Graduate Student Opportunities

I am very interested in the role of wetlands in water and nutrient movement. However, many wetlands may be sources rather than sinks for contaminants. This is usually driven by the climate and hydrology of the wetland (or any other system). Thus my research focuses on hydrologic influences on biogeochemical cycling. I have 2 main programs, and will be looking for 2 new students.

1) Boreal Plain water and element movement: influence of landscape, climate and disturbance I am currently part of a new organization of hydrologically minded researchers, who also look at biogeochemical cycling. This is an extension of the HEAD project, looking at the influence of climate and disturbance on wetland hydrology and ecology. We are closely linked to work with Ducks Unlimited as well. One of my projects focuses on regional scale approaches to understanding water and elemental sources and sinks in the landscape. The other project examines in detailed soil processes controlling hillslope hydrology and groundwater surface water interactions that influence salt, nutrients (contaminants can be worked in here as well) transport between uplands, peatlands and ponds.

2) Influence of groundwater surface water interactions on water and salt movement in oil sands overburden dumps. I work closely with Syncrude researchers and a research group at the University of Saskatchewan.