PhD Studentship Opportunity:
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Glacial and Permafrost Hydrology
Applications
Position Description:
The focus of the research to be undertaken will be the development and
application Unmanned Aerial Systems for glacial and permafrost hydrology
studies. The use of UAS to measure, monitor and study our rapidly changing
environment has a great amount of potential. They offer the ability to
collect environmental data (e.g. Earth surface imagery, thermal imagery,
topography, atmospheric chemistry and thermal structure) with considerably
greater spatial and temporal detail than ever possible before. This is an
emerging research area that is seeing accelerated development due to the
considerable scientific and commercial demand and the convergence of a
number of evolving technologies.
Some of the significant issues associated with our changing climate are
glacier retreat, thawing permafrost and ground ice melt. Unfortunately in
remote Arctic regions quantifying these variables is difficult and costly.
The application of UAS to this problem has the potential to provide
answers with a level of precision never before possible. Developing UAS
applications to monitor these changes is enabling us to collect detailed
data never before possible. With the flexibility to pursue the specific
topic that you are most interested in, this research will involve the
further development of UAS applications to solve real-world issues in the
field of permafrost and glacial hydrology.
We now have over two decades of experience and background data from Bylot
Island in the Canadian Arctic. And yet, there are still many questions to
be answered. This location offers the perfect location to explore this
research.
Award Details:
• This studentship is valued at $25,000 CDN per year for 4 years for
Canadian students and $30,000 CDN per year for international students for
4 years
• You start your program in either September 2014 or January 2015.
• You will join a dynamic group that involves cold regions researchers and
a large team interested advancing the application of UAS for earth science
applications.
• The overall research program is funded by NSERC, PCSP and the University
of Calgary.
The cost of your research activities will be covered through these sources.
This studentship is funded by the University of Calgary's Eyes High
Doctoral Student Recruitment program. The University of Calgary has a
clear strategic direction to become one of Canada's top five research
universities by 2016, where innovative teaching and groundbreaking
research go hand in hand, and where we fully engage the communities we
both serve and lead. The strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by our
Gaelic motto, which translates to 'I will lift up my eyes'. We are
increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to
change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a
global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone.
Requirements:
• You hold a masters degree in Geography, Earth Science or a related
discipline.
• You have an entering GPA of at least 3.5 on the 4 point scale (or
equivalent) in your last two years of study
• You are intellectually curious, driven, have technical aptitude
• You have experience in undertaking field research and are interested in
working in the Arctic
Application Process:
Please submit your letter of interest, CV, transcripts and contact
information for three referees to:
Professor Brian Moorman
Department of Geography
University of Calgary
moorman@ucalgary.ca
Application Deadline: March 31, 2014
For additional information about the University of Calgary see:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/, the Department of Geography see:
http://geog.ucalgary.ca/ or Brian Moorman see:
http://geog.ucalgary.ca/profiles/brian-moorman
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