- Research, Teaching, and Professional Opportunities
- Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Opportunities
- International Research and Teaching Opportunities
Research, Teaching, and Professional Opportunities
** Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Science and Technology Branch Lethbridge (Alberta) **
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is seeking applications for a full-time, Research Scientist – Soil Chemistry and Nutrient within the Science and Technology Branch Lethbridge (Alberta). The classification level and salary will be determined by the qualifications of the candidate. Closing date: 29 April 2024 – 23:59, Pacific Time
In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)
EDUCATION:
Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of science with a specialization related to the duties of the position, such as, but not limited to:
• Soil science
• Agriculture
• Soil Chemistry
Applications will be accepted from candidates enrolled in their final year, but who have not yet completed a Ph.D. program. Completion of the Ph.D. thesis must occur before the date of appointment.
If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).
Recognized achievement in the form of authorship and editorship of published or unpublished reports, books, papers, peer-reviewed scientific journals, or other communications resulting from:
a) Research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems; OR
b) Operational research and scientific analysis; OR
c) Planning, analysis and evaluation of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development; OR
d) Developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved varieties, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment.
EXPERIENCE:
• Experience in the design and conduct of research in soil chemistry, specifically as it relates to nutrient cycling or organic residue management.
• Experience in the development and evaluation of Beneficial Management Practices or innovative technologies related to crop and livestock agroecosystem resiliency.
Click here for the job announcement
** University of British Columbia **
The Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (www.landfood.ubc.ca) is seeking applications for a full-time, tenure-stream position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in Soil Science within the Applied Biology Program. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2025, although an alternate start date could be negotiated.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in soil science or a closely related field supplemented with postdoctoral or equivalent experience relevant to sustainable land and food systems. Candidates must demonstrate potential for innovative, inclusive and diverse research programs in areas related to soil physics, soil biogeochemistry, soil biology, soil ecology, and/or agroecology. Applicants must demonstrate strong potential for excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate soil science courses.
As described in its Action Plan, the Faculty of Land and Food Systems prioritizes EDI and uses student-centered learning to educate new generations of scientists equipped to solve the most fundamental issues faced by society (https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/action-plan/). The successful candidate will be expected to (a) develop an independent, externally funded, and internationally recognized research program; (b) foster active collaborations in research and teaching within the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and beyond; and (c) teach courses related to soil science at the graduate and undergraduate level in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.
Applications must be made through the University of British Columbia’s Human Resources online careers page (https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs). Applicants should submit one combined PDF file including: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) contact information of three references; (4) statement describing a five-year research plan (1-2 pages); (5) statement of teaching philosophy with evidence of potential for effective teaching (1-2 pages); and (6) statement identifying a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (up to 1 page). To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by June 15, 2024; however, this position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
Long-listed candidates will be contacted and asked to arrange for 3 letters of reference to be submitted to the search committee.
If you have specific questions about the application process, please contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Maja Krzic (maja.krzic@ubc.ca) c/o melanie.train@ubc.ca.
Applicants are also asked to complete an equity survey. The survey information will not be used to determine employment eligibility, but will be collated to provide data that can assist us in understanding the diversity of our applicant pool, identify potential barriers to the employment of designated equity group members, and comply with our hiring practices. Your participation in the survey is voluntary and confidential. Data collected through this survey will be held by the Dean’s office and will only be shared at the aggregate level with the hiring committee. https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71nbSTuMnPM8w7k
Click here for the job announcement
** Memorial University of Newfoundland **
The School of Science and the Environment at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland seeks applications for a Tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of boreal ecosystems, focused on plants or plant-soil interactions in natural or managed systems commencing on August 1, 2024. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching within the Environmental Science (ENVS) and the Boreal Ecosystems and Agricultural Sciences (BEAS) programs and to the broader Grenfell Campus community. The successful candidate will also have opportunities to supervise graduate students and to contribute to graduate programs at Masters and PhD levels.
We encourage applications from candidates with demonstrated potential for teaching and research excellence in Plant and Soil Ecology, Soil Health, and/or cognate disciplines (e.g., Agriculture, Environmental Science, Physical Geography). A completed PhD or advanced stages of a PhD program is required.
Application deadline : January 31, 2024
Applicants must Submit:
Applications should include a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a two-page teaching dossier (teaching philosophy and evidence of teaching effectiveness), a two-page research statement (which includes a summary of most significant research contributions in the past five years), an EDII-AR statement, and the names and contact information of three referees.
Applications should be sent to the attention of:
Dr. Morteza Haghiri,
Interim Dean, School of Science and the Environment,
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University,
ssedean@grenfell.mun.ca
Click here for the job announcement
The University of Guelph invites applications for an NSERC Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Ecohydrology. Tier 2 Chairs are tenable for five years and renewable once. The successful candidate will hold a PhD in Hydrology, Ecosystem Science, or a related discipline and have the potential to achieve international recognition in the field of ecohydrology and a strong potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the institution receives $100,000 annually for five years (which can be used for salary and research). In addition to this, the Chair receives a $20,000 annual stipend for research. The CRC position search will be held in the spring/summer of 2023, with an application submitted to the CRC Program in Fall 2023 or Winter 2024. The successful candidate will complement existing expertise in the School of Environmental Sciences (SES (https://ses.uoguelph.ca/)) in agricultural systems, Biogeochemistry, aquatic and terrestrial ecology, environmental chemistry, microbiology and hydrogeology.
Nominees for Tier 2 Chair positions should be assistant or associate professors or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. Eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair requires that applicants are emerging scholars. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree, where career breaks exist, such as parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, or other exceptional circumstances, including research interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have their eligibility assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Eligible leaves and research interruptions are generally credited at twice the amount of time taken. For more information about eligibility and the Tier 2 Justification Process, please contact Ailsa Kay, Manager, Strategic Programs at ailsakay@uoguelph.ca . Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website for full program information.
Application deadline : May 1, 2023
Applicants must Submit:
- A full curriculum vitae
- A four-page (maximum) statement that includes:
- A research statement providing an overview of the applicant’s research proposal, including knowledge mobilization and any innovation activities, that demonstrates how the candidate meets the CRC criteria for Tier 2
- How the proposed research embeds EDI considerations at each stage of the research process
- Alignment with U of G’s existing or emerging areas of research strength
- A maximum 2-page teaching statement, including teaching philosophy and evidence of effective teaching (e.g., course syllabi, teaching plans)
- Names and contact information for three external references. Candidates who are shortlisted will be asked for letters of references that demonstrate how the candidate meets the CRC criteria for Tier 2.
Applications should be sent to the attention of:
Dr. Paul Sibley
Director and Professor
SES of Environmental Sciences
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Directorasst.ses@uoguelph.ca
Click here for the job announcement
The Department of Soil and Agrifood Engineering invites applications for a regular professor position in the following field: Climate change and greenhouse gases in relation to sustainable soil management. The Department is made up of a team of 19 professors who supervise approximately 500 undergraduate students and around 100 graduate students. The Department offers several study programs of undergraduate degrees, including agronomy, agro-environmental engineering and food engineering and at the graduate degree in soil and environmental sciences and in agri-food engineering.
Job Description
- Develop, participate and teach courses on greenhouse gases from agricultural activities and their effects on climate change as well as the effect of soil management methods and production systems in mitigating their emissions. Field of investigation and activities should also look to ways to improve the resilience of production systems in the face of climate change, at the levels of the three training cycles.
- Develop an original research program focusing on the development of a detailed understanding of the production of greenhouse gases in the agroecosystem, the movement of gases in soil and biosphere-atmosphere interactions in agricultural systems, including modern techniques for measuring greenhouse gas emissions, their effects on the environment, and ways to mitigate or reduce emissions. The incumbent is also expected to study soil management methods allowing adaptation to climate change while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and the ecological footprint of agricultural production systems.
- Participate in the supervision of students at the levels of the three training cycles.
- Contribute to the promotion of research activities in the field of climate change and greenhouse gas management in connection with sustainable soil management in agriculture.
- Participate in the life of Université Laval.
Application deadline : September 30, 2023
Job starting date : January 1, 2024
Interested persons are requested to submit, a dossier containing :
- A detailed curriculum vitae.
- Transcripts (undergrad in graduate degrees).
- A letter of introduction (maximum 3 pages) highlighting your qualifications in the field of greenhouse gases and sustainable soil management, your vision for developing your field of research and describing your motivations for exercising the function of professor as well as your three major contributions since the last five years.
- Three (3) scientific articles recently published or accepted in peer-reviewed journals in the research field of the position to be filled.
- Three (3) reference letters directly from the signatories, attesting to your skills in the field of climate change and greenhouse gases in relation to sustainable soil management in agriculture sent by email to:
damien.de.halleux@fsaa.ulaval.ca
Click here for the job announcement
Postdoctoral and Graduate Student Opportunities
** Multiple M. Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity in environmental sciences of rare earth elements at Trent University **
Trent University, INRS (Institut National de la Rercherche Scientifique), and Laval University invite applications for fifteen graduate positions in environmental sciences of rare earth elements as critical minerals. This multidisciplinary project aims to assess the mechanisms by which rare earth elements (REEs), as priority critical minerals, affect Canadian terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The generated knowledge will allow the development of novel and responsible REE-based applications for sustainable growth of the biotechnology and agroforestry sectors. We aim to expand the potential end use of the research by facilitating the interactions between academic, private and government partners; each partner provides essential fundamental, technical and applied knowledge.
Tasks: The successful candidates will take an active role in planning and executing the research ideas, field and laboratory work in different graduate programs at Trent, INRS and Laval Universities.
Requirements: The positions are ideally suited for scholars (BSc, MSc holders) in environmental sciences, with a solid knowledge of ecotoxicology, biogeochemistry, microbiology, plant sciences, forestry or environmental modeling. We particularly seek a robust technical proficiency in advanced chemical/molecular analyses.
We offer: Fully funded scholarships, innovative & applied research topics, and well-equipped laboratories in environmental sciences, ecotoxicology & molecular (micro)biology.
How to apply: The application package should include (i) a cover letter outlining how the candidate fulfills the requirements, (ii) a full CV, (iii) academic transcripts and (iv) a list of contacts of three referees. The email subject should include the position of interest.
Applications should be sent as a single PDF to Dr. Huy Dang, Assistant Professor at Trent University: huydang@trentu.ca.
For more information, click here!
** M. Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity in Precision 4R Management at the University of Manitoba **
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Industrial Research Chair Program, under the leadership of Dr. Mario Tenuta, is currently seeking a candidate for training leading to an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in Precision 4R Management.
Background: Commercial farm fields are heterogeneous for soil properties in space and time. Consequently, yield and N2O emissions from nitrogen (N) fertilizer additions are also variable in fields. To address this spatial and temporal variability, Precision Agriculture was developed to improve nutrient use efficiency by matching N addition-induced yield response to landscape position and soil properties within a field.
Project Summary: The successful applicant will undertake graduate research to determine the extent to which N2O emissions reductions and improved profitability of canola can be achieved by combining the Precision Agriculture practice of tailoring N rates with the 4R Management practice of using a nitrification inhibitor, a management approach we call Precision 4R. The student will assist with experimental design, setup, sample collection, sample analysis and processing. They will also report results to farmers and industry through field tours and presentations. Ph.D. candidates will also be responsible for synthesizing results from data collected at two additional field sites in Saskatchewan.
Learn more about the 4R Industrial Research Chair Program and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada).
For more information on the opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, click here.
** M. Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity in Sustainable 4R Potato Production at the University of Manitoba **
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Industrial Research Chair Program, under the leadership of Dr. Mario Tenuta, is currently seeking a candidate for training leading to an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in Sustainable 4R Potato Production in Canada.
Background: The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is great, but potato producers are rightly concerned that reducing N2O emissions may negatively impact yield, supply, quality, and profitability.
Project Summary: The successful applicant will undertake graduate research to quantify greenhouse gas emissions reductions achievable using 4R nitrogen (N) management practices and improved N use efficient potato varieties in Canada, without sacrificing the yield and quality of fresh and processing potatoes. The student will assist with experimental design, setup, sample collection, sample analysis and processing. They will also report results to farmers and industry through field tours and presentations. Ph.D. candidates will also be responsible for synthesizing results from data collected at three additional field sites in Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Learn more about the 4R Industrial Research Chair Program and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada).
For more information on the opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, click here.
** M. Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity in Sustainable 4R Wheat Production at the University of Manitoba **
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Industrial Research Chair Program, under the leadership of Dr. Mario Tenuta, is currently seeking a candidate for training leading to an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in Sustainable 4R Wheat Production in Canada.
Background: Spring wheat is Canada’s second most valued export grain commodity and restrictions in nitrogen (N) fertilizer use to significantly reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions would severely impact sustainability of farms across the Prairies. Past research in Canada and globally have shown practices from the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework can reduce emissions.
Project Summary: The successful applicant will undertake graduate research to determine the benefit of combinations of 4R practices including split application, inhibitor-treated urea, and reduced rate urea addition to agronomic performance of and reduced N2O emissions from Canadian Western Red Spring Wheat. The student will assist with experimental design, setup, sample collection, sample analysis and processing. They will also report results to farmers and industry through field tours and presentations. Ph.D. candidates will also be responsible for synthesizing results from data collected at four additional sites in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Learn more about the 4R Industrial Research Chair Program and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada).
For more information on the opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, click here.
** M. Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity in Micrometeorology & Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the University of Manitoba **
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Industrial Research Chair Program, under the leadership of Dr. Mario Tenuta, is currently seeking a candidate for training leading to an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in Micrometeorology and Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions of long-term agricultural study sites.
Background: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields is an important step towards achieving 30% reductions below the 2005 level in Canada by the year 2030. Past research in Canada and globally have shown practices from the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework can reduce emissions. One of these practices is applying fertilizer amended with a nitrification inhibitor.
Project Summary: The successful applicant will undertake graduate research to determine the extent to which whole-year N2O and CO2 net emissions reductions from long-term field study sites can be achieved through applying nitrogen fertilizer with a nitrification inhibitor. N2O fluxes are determined using the flux-gradient method. The two study sites are located on heavy clay soil and lighter sandy soil; the project will focus on comparing emissions from two contrasting soil types of the Canadian Prairies. The student will assist with experimental design, setup and maintenance, sample collection, sample analysis and processing. They will also report results to farmers and industry through field tours and presentations.
Learn more about the 4R Industrial Research Chair Program and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada).
For more information on the opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, click here.
** M. Sc. or Ph.D. opportunity in Indirect N2O Emissions at the University of Manitoba **
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Industrial Research Chair Program, under the leadership of Dr. Mario Tenuta, is currently seeking several candidates for training leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Indirect N2O Emissions, specifically as ammonia (NH3) loss from agricultural soil.
Background: A major gap in Canada’s ability to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is reducing emissions of ammonia losses from fertilizers. Hydrolysis of urea fertilizers at the soil surface results in NH3 emissions, a fraction of which is converted to N2O upon deposition to soil and is thus a major indirect N2O source. Subsurface placement of urea fertilizers can reduce NH3 emissions, but this application method may be prevented by soil conditions, high moisture, and established roots. Alternatively, urease inhibitors can reduce NH3 losses from surface-applied urea, but their effectiveness and the effect of soil type is unknown. There is also concern that urease inhibitors may cause “pollution swapping”, where reducing indirect N2O emissions by preventing hydrolysis of urea fertilizers keeps NH3 in the ground leading to increased nitrification and ultimately an increase in direct N2O emissions.
Project Summary: Successful applicants will undertake graduate research to address one or more of the following objectives: (1) develop an accurate and feasible micrometeorological method of estimating NH3 emissions, (2) develop and verify the suitability of a new quantitative dosimeter method for estimating NH3 emissions, (3) determine the benefit of urease inhibitors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (NH3, N2O, CO2), (4) establish the most effective urease inhibitors and concentrations and soils to use them in, and (5) investigate if pollution swapping is a real concern for the Prairies and if eligibility of single inhibitor products in cost-share programs can be removed and thus encourage adoption of the inhibitors and realize reduction in N2O emissions.
Students will assist with experimental design, setup and maintenance, sample collection, sample analysis and processing. Ph.D. candidates will learn hard skills in the operation, troubleshooting and maintenance of gas sampling systems as well as micrometeorological monitoring systems (3-D sonic anemometers, weather stations including soil moisture and temperature monitoring, and data logger programming,) as well as MATLAB programming for two methods of micrometeorological flux estimation (flux-gradient, dispersion) as well as footprint analysis of area contributing to flux measures. All students will also report results to farmers and industry through field tours and presentations.
Learn more about the 4R Industrial Research Chair Program and Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (U of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada).
For more information on the opportunity, eligibility, and how to apply, click here.
** M.Sc. in Phosphorus Dynamics in Perennial Grain Systems at UofM **
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate for a graduate student position (M.Sc.) in the area of soil fertility and plant nutrition of perennial grains. The student will work on a project entitled “Phosphorus dynamics in perennial grain systems,” investigating the phosphorus (P) nutrition of the perennial grain crop KernzaTM, which is intermediate wheatgrass selected for grain production. Perennial grains are seen as an environmentally sustainable production approach, but little is currently known about optimal soil fertility management practices for these novel crops. Specifically, the graduate student will assess the productivity and the P acquisition mechanisms of Kernza when fertilized with different P sources in different soil types. The P fertilizers include the soluble fertilizer monoammonium phosphate, livestock manure, and the slow-release fertilizer struvite, which is a recycled fertilizer extracted from municipal wastewater. This research will include a field study, a controlled-environment plant growth study, and laboratory work such as quantifying mycorrhizal colonization of plant roots.
The position will be based in the Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba with an anticipated start date of September 2023. The student will be co-supervised by Dr. Joanne Thiessen Martens, Dept. of Soil Science, and Dr. Doug Cattani, Dept. of Plant Science. A graduate stipend of $21,000 per year for two years is available. The Soil Science department is based at the Fort Garry campus of the University of Manitoba, located in Winnipeg.
Candidates will have excellent oral and written skills in English and will have completed a 4-year equivalent B.Sc. degree in soil science, plant science, agronomy, environmental science, or a related discipline. A valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain one is preferred. The lab groups leading this research are committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive training environment. We especially welcome applications from women, racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Interested candidates are asked to send the following application materials to Dr. Joanne Thiessen Martens (J.ThiessenMartens@umanitoba.ca):
- Cover Letter – include why you are interested in this position; a statement indicating the school, program and year in which you are currently enrolled; and a description of any previous research experience.
- Detailed CV
- Academic transcript(s)
- An example of your original science-related writing (lab report, term paper, etc.)
- The contact information for at least two academic referees.
For more information click the here.
International Research and Teaching Opportunities
** President’s Postdoctoral Fellow position at University of Minnesota **
The Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities seeks to fill a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow position in the area of climate smart agriculture. Candidates will be considered from multiple sub-disciplines, including agronomy, weed science, biochemistry, biotechnology, physiology, genetics/genomics, breeding, or bioinformatics. This is a two-year position starting with an initial, renewable 12-month appointment with the possibility of advancing to a tenure track position.
Click here for a copy of the job announcement
** Postdoctoral researcher position at Tennessee State University **
The Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab at Tennessee State University is looking for a highly motivated Post-doctoral Researcher. This is a 12-month, full-time position (salary: $60,000 plus university benefits) with the possibility of an extension depending on job performance and funding availability. The selected candidate will lead a U.S. Forest Service-funded project on Urban Forests, Extreme Climate, and Urban Watersheds in the South. If interested, please send a one-page letter of interest and your CV to Dr. Yujuan Chen:
A CV, Unofficial transcript, or official transcript if available, showing progress or completion of MSc degree. An official transcript will be necessary for admission, if successful Please note that these documents are needed to apply for the positions and are separate from the application to the University of Alberta or University of Saskatchewan graduate admission. Applicants that have previously applied do not need to re-apply.