Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Job Category
Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Department
UBCO | Postdoctoral Research Support | Peleato | School of Engineering | Faculty of Applied Science (Nicolas Peleato)

Posting End Date
March 1, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date
Apr 30, 2025

The expected pay for this position is $50,000 a year.

Wireless Water Quality Monitoring Postdoc

UBC Okanagan, School of Engineering, Kelowna, Canada

Rank: Postdoctoral Researcher

University: University of British Columbia

Campus: Okanagan

Faculty: Faculty of Applied Science

Department: School of Engineering

Salary Range: $50,000 / yr (not including benefits)

Dr. Peleato and Dr. Chaaban are inviting applications for 1 full-time Postdoctoral position to participate in an industry-supported research project to improve water quality sensing and modelling in drinking water distribution systems.

Interested candidates are invited to submit and send a 1) 1-2 page summary of motivation and expertise related to the project, and 2) a current CV.

To be qualified for this position, the candidate must have received their PhD within the last 5 years in a related field. The position will initially be for 1 year with possible reappointment for 1 additional year. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority consideration. This position will be in-person only and relocation to Kelowna, British Columbia is required.

Project summary

Advancements in information and communication technologies are enabling cities to manage infrastructure and services more intelligently. A promising area of smart city development is improving the capabilities of monitoring and controlling drinking water infrastructure. Delivery of safe and high-quality drinking water is an essential public service. However, there is limited real-time monitoring of the water distribution networks' edges or customer water quality, ultimately where the water is used, and quality matters the most. Water quality in distribution systems has been a pervasive challenge for water systems management, with inadequate monitoring leading to untimely detection of short-term contamination events and water quality deterioration or contamination.

This project aims to address challenges with maintaining water quality in distribution systems by developing wireless water quality sensors for monitoring at service connections (i.e. connection to a home or at the customer's point of use). This technology will enable utilities to respond to water quality issues faster and with greater spatial information. Furthermore, monitoring data at customer use points will increase customer assurance in the delivered water quality. The project also looks to leverage large amounts of monitored data to develop machine learning models that would aid in tighter control of the water treatment processes. The developed models will focus on reducing chlorine dosing to limit the formation of potentially harmful byproducts while ensuring that sufficient chlorine is present to protect public health.

Postdoctoral Researcher

We are inviting applications for a 2 year postdoctoral researcher position to carry out related independent research and assist with the wireless water quality monitoring project. Expectations for this position include, but are not limited to: (1) supervising and carrying out sampling campaigns related to distribution system water quality, (2) developing new lines of research in the area of water quality control in distribution systems, (3) providing day-to-day supervision of students, and (4) communicating results to partners.

Candidates with expertise in machine learning, drinking water quality, conventional and emerging disinfection byproduct analysis by liquid and gas chromatography, and distribution system management are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate would also have experience writing proposals, managing budgets, driving results, conception and completion of quality publications.