Drs. Orihel (Queen’s) and Provencher (ECCC) jointly welcome applications for a PhD Student to study: “Biological Fate and Effects of Microplastics on Amphibians in a Whole-Lake Experiment at the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area”
Project Description: The pELAstic Study is an ecosystem-scale experiment that will help us better understand the effects of microplastic pollution on boreal lakes and their wildlife. This ambitious study is led by a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary team of academics, government scientists, and NGO partners from across North America. Based at the world-renowned IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, the pELAstic Study will experimentally add microplastics to a whole-lake ecosystem and monitor the environmental fate and ecological effects of these emerging contaminants. The PhD student will join the pELAstic research team to assess the potential bioaccumulation and adverse effects of microplastics on amphibians in the whole-ecosystem experiment. The student will be responsible for characterizing the amphibian communities in the study lakes, as well as measuring a comprehensive suite of ecologically relevant toxicity endpoints in amphibians. The student also will have the freedom to develop their own mesocosm-scale experiments to answer mechanistic questions at a new outdoor ecotoxicological facility at at the Queen’s University Biological Station.
Academic Environment: The successful applicants will join the QE3 Research Group directed by Dr. Diane Orihel, Assistant Professor and Queen’s National Scholar in Aquatic Ecotoxicology, and will be co-supervised by Dr. Jennifer Provencher, Research Scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada with strong expertise in plastic pollution. Applicants will be affiliated with the Department of Biology at Queen’s University, one of Canada’s top universities.
Funding. This research project is funded by an NSERC Plastic Science for a Cleaner Future Grant. Guaranteed stipend for PhD students is at least $24,800 CAD per year. At Queen’s, international PhD students can pay same tuition fees as domestic students. Preferred start date is May 1, 2022 or September 1, 2022.
Desired Qualifications & Eligibility
1. Research-based MSc degree in Biological Sciences
2. Interest and knowledge in herpetology and/or amphibian ecotoxicology
3. Experience in the field, preferably with herpetofauna and/or in aquatic ecosystems
4. Strong communication and interpersonal skills
This opportunity is open to domestic or international students.
Application Process
To apply, please send the following by email (with the exact subject line “PhD-2022-Herp”) to Dr. Diane Orihel (diane.orihel@queensu.ca) by December 10, 2021:
(a) Cover letter (1 pg.): stating the position you are applying for, explaining why you are interested in this project and in joining the Orihel and Provencher labs, and providing evidence of how you meet the desired qualifications.
(b) Curriculum vitae
(c) Transcript (most advanced university degree only; unofficial version is acceptable)
(d) Contact information for three references (include affiliations, with official work email addresses)
(e) One writing sample (e.g., thesis, technical report, and/or journal article)
Incomplete applications will not be considered, and only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The QE3 Research Group strives to be an equitable, diverse, and inclusive research community where everyone is welcomed, supported, and empowered to grow to their fullest potential. We especially encourage applications from members of under-represented groups.
You are welcome to download our poster and share it on your networks: qe3peccrecruitment2022
Queen's Experimental Ecology & Ecotoxicology 