Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Graduate position at U. of Toronto

A PhD graduate student position is available in Miriam Diamond's lab (University of Toronto) to pursue research into modelling the sources, fate and distribution of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in the indoor environment.  

The research is part of a 3-year project funded by Health Canada (Clean Air Regulatory Agenda) that is being conducted in conjunction with Cancer Care Ontario.  The goal of project is to qualitatively and quantitatively understand types and strength of emission sources and the indoor partitioning and fate of SVOCs, with the aim of improving our ability to estimate indoor exposures to these compounds.  

The modelling component of the project entails improving the fugacity-based indoor model from our lab (Zhang X. et al. 2009, 2011[1]), evaluating the model using measured indoor air concentrations and environmental characteristics, and using data from the Health Canada study to fulfil the study’s goal.  

Applicants should hold a master’s degree or an undergraduate degree with relevant experience.  A background in chemical engineering and/or environmental science is preferable with familiarity with mass balance models and computer programming.  Applicants require proficiency in written and spoken English.  Publishing in the peer-review literature and presenting results at international conferences will be expected.  

The successful candidate will join a vibrant multidisciplinary and multicultural lab, with the general goal of connecting sources and emissions with ecological and human exposure to chemical contaminants, leading to policies and measures to mitigate exposure.  

To apply: Applicants should provide a letter expressing your interest in this project and explaining how this project would fit with your career goals, plus a CV or resume.  Please also send the names and email addresses of two referees.  Please send all information electronically to Miriam Diamond, miriam.diamond@utoronto.ca.  

All applicants will be considered although preference will be given to suitably qualified Canadians and Canadian Landed Immigrants.  Project funding is available for a minimum of 3 years.  Applications will be reviewed starting on 30 April, 2014 and will continue until the position is filled.


[1] ZHANG X, ML DIAMOND, SJ HARRAD, C IBARRA. 2009. Multimedia modeling of PBDE emissions and fate indoors.  Environ Sci Technol 43(8): 2845-2850.
ZHANG X, M ROBSON, ML DIAMOND, C IBARRA, SJ HARRAD. 2011. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) indoors in Toronto: concentrations, air/dust distribution, sources and emissions. Environ Sci Technol 45: 3268-3274.
Miriam Diamond <miriam.diamond@utoronto.ca>
Professor
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Toronto

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