Masters of Science Research Opportunity – The Wasi Stormflow Monitoring Project
Nipissing University and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority
A MESc Student at Nipissing University will investigate the relationships between streamflow and water quality (including total and dissolved phosphorus concentrations, total suspended solids, turbidity, stable water isotopes) in the Wasi watershed, a ~ 230 km2 watershed that generates ~ 80% of all water flowing into Callander Bay, a large bay and a municipal water supply located on Lake Nipissing, ON. The student will analyze an existing dataset that includes seasonal to storm event streamflow and water quality measurements and conduct field and laboratory-based research activities as part of ongoing data collection. The Wasi stormflow monitoring project is supported by a research partnership between Nipissing University’s Integrative Watershed Research Centre (iwrc.nipissingu.ca) and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority with the objective of developing a better understanding of sources of total phosphorus in the Wasi watershed and contributions downstream to Callander Bay. This project includes collaboration with Dr. Merrin Macrae at the University of Waterloo, supporting study of nutrient fluxes from land to aquatic systems.
The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Earth Sciences, Engineering, Biology or other related sciences and some experience in field work and/or quantitative analysis.
This project offers a graduate student opportunity to become part of an ongoing research partnership between Nipissing University and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority with a competitive co-sponsored stipend. Students will gain experience with field and laboratory facilities used by contemporary researchers in fields of watershed and isotope hydrology, water quality, watershed management and source water protection.
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae by January 10, 2017 to:
Dr. April James
Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair – Watershed Analysis and Modeling
Department of Geography, Integrative Watershed Research Centre
Nipissing University
100 College Drive, North Bay, ON, Canada P1B 8L7
Tel: (705) 474-3450 x.4062; aprilj@nipissingu.ca