Environmental Chemistry

Do you have an interest in microplastics – sources and fate in air and water in urban and Arctic environments?  The Diamond Research Group at the University of Toronto (PI: Professor Miriam Diamond) is seeking a PhD student (1) and post-doctoral fellow (1, two year appointment) to refine analysis approaches using focal-plane array scanning and/or laser-directed infrared spectroscopy, applying the techniques to measuring microplastic contaminant sources in airsheds and an urbanized watershed across a gradient of land uses.  This research will identify contributing sources and quantify source major source pathways of microplastics in the urban environment and the transport and fate to the Canadian Arctic. The candidates will be part of a cross-disciplinary research team at the University of Toronto while collaborating with researcher teams at the University of Windsor, Trent University and Western University, as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada and Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks research scientists, on this NSERC and ECCC-funded initiatives. Furthermore, the Arctic work is done in collaboration with the Northern Contaminants Program and ArcticNet. 

PhD student must be eligible for admission to University of Toronto, Dept of Earth Sciences, or Dept of Physical and Environmental Sciences at Scarborough. Post-doctoral fellow must have a PhD or nearing completion, with experience in sampling and analysis of microplastics.

Please send cover letter explaining your specific interest and qualifications for this project, your unofficial university transcript(s) and CV to:
Prof. Miriam Diamond, miriam.diamond@utoronto.ca