POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Civil Engineering Department at York University is seeking applications for one Ph.D. who enjoys environmental research and is keen to work at the chemistry biology interface. The assistantship will cover stipends, tuition waivers, and insurance. The successful candidate will work in Dr. Satinder Kaur Brar’s research group (https://inzymes.lab.yorku.ca/).
The broad research areas include but are not limited to polymer chemistry, analytical chemistry, microbiology and wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and Statistics. One example project to be undertaken by the candidate is listed below. Details will be discussed during the video conference interview if invited.
1. Mass balance of MPs (microplastics) and their weathered products
A Ph.D. will be supported by this NSERC project to focus on understanding the fate of MPs, including their transformation, degradation, and accumulation within WWTPs. The primary objective of this research is to comprehensively examine the fate of microplastics in WWTPs through meticulous mass balance calculations. This research aims to determine the partitioning, transformation, and persistence of MPs, providing valuable insights into MPs/NPs loading to surface water and soils that receive treated effluent and biosolids. The ultimate milestone is the acquisition of representative data on MPs load in the unit operations of WWTPs.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION
The successful candidate is expected to be creative, and self-motivated, and possess previous research experience in the field of microplastics, environmental monitoring, or related disciplines. Familiarity with research methodologies, laboratory techniques, and data analysis used in microplastic research, and analytical instruments including spectroscopy, chromatography, and microscopy. Specifically, the successful candidate:
▪ Must have (or must earn before the application deadline) a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental science, chemistry, ecology, environmental engineering, or a closely related field.
▪ A strong academic record, especially in courses related to environmental chemistry, pollution, and ecological systems.
▪ Strong quantitative skills for data analysis and interpretation. And knowledge of statistical methods relevant to environmental studies.
▪ Excellent written and oral communication skills for presenting research findings, writing reports, and publishing scientific papers.
▪ Applicants must also meet the English proficiency requirements and other requirements for admission to York University (https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/requirements/hs-international-countries)