PhD Student Position at Saint Mary's University (SMU) in Halifax, Canada
We invite applications for a fully-funded PhD Student Position to work on the project 'Integrated measurements of GHG emissions at an intermediate port'. This SMU-led NSEC Alliance Missions project is a partnership that aims to connect and advance scientific capacity in atmospheric observation (SMU), ocean chemistry and microbiology (Dalhousie University, Halifax), and air-sea flux measurement technology (SMU, Dal and industry partner Eosense Inc., Halifax) to improve the understanding of marine sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the scale of an intermediate-size port, with the Halifax Port Authority also serving as a critical partner. The research will account for both direct emissions (e.g. from new ship fuels) and changing emissions from harbour waters impacted by human activity and climate change.
Focusing primarily on the powerful GHG nitrous oxide (N2O) the goals of the partnership are to: 1) establish the baseline conditions and monitor the impacts of new fuels on emissions of GHGs from the marine sector; 2) determine the magnitude of GHG emissions (fluxes) from coastal waters and their sensitivity to direct and indirect anthropogenic disturbance; 3) critically evaluate the attribution of variability in atmospheric measurements to direct vs. indirect GHG emissions; 4) provide public information about GHG sources and magnitudes within the Port of Halifax.
Responsibilities of PhD Student
The successful candidate will 1) derive ambient atmospheric trace gas concentrations from existing and new infrared absorption spectra, 2) correlate gas concentrations with ship traffic information, 3) interpret and publish the results, and 4) communicate the findings to the Halifax Port Authority and other project stakeholders. The PhD student will work with a Postdoctoral Fellow assigned to another aspect of the project, other university faculty collaborators, industry scientists and staff from the Halifax Port Authority to meet the 4 partnership goals described above.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will hold a BSc in Atmospheric Science or a relevant area of Physical Science, Engineering or Computer Science. They will have experience with scientific programming and data analysis skills in Python (or a similar language). Finally, the candidate will have strong interpersonal and communication (written and oral) skills.
Application Instructions
PhD projects can start in September, January or May. Please email a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information of two references to Prof. Aldona Wiacek (aldona.wiacek@smu.ca, http://www.ap.smu.ca/~awiacek/) before applying to the PhD in Applied Science Program at SMU (https://www.smu.ca/academics/phd-applied-science.html).
About Saint Mary's
Saint Mary's University is a public university with over 7,000 students, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university is committed to serving the local, regional, national, and international communities, and integrating such activity as part of the learning environment for undergraduate and graduate students. The University has over 250 full-time faculty involved in innovative teaching, research and service. Interdisciplinary studies are a prominent feature and strength of the University, including through a Masters degree and a PhD degree in Applied Science. Saint Mary's is located in the historic port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a vibrant, urban community of over 400,000 people in the Regional Municipality. Halifax is a major educational and economic centre for Atlantic Canada and is home to five universities. It is conveniently located with respect to recreational areas and other major urban centres in Canada and the northeastern United States.