Graduate Studies Opportunity (Master’s level) with University of British Columbia
and
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

April 2022 – March 2024

This is an exciting opportunity for a student interested in climate change and its effect on biological systems – particularly those involving agricultural pests and their management to protect crops.

The project work aims to summarize i) historical records of agricultural insect pest population densities in selected crops; and ii) historical weather data. Using these summaries and statistical and mathematical procedures, cause and effect relationships will be sought. The central question is whether there is an association between weather variables (e.g. degree days, maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall) and pest temporal occurrence and density. With such an association, the student will project implications for pest control needs into the future, and anticipate changes in population dynamics for other insect pests.

In addition to academic competency, the successful candidate will have a good work ethic, a strong sense of responsibility, and the ability to use good judgement in choosing appropriate research directions within an area of science having little foundation. While not essential, a Class 5 driver’s license will allow the student to drive a Government of Canada vehicle for research work. Preference will be given to a Canadian citizen.
The student will receive a stipend ranging from $23,100 – $24,900/year, plus expenses for work-related travel. All course work will be carried out at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and a significant amount of the work will take place at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Research and Development Centre in Agassiz, BC.
The town of Agassiz is 1.5 hours from Vancouver, and within walking/biking distance to the research centre, offers affordable accommodation in private houses or apartments, and has a variety of shops and services (e.g. pharmacy, grocery, bakery, café, pub, etc.). There are many outdoor activities in the area. Agassiz is 8km from the resort town of Harrison Hot Springs.

M.Sc. Opportunity – Climate Change and Agricultural Pests

For more information, contact Todd.Kabaluk@agr.gc.ca

Important reminders for Tri-Agency Doctoral applicants

CIHR CGS-D, NSERC PGS-D, NSERC CGS-D, SSHRC CGS-D, SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship
_________________________________________________________________________________

Please be reminded that you must submit your application (click “submit” in the application system) by the application deadline (September 14 at 12:00 noon PDT).
This step is required in order for your application to be considered.

Please submit your application well in advance of the application deadline.
Late application submissions will not be considered and will be ruled ineligible.

How to submit a Tri-Agency Doctoral application:

CIHR

• On the task list page, go to “Consent and Submit” and click on “Submit to Research Institution”.
• The system will not allow the application to be submitted until both references are submitted.  It is the applicants responsibility to check in with their referees (“sponsors”) in advance of the application deadline if references are missing. Late references will not be accepted.
• ResearchNet will not permit the application to be submitted if UBC’s application deadline of September 14 at 12:00 noon PDT has passed.

NSERC

• On ‘Portfolio’ page, click “Verify”.  This step will indicate if there are any incomplete sections in the application.  Then, click “Submit”.
• The system will not allow the application to be submitted until both references (“Reports on the Applicant”) are submitted.  It is the applicants responsibility to check in with their referees in advance of the application deadline if references are missing.  Late references will not be accepted.
• Note: The NSERC system is not able to list UBC’s application deadline, but the date and time of submission is recorded (i.e., every application is time-stamped).  To be eligible, applicants are required to submit their application in the system by September 14 at 12:00 noon PDT.

SSHRC

• On ‘My Portfolio’ page, click “Verify” for both ‘Curriculum Vitae’ and ‘Form’.  This step will indicate if there are any incomplete sections in the application.  Then, click “Submit”.
• The system will not allow the application to be submitted until both references are submitted.  It is the applicants responsibility to check in with their referees in advance of the application deadline if references are missing.  Late references will not be accepted.
• Note: The SSHRC system is not able to list UBC’s application deadline, but the date and time of submission is recorded (i.e., every application is time-stamped).  To be eligible, applicants are required to submit their application in the system by September 14 at 12:00 noon PDT.

September 30 is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a new federal statutory holiday (day of recognition), and it’s also Orange Shirt Day. LFS will be holding activities to mark the day, in collaboration with Applied Science, Science and Forestry, including a march being planned for Sept. 30. The march will be multi-generational, and children and families are encouraged to attend. Please save the date!

For more details on the march, visit the website:

https://apsc.ubc.ca/event/2021/save-date-national-day-truth-and-reconciliation

5If you have questions, feel free to contact Dana-Lyn Mackenzie, Senior Manager, EDI & Indigeneity (danalyn.mackenzie@ubc.ca) or Will Valley, Associate Dean, EDI (will.valley@ubc.ca).

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Karen Lee  (She, Her, Hers)
Director of Marketing and Communications
Faculty of Land and Food Systems | Room 235
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
H.R. MacMillan, 2357 Main Mall | Vancouver British Columbia | V6T 1Z4 Canada
Phone 604 827 5297 | Cell 604 312 6343
karen.lee98@ubc.ca | @ubcLFS
http://www.landfood.ubc.ca

1. Paid sustainability internship projects. Projects begin October 15, 2021. Current UBC graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.   Further information on the available internship projects can be found on the Sustainability Scholars Program web page. Applications close at midnight Sunday September 19, 2021.
2. Conference: Research to Action—Advancing Urban Sustainability 2021. September 29, 1:00 – 5:00 pm. Presentations on a wide range of topics about what our local governments and institutions are doing to future-proof our people, our cities, and our urban spaces. Free to attend.

I’ve also attached a relevant graphic to accompany the text below, if you want. Thank you in advance for your help notifying your graduate students about these opportunities!

All the best,
Karen Taylor

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – UBC SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARS (PAID WINTER TERM INTERNSHIPS) 

The UBC Sustainability Initiative (USI) is pleased to offer UBC graduate students the opportunity to work on funded sustainability-related internship projects.

We are currently accepting applications for internships that start October 15, 2021. Current UBC graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to confirm the eligibility requirements and apply. Successful candidates will work under the mentorship of a partner organization, and are immersed in real world learning where they can apply their research skills and contribute to advancing the partner organization’s sustainability goals. Each Scholar receives $25 per hour to complete 250 hours of work.

For more information on the available projects and to apply, visit the Sustainability Scholars Program website.  Applications will be accepted until midnight Sunday September 19.

We also appreciate your help by circulating this notice to anyone in your grad student network that may be interested!

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CONFERENCE | RESEARCH TO ACTION: ADVANCING URBAN SUSTAINABILITY 2021

When: Wednesday, September 29, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Where: Online via Zoom

Registration: Free to all. Registration closes September 28. 

What happens when you give bright and engaged students real-world sustainability problems to solve? 

UBC’s Sustainability Scholars are helping to make real change in the world. Join us on September 29 to learn more about what our local governments and institutions are doing to future-proof our people, our cities, and our urban spaces.

Enjoy an afternoon of engaged discussion on a diverse range of applied sustainability projects produced by UBC graduate students in collaboration with community partners including the City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, BC Hydro, Translink, local health authorities and local governments, and UBC departments.

Scholars will present their projects online in concurrent themed panel sessions throughout the afternoon. Panels will be moderated by experts from UBC and Sustainability Scholars Program partners.

Click here to register

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Karen Taylor  MA (she, her)
Manager, Sustainability Scholars Program | UBC Sustainability Initiative
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus | Musqueam Traditional Territory
2343 – 2260 West Mall | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z4 Canada
Phone 604 822 9362 | karen.taylor@ubc.ca | https://sustain.ubc.ca/scholars