researchers, drawing on and building research strengths and capacity, ideally in alignment with Dalhousie’s Research and Innovation Strategic Direction, and the Strategic Plan for the Faculty of Science. Ultimately, the Chair will provide leadership and inspiration through collaborative research, outreach, student engagement, and the development of relationships with communities and cultures within and external to Dalhousie University.

Please submit the following information in your application:

• a cover letter outlining qualifications for the position;
• a curriculum vitae;
• a maximum two-page document describing the candidate’s proposed research program;
• sample publications (a maximum of two);
• a one-page statement describing teaching philosophy and teaching interests; and
• the contact information for at least three referees with knowledge of your work and/or recognized expertise in your discipline. Letters of reference will be solicited by the Search Committee for long-listed candidates and should not be sent with the initial application.

Assessment of applications will begin on 13th November 2020 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. The appointment will be effective 1st July, 2021 or as negotiated. Apply here.

News & Events

EOAS Colloquium Series - Matthijs Smit

Title: Tectonic tales of an evolving lithosphere

Date & Time: Thursday, October 1st at 11:00am

Place: Zoom!

Building on last week’s excellent colloquium by Julie Fosdick, our very own Assistant Professor, Matthijs Smit, will give next week’s seminar, entitled: Tectonic tales of an evolving lithosphere.  He will present results from a range of geochemical proxies, peering into the ancient rock record and examining processes driving the evolution of plate tectonics.