Graduate Assistantships 2012-13
The Faculty of Forestry is world renowned in forestry research, and offers a highly productive, research-friendly, and innovations-oriented environment for graduate students and young researchers.
The Faculty offers a full funding package to all research-stream graduate students. MScF students receive $12,000 plus tuition for each of two years and PhD students receive $15,000 plus tuition for each of four years. NSERC and OGS holders receive a top-up. Many professors at the faculty are looking for graduate students in their respective areas. Details are provided below.
Application deadline: April 15, 2012. To receive a graduate assistantship, applicants must submit a complete application by the application deadline, and receive an offer of admission to a graduate degree program.
Go to http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/prospect/application.html for further details.
Click on the lab heading below for more details.
1) Prof. Sean Thomas’ Lab: Forest Ecology and Silviculture
Description:
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Age-related changes in tree functional biology as a driver of belowground and soil processes.
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Remote sensing of canopy dynamics and tree ageing and senescence.
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Effects of charcoal (“biochar”) additions on nutrient availability, soil processes, and tree ecophysiology in temperate forest ecosystems
Number of Positions available: 2-3 MScF or PhD, with preference for the latter.
2) Prof. Malcolm Campbell’s Lab: Laboratory for Forest Genomics
Description: PhD in Genomics of Forest Tree Responses to the Environment
Number of Positions available: 1 PhD
3) Fire Management Systems Laboratory
Description: Fire and forest management related research topics in the Firelab: fire and forest management systems, fire behaviour, and fire and climate change.
Number of Positions available: 3-4 MScF’s and 1-2 PhD’s
Description:
1) Importance of downed wood as a habitat resource for small mammal populations.
2) Fungal communities of downed wood: thresholds and indicator species.
3) Insect communities of downed wood: thresholds and indicator species.
Number of Positions available: 3 MScF and/or PhD
5) Prof. Sandy M. Smith’s Invasive Species Lab
Description: Ecological impacts and management of invasive forest insects and plants in both urban/regional forests of southern Ontario and temperate/boreal forests in northern Ontario. Potential to work collaboratively with national and international agencies.
Number of Positions available: 1-2 MScF or PhD, with preference for the latter.
Description: Forest Vegetation Ecology
Number of Positions available: 1 MScF or PhD
7) Prof. Shashi Kant’s Lab; Forest Resource Economics and Management
Description: Prof. Kant is working on various forest economics and management projects including environmental preferences and sustainable forest management, incentive mechanisms for ecosystem services, forest management modeling, forest tenure and timber pricing. Suitable candidates with strong back ground in resource economics, mathematics, engineering, and management are encouraged to apply
Number of Positions available: 1 MScF or PhD
Description: Bioenergy, silviculture, and remote sensing
Number of Positions available: 1 PhD
FOREST BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE RESEARCH GROUP
1) Prof. Sally Krigstin’s Lab: Forest Biomaterials Science
Description: Projects with relevant industrial applications including value-added wood processing and sustainable product development.
Number of Positions available: 3 MScF
2) Prof. Ning Yan’s Lab: Forest Biomaterials Science and Engineering Lab
Description: Various projects related to bioactive paper based sensors, biomass conversion to green chemicals and development of novel green bio-based composites from forestry resources have openings. Suitable candidates with strong back ground in materials, chemistry, engineering, and wood sciences are encouraged to apply.
Number of Positions available: 2 MScF, 2 PhD
3) Prof. Mohini Sain: Nano-Structured Industrial Biomaterials Group; Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing
Description: Development of industrially significant green products through novel green technologies.
Number of Positions available: 3 MScF & PhD
Detailed Descriptions
1) Prof. Sean Thomas’ Lab: Forest Ecology and Silviculture
Contact: Prof. Sean Thomas, sc.thomas@utoronto.ca, 416-978-1044
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/thomas/ThomasMain.htm
Detailed Description: Currently funded and planned projects include studies on the following topics:
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Age-related changes in tree functional biology as a driver of belowground and soil processes. Planned experiments will involve measurements of litter decomposition, soil CO2 flux, autotrophic respiration, and fine root dynamics in the rooting zone of trees of varying ages, and will make use of large-scale mapped forest plots in Northern Hardwood forests of central Ontario.
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Remote sensing of canopy dynamics and tree ageing and senescence. Planned experiments will involve measurements and analysis of leaf- and canopy-level spectral reflectance and transmittance patterns, and LiDAR-based analyses of canopy structure and how these vary with tree ontogeny. In addition, projects under development involve use of small unmanned aerial vehicles for super-high-resolution remote sensing of leaf features.
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Effects of charcoal (“biochar”) additions on nutrient availability, soil processes, and tree ecophysiology in temperate forest ecosystems. Planned work will focus on soil chemistry, nutrient uptake, and tree growth dynamics; in addition, work on biochar impacts on understory vegetation and soil invertebrates is planned.
Number of Positions available: 2-3 MScF or PhD positions, with preference for the latter.
2) Prof. Malcolm Campbell’s Lab: Laboratory for Forest Genomics
Contact: Prof. Malcolm Campbell, malcolm.campbell@utoronto.ca
Website: http://www.csb.utoronto.ca/faculty/campbell-malcolm
Detailed Description: Fluctuations in the environment, such as episodic drought or prevalence of pathogens, can impinge significantly on forest health and the establishment of productive tree plantations. There is therefore great interest in understanding the mechanisms underpinning responses to environmental stimuli in the ecologically dominant and economically important genus Populus. The aim of this PhD program will be to test hypotheses related to the regulation of poplar responses to environmental stimuli at the level of the genome, with a focus on epigenetic changes, and how these shape tree health and survival under current and future climate scenarios.
Number of Positions available: 1 PhD
3) Fire Management Systems Laboratory (Firelab)
Contact: Prof. David Martell, martell@smokey.forestry.utoronto.ca, 416-978-6960
Website: http://www.firelab.utoronto.ca
Detailed Description: David Martell, Mike Wotton and Mike Flannigan are seeking graduate students to work on a number of fire related research topics in the Firelab (http://www.firelab.utoronto.ca). David Martell (martell@smokey.forestry.utoronto.ca) specializes in forest fire management systems, Mike Wotton (mike.wotton@utoronto.ca) in fire behaviour and Mike Flannigan (mike.flannigan@nrcan.gc.ca) in fire and climate change. We are seeking graduate students and post doctoral researchers that are interested in becoming involved in the following research projects. If you are interested, please email a copy of your curriculum vitae and a transcript of your grades to one of those named below.
Mathematical modelling of forest fire initial attack systems
Most forest fires are contained at very small sizes but during some days, particularly hot, dry windy days when many fires are reported, the initial attack system can become congested, initial attack can be delayed, and some fires may escape initial attack and become large destructive project fires. Congested initial attack systems can be modelled as queueing systems with fires as “customers” that wait in the queue until they are “served” by airtankers. The longer the fires wait the larger and potentially more destructive they become. Fire mangers need to balance the cost of airtankers with the benefits of shorter response times. David Martell is looking for Masters students with quantitative expertise (e.g., undergraduate courses in mathematics, statistics, geographic information systems and computer programming) and post doctoral researchers (in operations research) that are interested in participating in statistical analysis of initial attack system data and the development and field testing of computer-based queueing models of initial attack systems. Practical fire fighting or urban emergency response systems experience would be a definite asset. For further information contact David Martell.
Fire suppression resource sharing models
Forest fire management agencies reduce their costs by participating in mutual aid agreements that facilitate the transfer of aircraft, fire fighters and other suppression resources from those that are experiencing low hazard conditions to those that are confronted with large numbers of fires that are being driven by extreme burning conditions. David Martell is seeking Masters students with quantitative expertise (e.g., undergraduate courses in mathematics, statistics, geographic information systems and computer programming) that are interested in participating in the development of strategic planning models that fire managers can use to help determine how they can achieve an appropriate balance between large investments in aircraft and fire fighter hiring and sharing their fire suppression resources with other agencies.
Statistical analysis of forest fire processes
We have collaborated with several Canadian forest fire management agencies to acquire and refine several large fire, weather and forest composition datasets and we have developed strong collaborative relationships with Statistics, Mathematics and Forestry departments at the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario, Wilfred Laurier University, Simon Fraser University and Laval University, to develop and use new statistical methods to model many important fire processes (e.g., daily fire occurrence prediction, spatial and temporal variation in fire activity, the impact of climate change on fire processes). We are seeking graduate students that wish to become involved in those projects, either in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto or in a Statistics department here at the University of Toronto or one of the other universities with whom we collaborate. Practical fire experience would be a definite asset. If you are interested in enrolling in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto, contact David Martell, Mike Wotton or Mike Flannigan. If you are interested in enrolling in a graduate program at one of the universities listed above, please contact us and we will refer you to one of our collaborators at that institution.
Large Fire Management Systems
Most of the forest fires that occur in Canada (roughly 90 to 95% depending upon what size and other criteria are used to classify a fire as having escaped initial attack) are quickly controlled at a small size by the initial attack force. Escaped fires can grow to hundreds of thousands of hectares and pose significant challenges to fire managers that must develop control strategies that balance the risk to fire fighters and fire damage given considerable uncertainty concerning future weather and fire behaviour, the availability of fire suppression resources, and their productivity. David Martell is looking for an M.Sc.F student that wishes to study large fire management and assist with the development of a Large Fire Management Decision Support System (LFMDSS) that can be used to help evaluate large fire management strategies. Fire management experience required and mathematical and software knowledge and expertise definite assets.
Strategic Planning in the Forest Sector
David Martell is a co-leader (along with Eldon Gunn of Dalhousie University) of Theme 1 (Integrated forest and industry strategies for the modern bioeconomy), one of 5 themes in the NSERC Value Chain Optimization Network (http://www.reseauvco.ca) that is lead by Sophie D’Amours of Université Laval. The NSERC VCO research network is one of four new Strategic Networks supported by FPInnovations’ Flagship Innovation Program. The network serves to bring academic, government and industry researchers together to focus their efforts on priority areas of research. He is looking for two M.Sc.F. students to participate in VCO–supported research on the potential impact of natural disturbance processes on the design of the forest industry in a particular region of the Boreal forest. He is interested in questions such as 1) how should natural disturbance affect industry design? and 2) How can and should we react to the possibility that strategic plans might be disrupted by natural disturbances? Some understanding of boreal forest ecology or the forest sector and good mathematical and software expertise would be definite assets.
Fuel moisture and fire behaviour prediction
Forest fire managers in Canada (and in numerous countries around the world) evaluate fire potential in their forest environment on a daily basis with outputs from the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System. This system includes weather-based models of forest fuel moisture, along with models for fuel type explicit elements of fire behaviour such as a fire’s spread rate and its intensity. Currently the Canadian Forest Service is developing a next generation of many of the models in this system. Mike Wotton is seeking graduate students for model development in two of the areas being improved under this large multi-year research program: 1) reanalysis of existing datasets to develop new models of surface fire behaviour in important boreal forest floor fuel types; and 2) development of stand specific models of organic layer moisture and the influence of underlying soil type on vertical moisture transport. Ideal students would have good quantitative skills (e.g., mathematics, statistics, computer programming) and some experience working in the wildfire management community or on field-based research projects is always an asset.
Number of Positions available in the Firelab:3-4 MScF’s and 1-2 PhD’s
Contact: Prof. Jay R. Malcolm, jay.malcolm@utoronto.ca, 416-978-0142
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/malcolm/malcolm.html
Detailed Description:
1) Importance of downed wood as a habitat resource for small mammal populations
Dead wood, including downed wood and standing dead trees (snags), is recognized as a key resource for forest biodiversity. Unfortunately, it is a resource that is threatened by forest management activities, which often result in a reduction in dead wood supplies over time. Recent developments highlight the possibility of an intensification of this threat due to increased interest in wood as a renewable biofuel. In order to guide the development of sustainable practices, information is required on thresholds of dead wood supply (i.e., how much is enough?) and on the identification of indicator species. This research project will focus on responses of boreal small mammal populations to variation in downed wood supplies, with a focus on a key indicator species, the red-backed vole. Research will involve several activities: 1) live-trapping of small mammals in a series of plots in which downed wood supplies vary, including a series of plots that were the focus of experimental manipulation of downed wood supplies and 2) behavioural ecology of small mammal species through the use of radio telemetry and feeding stations to investigate the costs and benefits of downed wood in the context of competitive interactions.
2) Fungal communities of downed wood: thresholds and indicator species
The fungal communities of dead wood play key ecological roles, but are increasingly threatened by forest management activities and attendant reductions in dead wood habitats. This research will focus on fungal communities as a function of variation in the quantity and quality of dead wood supplies. A key objective is to examine thresholds of colonization, both by studying the local pool of potential colonizers and by studying communities of logs as a function of the surrounding quantity of downed wood. Excitingly, molecular techniques are proving of particular utility in gaining insight into these little known communities. The research will make use of fruiting body surveys of wood and soil as well as use of high-throughput DNA sequencing, which offers the potential for the efficient identification of a wide variety of species. This research will be undertaken in collaboration with Jean-Marc Moncalvo at the Royal Ontario Museum.
3) Insect communities of downed wood: thresholds and indicator species
A large proportion of insect species in the boreal forest are saproxylic (i.e., either rely upon dead wood as a habitat resource or rely upon other species that themselves require dead wood). This research will use an island biogeography framework to investigate the role of dispersal capabilities in structuring the communities of insular communities. Insects with poor dispersal capabilities and those at high trophic levels (such as parasitoids) are expected to be especially sensitive to reductions of downed wood supplies. Research will focus upon a series of plots in which dead wood supply was experimentally manipulated to investigate the implications of variation in downed wood supply for species richness and community composition.
Number of Positions available: 3 MScF and/or PhD
5) Prof. Sandy M. Smith’s Invasive Species Lab
Contact: Prof. Sandy M. Smith s.smith.a@utoronto.ca, 416-978-5482
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/ssmith/ssmith.html
Research Focus: My research aims to increase our ability to manage forest pest insects and plants through improved understanding of factors that affect those natural enemies regulating them. Specifically, I explore questions related to population mortality and community diversity of insect natural enemies, with focus on understanding and manipulating native parasitoids and predators either through introduction or shifts in vegetation and stand structure. Recent introductions into Canada of several major forest pests has enabled us to compare the complexes of native and exotic natural enemies, and to explore mechanisms by which these communities affect host mortality and pest invasion. My current work tests hypotheses about mechanisms of displacement following the introduction of exotic species to better understand invasion processes in forest systems. Results will add to our current understanding of invasion dynamics, and at the applied level, help to direct management strategies for invasive alien forest insect species.
Project Descriptions: I have funding to support research in the general area of ecological impacts and management of invasive forest insects (emerald ash borer, pine shoot beetle, Sirex woodwasp, earthworms) and plants (dog-strangling vine, garlic mustard), both in urban/regional forests of southern Ontario and temperate/boreal forests in northern Ontario. My work is nationally and internationally collaborative, thus students have additional opportunities to carry out research projects in Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, Alberta) and at international agencies USDA (Montpellier, France) and CABI (Delemont, Switzerland).
Currently funded and planned projects include:
1) Enemy Release and Biotic Resistance Hypotheses. My lab examines predictions of these two hypotheses using an indigenous (Ips) and exotic (Tomicus) bark beetle system, in conjunction with the associated Sirex woodwasp system to explain patterns of enemy attack and host productivity. Biogeographic and ontongenic data are collected across a gradient of host densities in North America and Europe to quantify the degree to which enemies are present and account for host mortality and productivity.
2) Biological Control of the Emerald Ash Borer in Ontario. Experiments involve population and community measurements of natural enemies as they discover this recent invasive; in particular, their arrival with the borer or movement from native wood-boring species on to the invasive. Studies assess the potential for augmenting select natural enemies (those that have shown a rapid response to this beetle) in order to reduce its invasiveness in North America.
3) Invasive alien plants, such as dog-strangling vine (DSV) (Vincetoxicum rossicum & V. nigrum) and garlic mustard (GM) (Alliaria petiolata), prevent regeneration of native forest communities and cause significant losses in natural biodiversity. Their potential to destabilize North American forests will be accelerated under climatic change and disruption by other invasives such as emerald ash borer. As part of a larger collaborative effort in eastern NA, we are examining herbivory as a potential tool to manage these invasives, with emphasis on fitness impacts and host range specificity both in the countries of origin and countries of introduction.
4) Impact of Invasive Earthworms. Almost all earthworm species are invasive in Canada and have recently been shown to have severe negative impacts on northern temperate forests. Our current study examines species composition and patterns of spread (either naturally or by humans in recreational areas) across a range of forest types to measure their effects and provide an assessment of their ecological impact. Ecosystem variables of relevance to forest resource management and sustainability include physical structure of the forest floor, phosphorus cycling, seedling recruitment, and plant growth.
Number of Positions available: 1-2 MScF or PhD, with preference for the latter.
6) Prof. Terry Carleton’s Lab: Forest Vegetation Ecology
Contact: Prof. Terry Carleton, terry.carleton@utoronto.ca, 416-978-6793
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/carleton/carleton.html
Detailed Description: A re-inventory of forest vegetation along the full length of the Niagara Escarpment in Southern Ontario. This repeats a complete earlier survey conducted in 1979-1981 with the objective of examining any changes in forest vegetation structure and composition during the intervening years. In addition, the potential to detect any influence of climate change exists due to the north-south orientation of the survey sites. The project is collaborative among the Niagara Escarpment Commission, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of Toronto. A student is sought who is experienced in the identification of plants in eastern Canada and who wishes to pursue either a master’s or Ph.D degree. The successful applicant will be conducting field work for 3 months, during the summer of 2011, as part of an itinerant team of 5.
Number of Positions available: 1 MScF or PhD
7)Prof. Shashi Kant’s Lab; Forest Resource Economics and Management
Number of Positions available: 1 Master and 1 Doctoral position preferably for Canadian students
Contact: Prof. Shashi Kant, shashi.kant@utoronto.ca, 416-978-6196
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/kant/kant.html
Description: Prof. Kant is working on various forest economics and management projects including environmental preferences and sustainable forest management, incentive mechanisms for ecosystem services, forest management modeling, forest tenure and timber pricing. Suitable candidates with strong back ground in resource economics, mathematics, engineering, and management are encouraged to apply
6) Professor John Caspersen’s lab: bioenergy, silviculture, and remote sensing
Contact: Prof. John Caspersen, john.caspersen@utoronto.ca, 416-946-8506
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/jcaspersen/index.html
Detailed Description: A fully-funded Ph.D. research assistantship is available in Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto. The Ph.D. candidate will assess the potential for using unmerchantable wood as feedstock for the production of bioenergy. In particular, the candidate will: 1) determine how much logging residue can be recovered from partially harvested stands; 2) develop new inventory methods for estimating how much of this unmerchantable wood is available in central Ontario. To achieve both of these objectives, the candidate will use ground-based harvest trials to inform the development of aerial inventory methods, including light detection and ranging (LiDAR). The candidate may also participate in a larger effort to examine how the production of wood, fibre and fuel can be balanced with the continued provision of other ecosystem services, including the maintenance of biodiversity and storage of carbon.
Qualifications: 1) sincere interest in forest ecology, forestry, or remote sensing, 2) strong quantitative skills, 3) remote sensing and GIS skills, or the ability to learn them quickly, and 4) excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Applicants should send a letter of enquiry and curriculum vitae to John Caspersen (john.caspersen@utoronto.ca). Applications will be reviewed beginning January 15th, but the positions will remain open until a suitable candidate is selected.
Number of Positions available: 1 PhD
FOREST BIOMATERIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH GROUP
1) Prof. Sally Krigstin’s Lab: Forest Biomaterials Science
Contact: Prof. Sally Krigstin, sally.krigstin@utoronto.ca, 416-946-8507
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/Sally%20personal%20web%20page/home%20page.html
Detailed Description: Research focus on value-added applications for wood and biomass materials as well as by-product streams from related processing industries. Innovations and new applications including energy, chemicals and composite products for building and consumer markets. Thermal treatment of low-value woods to improve dimensional stability, decay resistance and appearance improving its suitability for alternative applications.
Number of Positions available: 3 MScF
2) Prof. Ning Yan’s Lab: Forest Biomaterials Science and Engineering Lab
Contact: Prof. Ning Yan, ning.yan@utoronto.ca, 416-946-8070
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/yan/yan.html
Detailed Description
These projects deal with developing environmental friendly technologies that can transform renewable biomass materials to novel green products and chemicals either as substitute for or as replacement of petroleum derived plastic and chemical products. The students involved in the projects will be exposed to interdisciplinary scientific methods and approaches, and will also be actively engaged with networks of other leading scientists, researchers and industry members in Canada in the related research areas. For detailed information and enquiries, please contact Prof. Yan at ning.yan@utoronto.ca
Number of Positions available: 2 MScF, 2 PhD
3) Prof. Mohini Sain: Nano-Structured Industrial Biomaterials Group; Centre for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing
Contact: Prof. Mohini Sain, m.sain@utoronto.ca 416-946-3191
Website: http://www.forestry.utoronto.ca/people/sain/index.htm
Detailed Description: Exciting opportunities to learn and sharpen your research skills in a fast-paced but congenial environment. We are a group of result oriented researchers and students equipped with state-of art facilities. Current projects include Organic light emitting device (OLED) development, process development for preparing natural oil-derived polyols for use in automotive and furniture polyurethane industry, investigate efficient biomass conversion routes to bioplastics using fungal treatment.
Number of Positions available: 3 MScF & Ph.D.