Interested in Working in the Food Systems PRISM Lab? Are you motivated, innately curious, and highly disciplined? Are you keen to hone your research skills and knowledge? Do you have a strong interest in food system sustainability issues? Are you willing and able to critically examine your own assumptions, and to challenge and be challenged in an environment of respect, collaboration, and exploration? Does the prospect of living, working and playing in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in western Canada match your lifestyle aspirations? If so, the Food Systems PRISM Lab might be a good match for you...
Research Opportunities I'm keen to work with high-caliber undergraduate, Masters, PhD and Post-doctoral researchers who have a strong interest in research and publication in the field of food system sustainability. Students may propose their own research questions, or apply to work in the context of my funded research projects (see below for descriptions of specific funded research projects for which I am currently recruiting students).
Interested students should e-mail me a description of research interests (referring, in particular, to how your interests and experience relate to the specific project you wish to work on), a CV (including two academic and/or professional references), and copies of unofficial transcripts. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Please also indicate your interest in particular degree programs at UBCO, including in Biology or through the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Program. Visit the UBC Okanagan College of Graduate Studies website for more information about graduate studies at UBC Okanagan, including information on how to apply.
If you are an international student, please also self-assess your transcripts against the published requirements for admission to the UBC College of Graduate Studies and similarly self-assess your IELTS or TOEFL test scores. Candidates not meeting these requirements will not be further considered. Strong English language skills are required.
Prospective students satisfying all of the above stated criteria may be contacted to schedule a Skype interview.
Application deadline to the UBCO College of Graduate Studies is June 2 for January admission, October 1 for May admission and January 31 for September admission. Prospective students are advised to correspond with Dr. Pelletier well in advance of this date in order to discuss their candidacy.
Current Recruitment Calls
I am currently recruiting a post-doctoral fellow for the following funded project, to commence in May 2018 or as soon thereafter as the position is filled
Post-doctoral Project: Development of the Canadian Agri-food Life Cycle Data Centre (2 years @ $47,500 annually) The Canadian Agri-food Life Cycle Data Centre (CALDC) will create a hub for food system life cycle inventory data and life cycle assessment research in Canada. The successful applicant will work in the Food Systems PRISM lab at the University of British Columbia - Okanagan, contributing to the coordination and execution of several projects to support development of the CALDC. These include, for example:
design and development of the CALDC database and user interface (MSc project)
identification/development of agri-food life cycle inventory data quality/uncertainty management protocols for the CALCD (PhD project)
survey of Canadian food system LCI data and identification of data gaps
coordination of undergraduate research assistants in compilation, manipulation and entry of LCI datasets
identification and development of strategies and partnerships for long-term maintenance of the CALDC database
The successful candidate will also collaborate with a variety of MSc and PhD students applying LCA to study agri-food system processes at different scales and in different contexts. A strong interest in graduate student mentorship and training, collaboration and co-publication is essential. Applicants MUST have a strong publication record in the field of agri-food life cycle assessment.
I am currently recruiting MSc and PhD students for the following funded projects, to commence in September 2018
PhD Project: Data uncertainty and quality management protocols for agri-food life cycle assessment research (4 years @ $25,000 annually) Life cycle inventory (LCI) databases provide valuable resources for life cycle assessment (LCA) researchers undertaking to model specific supply chain activities, as the availability of “background system” data for processes that are common across many supply chains obviates the need for every researcher to create full supply chain models from scratch. However, poor quality data and inconsistent data uncertainty reporting for such processes greatly undermines the predictive power of life cycle models. For this reason, data contributions to a common pool LCI data repository must necessarily be subject to strict data uncertainty management and quality protocols. Data uncertainty management for life cycle inventory modelling and impact assessment is a rapidly evolving research area. Broad consensus as to best practices in the field has not yet coalesced. Guidance and protocols specific to food system life cycle modelling are underdeveloped to date. A PhD project focused on advancing statistical methods and best practices for data uncertainty and quality management in life cycle inventory and impact assessment research for food systems will be undertaken. This project will provide the core data uncertainty and quality management protocols for the Canadian Agri-food Life Cycle Data Centre. This project will begin in September 2018.
External Funding Regardless of availability of dedicated project funding in the Food Systems PRISM Lab, all prospective students are strongly encouraged to explore and apply for relevant external funding as well as teaching assistantships. Students who are awarded a funded project position in the Food Systems PRISM Lab and who also successfully procure additional funding for the project through scholarships, teaching assistantships, and other awards will be "topped up" (i.e. external + project funding) to a maximum of $30,000 annually (over two years) for MSc projects, $35,000 annually (over four years) for PhD projects, and $60,000 annually (over two years) for post-doctoral projects.