Reporting to the Research Manager of the Plastics Lab the Research Fellow- Plastics Forensics (FTIR) will lead the application of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) to track the source, fate, and transport of microplastics in coastal and remote ocean systems. They will be part of an applied science team working towards solutions to microplastics in our environment, in partnership with the industry, government agencies, Indigenous communities, and academic groups. The Research Fellow will be responsible for developing high-throughput FTIR methods for microplastics, as well as the expansion of FTIR spectral libraries to reliably identify plastic polymers in urban (e.g. wastewater, stormwater) and aquatic samples (coastal and remote ocean, and sediments). As part of the Plastics Lab team, the candidate will author and co-author manuscripts for publication in international scientific journals.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- PhD degree in Material Science, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Forensics, or other related fields, or a Masters degree with 5 years of relevant experience;
- Extensive experience working in a laboratory setting;
- Knowledge of chemistry, organic chemistry and/or biochemistry;
- Experience with interpretation of spectrometry data highly desirable;
- Instrumental analysis experience required;
- Application of FTIR to microplastic detection and quantification highly desirable.
- Experience in coding in R or Phyton an asset.
Technical Competencies
- Excellent scientific writing skills for drafting technical reports and manuscripts;
- Strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills;
- Strong time management skills with a proven ability to prioritize activities to successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment required;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present data in a simple and straightforward way for non-technical audiences;
For more information and how to apply, click here.
