Post Doctoral Fellow, Earth, Energy and Environment

Description

POSITION TITLE:

Post Doctoral Fellow

SUPERVISOR:
Dr. Myrle Ballard

DEPARTMENT:
Earth, Energy, and Environment

LOCATION:

University of Calgary

As a Post Doctoral Fellow with the project, in collaboration and with the guidance of the supervisor, and within the project mandate, the Postdoctoral Fellow will undertake research leading to the biodiversity monitoring specifically with water and soil assessment using Anishinaabe mowin and other Indigenous languages. The Postdoctoral fellow will work with Elders, knowledge holders and youth, and other key informants;

ground and field research for water analysis, soil analysis, reviewing satellite imagery, and statistical analysis. The ground and field research will involve bridging, braiding and weaving Indigenous science and western science to develop biodiversity indicators and baseline data from what Elders and knowledge holders share and with data from the ground. Presenting research; writing up research for publication; writing up research for policy and stakeholder audiences;

developing and maintaining a project website and social media presence (e.g. Twitter); helping to organize events; and other activities as required.

• Working closely and developing relationships with Indigenous peoples and understanding of Indigenous Science regarding water, biodiversity, indigenous language of spaces and places, language and ecosystem, monitoring and biodiversity.
• Water and soil testing/analysis for historic (eDNA) and current composition and determining indigenous and western science praxis.
• Undertake literature reviews, covering fields stats, environmental monitoring and assessment.
• Undertake desk-based secondary data collection.
• Travel to undertake primary and secondary data collection, sometimes involving up to 3 weeks up to 4 times per year or more.
• Must have experience working with Indigenous people.
• Travel to remote Indigenous communities and traditional areas to have dialogue and workshops with Indigenous communities.
• Working one-on-one with elders and knowledge holders on the land regarding ground truthing and Indigenous science.
• Interviewing Indigenous leadership, professionals, elders, knowledge holders First Nations youth and other key informants.
• Data analysis using qualitative and quantitative software programs (e.g. NVivo, SPSS, Excel, etc.).
• Presenting research at international conferences and other events.
• Writing up research for publication in leading international journals (and publishers) (high impact).
• Writing up research for policy and right holder audiences.
• Assisting in developing and maintaining a project website and social media presence (e.g. Twitter).
• Helping to organize events.
• Other activities as required.

Must have a Ph.D. in a relevant field (Natural science).

Applicants must have completed all requirements for a PhD.

• PhD and research background in appropriate discipline.
• Undertaken primary data collection outside of province (e.g. interviewing participants).
• Must have experience bridging, braiding, and weaving Indigenous science and western science in research and in publications.
• Experience doing qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Must have experience working with Indigenous people.
• Experience using Indigenous methods and tools for research.
• Knowledge of CORE, Indigenous protocols, and various recommendations and decisions such as TRC, UNDRIP, etc.
• Publication in international science journals in science & natural science and other relevant journals.

This postdoctoral position will be 1-year in length and based at Earth, Energy, and Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Salary: minimum annual salary of $60,000 + benefits (pro-rated to 6-months)

To apply for this position, please submit the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining how your experience matches the requirements (2-page max).
• A detailed and up to date CV (please highlight your publications).
• Contact details for three referees, including their email addresses.
• Please submit all documents by email to by February 28, 2026. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview to be conducted either in-person or virtual. Only those applicants selected for interview will be contacted.

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website.

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Postdoc Careers website.

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