Senior Research Associate

Date Posted: 07/07/2025
Req ID: 44138
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Dept-Physical & Environmental Sci
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

Your Opportunity:

Professor William Gough, of the Climate Lab in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough invites applications for a full-time Senior Research Associate.

The Climate Lab in the UTSC Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences explores through climate and socio-cultural data analyses for the climate change impact assessment on winter/ice road networks in the Canadian North.

The incumbent will be under the general direction of the head of the Climate Lab, (Professor Gough) and will provide support to on-going and new projects in climate change impact assessment. Some of these projects will involve assisting graduate and undergraduate projects.

This opportunity of a Senior Research Associate is a continuing appointment and the anticipated start date is August 1st, 2025.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Job duties:

• Climate data analysis including the use of statistical packages by R programming
• Climate change model data analysis and data visualization on a map-based tool
• Statistical downscaling such as SDSM
• Plan and conduct fieldwork teams and logistics in northern remote communities
• Conduct fieldwork to gather local and Indigenous knowledge
• Writing and editing of manuscripts, grant proposals, and government reports
• Writing of research results into manuscript format
• Deliver a research workshop, academic conference presentation, and research talk
• Manage Climate Lab website and communications
• Training of graduate and undergraduate students (software, writing and oral presentation skills, and professional development)

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Ph.D. in environmental sciences or environment and resource studies with a focus on climate change impact assessment in the north

Experience:

• Develop research and grant proposals and document research reports and manuscripts
• Demonstrable proficiency in R, statistics packages, SDSM, Canadian statistical downscaling portals, and MS Office (Excel and Word)
• Conduct fieldwork to document local and Indigenous knowledge about the impacts of climate change on winter/ice road networks using semi-directed interviews/surveys and to perform qualitative analysis using such as NVivo
• Experience working on research projects with northern Indigenous communities and groups
• Experience working with networks of northern communities, experts, and researchers
• Experience with leading and training graduate and undergraduate students
• At least ten years of experience in climate data analysis, climate model data analysis, and manuscript writing and editing

Skills:

• Ability to develop research grant applications and to produce successful proposals
• Perform research analysis using a multi-disciplinary approach and synthesize analysis into research reports and manuscripts
• Have a strong climate data analysis skill using statistical packages by R, and perform a qualitative analysis skill using such as NVivo
• Conduct a literature review, transcribing interviews, database creation and management, and fieldwork for interviews/surveys
• Proficiency in using climate modeling data and statistical downscaling tools such as SDSM
• Ability to travel and work in rural, small town, or northern places
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and presentation skills appropriate to different audiences
• Ability and track record working in a team environment, also with a high level of initiative and self-direction without close supervision
• Ability to supervise Co-op and work-study students

Travel: 

Extended travelling will be required. The Senior Research Associate will have the opportunity to present their research at academic conferences.

Notes:

All individuals interested in this position must arrange for the following items to be submitted:

1. Cover letter, arguing for one’s suitability for the identified research and highlighting relevant experience
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. List of publications
4. Contact details for two (2) references, with their names, contact addresses, email and phone numbers

Closing Date: 07/16/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Grant - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R02 -- Sr. Research Associates $61,510 - $107,439 - $124,864 (open)
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching