PEARL  Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory

  Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston ON, Canada, K7L 3N6

PEARL Home                    Teaching

                     Seminars    Safety

     Prairie Drought Project    Lake of the Woods Project

Graduate Opportunities in Applied Aquatic Ecology and Climate Change

(Posted: January 15, 2009)

Opportunities for 2-3 graduate students are available in the Department of Biology at Queen's University in the Paleoecological Environmental Research and Assessment Laboratory (PEARL, http://post.queensu.ca/~pearl). A minimum stipend of $20,300/year is available for a period of 2 years for a M.Sc. and 4 years for a Ph.D. All applicants require a 4-year B.Sc. degree with a minimum of an upper 'B' average. More detailed information is provided below.

In order to better understand the impacts of future climatic conditions on water quality and quantity under an 'enhanced greenhouse', we require an understanding of both the patterns and mechanisms responsible for natural variations in water resources. This long-term perspective is necessary to understand extremes in water availability, which is important from many perspectives, including, for example, its importance to drinking water, recreation, fisheries, biodiversity, and power generation.

We are looking for 2-3 individuals interested in undertaking graduate research in the following areas: i) investigation of the long-term patterns in water availability within the Winnipeg River Drainage Basin (WRDB) (http://post.queensu.ca/~pearl/drought) or ii) on the role of recent climate change on algae communities and water quality in reference lake from the Experimental Lakes Area, northwestern Ontario (funded by Ontario's 'Best in Science' Program). These positions can begin as early as May 2009, as fieldwork will begin in late May for the WRDB project.

These positions will include training in all aspects of aquatic ecology and paleoenvironmental assessment techniques including: fieldwork experience; collection of physical, chemical and limnological data from lakes; sediment coring techniques; understanding of isotopic techniques to date sediments cores; experience in the preparation and identification of indicator organisms, such as diatoms and scaled chrysophytes, including the application of digital photography and use of taxonomic computer databases; experimental design; data management; statistical analyses and interpretation. These interdisciplinary opportunities will also result a better understanding of the impacts, and potential impacts, of anthropogenic climate change on water resources in northwestern Ontario, as well as current water management techniques.

The successful applicant should have: i) a minimum of an upper 'B' average in an Honours (i.e., 4-year) undergraduate B.Sc. program; ii) an intense interest in aquatic ecology, water resources and climate change; iii) the ability to work both independently and as part of a team; and iv) good interpersonal and writing skills. Skills related to outdoor activities and water safety would also be considered favourably.

If you are interested, please contact me (cummingb@queensu.ca) and visit http://www.queensu.ca/biology/gradpostdoc/prospectives.html for the application procedure.