Research Associate (Limited-Term)

Date Posted: 07/08/2026
Req ID: 49236
Faculty/Division: UofT Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Dept-Physical & Environmental Sci
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

Field and experimental investigation of sulphate-driven changes in carbon and phosphorus cycling in Lake Ontario catchment ecosystems

Your Opportunity:

Prof. Maria Dittrich, in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough, invites applicants for the position of Research Associate (Limited Term) to conduct research on investigating the effects of sulphate elevation on coupled carbon and phosphorus cycling in aquatic ecosystems of the Lake Ontario catchment.

This opportunity for a Research Associate (Limited Term) is a 1-year term appointment at 87.5% FTE. The anticipated start date is August 31, 2026.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence).

Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced in equities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Job Duties:

The position focuses on field and laboratory experiments examining the impact of sulphur on phosphorus and carbon dynamics in freshwater sediments. The successful candidate will:

• Design and execute the field and laboratory experiments on the impact of elevated sulphur content on phosphorus, iron and carbon speciation in lake sediments, geochemical speciation and microbial activities.
• Develop and refine sequential fractionation techniques for sulphur, iron, manganese, and phosphorus in lake sediment samples and sediment slurries, and link the impacts to microbial activities.
• Characterize sediment using advanced structural analysis XRD, Rietveld Refinement techniques, TGA/DSC, SEM/EDX, HRTEM, UV/Vis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy
• Perform laboratory experiments on sulphur and oxygen isotopes in sulphate and phosphate, testing the hypothesis about the changes in the pathways of changes
• Collaborate with team members to develop detailed research plans, write proposals, and manage laboratory instruments.
• Prepare high-quality research reports, publications, and presentations for dissemination in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
• Mentor and assist in training graduate and undergraduate students in relevant research techniques.
• At all times, the individual is expected to support the overall research and teaching missions of M. Dittrich’s research group.

Qualifications (Minimum Qualifications):

• Candidate must have a Ph.D. in Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Sciences, or a related field, with academic research experience in sediment-water interface biogeochemistry of freshwater, coastal, and marine systems, and a minimum of five years of post-PhD research experience in the field of biogeohemistry.
• Experience in the design of field lake and coastal systems is essential, including planning and executing multi-station sampling campaigns and ship logistics.
• Experience designing and conducting laboratory experiments, multi-treatment sediment incubation experiments under controlled sulphate gradients to quantify sulphate-phosphorus-iron coupling, benthic flux dynamics, and reactive cycling is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in stable isotope geochemistry of sulphur and phosphorus in sedimentary systems. This includes multiple sulphur isotope analyses (δ³⁴S, δ³³S, δ³⁶S, Δ³³S) using the distillation line, performing isotopic measurements using GC-IRMS, and analyzing the isotopic data.
• Demonstrated expertise in phosphorus isotope geochemistry, specifically the oxygen-isotope composition of phosphate (δ¹⁸O-PO₄), with hands-on experience in the extraction and purification of phosphate from sediment phosphorus pools
• Hands-on expertise in operationally defined sequential extraction techniques for sediment sulphur, phosphorus, iron, and manganese, e.g., acid-volatile sulphide, chromium-reducible sulphur, and total reduced inorganic sulphur speciation; sequential fractionation of phosphorus and iron sediment pools
• Proven ability in recovery and sub-sampling of intact, undisturbed gravity sediment cores, high-resolution porewater extraction and depth-resolved water-column sampling using Niskin/CTD, YSI, and PAR systems.
• Practical bench skills relevant to sediment biogeochemistry are also required, including ICP-OES, GC-IRMS, ion chromatography, and spectrophotometric determination of dissolved nutrients.
• Experience in analysis of microbial community: the ability to process 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing datasets, apply differential abundance and functional prediction approaches, and link microbial community structure and metabolic potential to sediment geochemistry.
• Proficiency in data analysis is required, including multivariate statistics and the generation of publication-quality figures.
• Proven strong track record of peer-reviewed research and strong scientific writing supported by a publication record in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently on research projects.

Travel:

Travelling will be required. The Research Associate will have the opportunity to present research at academic conferences.

Notes:

This is a 87.5% FTE 1-year term appointment, with the possibility of extension, depending on approval of supervisor based on performance and funding.

Prorated hours of work: 31.72 hours per week

Pro-rated Pay Scale Group and Hiring Rate: R01 - Pro-rated annual salary at 87.5% FTE $46,830 - $87,806.25

Targeted hiring rate: $30/hour

All individuals interested in this position must arrange for the following items to be submitted:

1. Cover letter, arguing for one’s suitability for the project and highlighting relevant research experience.

2. Curriculum Vitae.

3. List of publications.

4. Contact details for two (2) references.

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 -- Research Associates (Limited Term): $53,520 - $100,350 annually.

Any questions regarding this position should be directed to Prof. Maria Dittrich, m.dittrich@utoronto.ca

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Closing Date: 08/26/2026, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Grant - Term
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 -- Research Associates (Limited Term): $53,520 - $100,350
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching