Canadian Rocky Mountain Snow Hydrology Research Opportunities
The University of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology www.usask.ca/hydrology with funding from the Global Institute for Water Security, NSERC, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Management and Yukon Environment has appointments open for
I) Post Doctoral Fellowship – Mountain Snow-Atmosphere Interactions. This fellowship will improve measurement and modeling of convective energy and mass exchange processes over snow covered surfaces in complex mountain terrain. The goal of this research is to develop improved representation of turbulent energy fluxes within snow physics and hydrology models, which is to be based upon a combination of micrometeorological and boundary layer measurements and fine resolution atmospheric modelling.
2) Post Doctoral Fellowship or Research Officer – Cold Regions Hydrological Modelling. This post will apply and assess the Cold Regions Hydrological Model (CRHM) in the Smoky River Basin, Alberta, Wolf Creek Research Basin, Yukon using observed data and other basins in Yukon and Alberta using reanalysis and other data. The goal of the research is to implement an operational version of CRHM in the Smoky River for snowmelt forecasting and to examine climate change sensitivities and impacts in the Yukon and elsewhere.
3) PhD Studentship – Ecohydrology of Canadian Rockies Treelines. The doctoral studentship will examine the interaction of snow redistribution and melt, water supply and tree growth to determine the hydrological role of mountain treelines and the stability of treelines under a warming climate.
The University maintains the Coldwater Centre offices and laboratories in the Kananaskis Valley of the Canadian Rockies, near Canmore, Alberta, and instrumented basins at Marmot Creek, and Peyto Glacier, Alberta and Wolf Creek, Yukon along with a suite of hydrological models and a wide range of collaborations.
Snow-Atmosphere Interactions – Post Doctoral Fellow
Researchers from the Centre for Hydrology and the Global Institute for Water Security are developing a new high elevation mountain snow research observatory http://www.usask.ca/hydrology/CRHO.php in order to help understand vulnerabilities of mountain snowpack water supplies. As part of this project, we are currently seeking a highly motivated and organized individual to work on improved measurement and modeling of convective energy and mass exchange processes over snow covered surfaces in complex mountain terrain. The goal of this research is to develop improved representation of turbulent energy fluxes within snow physics and hydrology models, which is to be based upon a combination of micrometeorological and boundary layer measurements and fine resolution atmospheric modelling. For this position, we are searching for candidates that have experience in conducting micrometeorological field campaigns and possess a blend of field and analytical skills. The candidate will be required to liaise with other field researchers, interface with numerical modellers, and to mentor technicians and graduate students.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have completed within the last 5 years, or be near completion, of a PhD degree in a field that involves some aspect of snow hydrology or micrometeorology and be fully conversant with mountain climatology, micrometeorology, cold regions processes, and physically based modelling of complex systems. In addition to having excellent analytical skills, applicants should have an aptitude for conducting high altitude mountain fieldwork while deploying and maintaining hydrological and meteorological instrumentation. Evidence of successful publication in high quality international science journals is a requirement for this PDF.
Venue:
Research will be conducted within the Centre for Hydrology www.usask.ca/hydrology with offices on campus in Saskatoon and on the campus of the Biogeoscience Institute in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta http://bgs.ucalgary.ca/. This position will be based at the Coldwater Centre at the Biogeoscience Institute. The nearest full service residential town is Canmore, Alberta http://www.tourismcanmore.com/. The Centre for Hydrology offers superb facilities for training in hydrological processes and modelling and its Coldwater Centre is a unique mountain snow hydrology and climatology laboratory situated in the Canadian Rockies. Nearby Marmot Creek Research Basin and Peyto Glacier in the Canadian Rockies are two of the most comprehensively instrumented mountain research basins in Canada and have a 50 year history of research. Fieldwork technicians and computer modellers are available to help with this research.
Stipend:
A two-year fellowship at $50,000 per year is available to a fully qualified candidate.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should contact John Pomeroy and Warren Helgason centre.hydrology@usask.ca with a cover letter explaining your motivation, complete CV, examples of papers either in press or published, and contact details for three academic references. Informal inquiries are welcome.
Cold Regions Hydrological Modelling - Post-doctoral Fellow or Research Officer
This post will apply, develop and assess the Cold Regions Hydrological Model http://www.usask.ca/hydrology/CRHM.php in the Smoky River Basin, Alberta, and Wolf Creek Research Basin, Yukon using observed station data, and other basins in Yukon and Alberta using reanalysis and other data. Snowmelt hydrology is the primary runoff generating process and so the modelling goal is to improve and implement aspects of the model that are relevant to the spring freshet. The goal of the research is to implement an operational version of CRHM in the Smoky River for snowmelt forecasting and to examine climate change and related permafrost melt and tundra shrub expansion sensitivities and impacts in the Yukon and elsewhere. The project arises out of funding from Alberta ESRD and Yukon Environment.
Qualifications
The successful applicant must have a recent PhD or MSc in hydrological modelling with familiarity with cold regions hydrology and be fully conversant with physically based modelling of complex hydrological systems. Required qualifications include: ability to code in C or C++, ability to operate complex computer models, ability to operate GIS, and ability to write scientific papers. Evidence of successful publication in high quality international science journals is a requirement.
Venue:
Research will be conducted in the Centre for Hydrology www.usask.ca/hydrology with offices on campus in Saskatoon and on the campus of the Biogeoscience Institute in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta http://bgs.ucalgary.ca/. This position will be based at the Coldwater Centre @ Biogeoscience Institute, Kananaskis, Alberta – the nearest full service residential town is Canmore, Alberta http://www.tourismcanmore.com/. The Centre for Hydrology offers superb facilities for hydrological research and its Coldwater Centre is a unique mountain snow hydrology laboratory situated in the Canadian Rockies. Nearby Marmot Creek Research Basin and Peyto Glacier in the Canadian Rockies are two of the most comprehensively instrumented mountain research basins in Canada and have a 50 year history of research.
Stipend:
A two-year fellowship or salary commensurate with qualifications is available.
How to Apply:
Contact John Pomeroy centre.hydrology@usask.ca with a cover letter explaining your motivation, complete CV, examples of up to three papers either in press or published, and contact details for three academic references. Informal inquiries are welcome.
Ecohydrology of Canadian Rockies Treelines - PhD Student
The doctoral student will examine the interaction of wind and forest redistribution of snow and melt in complex terrain, water supply and tree growth to determine the hydrological role of mountain treelines and the stability of treelines under a warming climate. Primary field sites will be in the Canadian Rockies as part of the Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory http://www.usask.ca/hydrology/CRHO.php, but sites in the Yukon will also be available.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have or be near completion of a Master’s degree in a natural resources or engineering field (preferably with an emphasis on hydrology), and must meet all of the requirements for acceptance into the PhD program in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Saskatchewan. The successful applicant will have an interest in the intersection of physical and ecological science, be highly motivated, have excellent oral and written communication skills, and have previous wilderness fieldwork experience in cold environments (please clearly outline previous field experience in cover letter). A successful application to the College of Graduate Studies and Research via the Dept of Geography and Planning at the University of Saskatchewan will be required (see below).
Venue:
Research will be conducted in the Centre for Hydrology www.usask.ca/hydrology with offices on campus in Saskatoon and on the campus of the Biogeoscience Institute in the Kananaskis Valley, Alberta http://bgs.ucalgary.ca/. The Centre for Hydrology offers superb facilities for training in hydrological processes and modelling and related ecological, climatological and hydrochemical phenomena. Marmot Creek Research Basin in the Kananaskis Valley of the Canadian Rockies is one of the most comprehensively instrumented mountain research basins in Canada and has a 50 year history of research. Fieldwork technicians and computer modellers are available to help with this research.
Stipend:
A three-year scholarship is available to aid in the completion of the Ph.D. program. Base support is $19,129 per year with a notable supplement for good performance. Normal starting dates are September 2013.
How to Apply:
General admission requirements and an on-line application form can be found at the College of Graduate Studies and Research (CGSR) website: www.usask.ca/cgsr/admission/index.php .
In addition to completing the CGSR application, please send a statement describing your research interests and field experience to the Graduate Chair, Department of Geography and Planning following the procedure outlined at http://www.arts.usask.ca/geography/graduate/ .
Deadline for applications to the Department of Geography and Planning is 15 Feb 2013.
You are encouraged to contact Dr. John Pomeroy to discuss the studentship centre.hydrology@usask.ca before applying. Informal inquiries are welcome.
The University of Saskatchewan is strongly committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that empowers all employees to reach their full potential. All members of the university community share a responsibility for developing and maintaining an environment in which differences are valued and inclusiveness is practiced. The university welcomes applications from those who will contribute to the diversity of our community. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
Professor John Pomeroy
Canada Research Chair in Water Resources and Climate Change
Director, Centre for Hydrology
University of Saskatchewan
117 Science Place
Saskatoon, Sask.
S7N 5C8 Canada
