Oil Sands Tailings Pond Research Project - Research Affiliate Program

Update: The closing date has been amended to July 9th, 2017

Duties

Tailings water from the Alberta oil sands contains a complex mixture of constituents of which some fraction can volatilize and to contribute to atmospheric loadings of greenhouse gases and can form Secondary Organic Aerosols and other air pollutants. The first objective of this study is to characterize tailing pond water for its complex mixture of semi-volatile organic compounds. Characterization will involve targeted and non-target chemical analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PACs). The second objective is to measure the physical-chemical properties, specifically the air-water partition coefficient, also known as the Henry’s law constant (HLC), of the complex mixture and selected constituents. These measurements are needed for modelling air-water gas exchange and hence estimating tailing pond releases, and are a necessary component of flux experiments. Data on chemical characterization will also be useful for understanding aquatic toxicity.

Emissions of Semivolatile Organic Compounds (SVOC) from the oil sands are poorly understood. One source is tailings ponds with their large surface area available for air-water exchange. This project will directly contribute to advancing our knowledge of contributions of SVOC emissions from oil sands tailing ponds. The research will also provide fundamental knowledge, in the form of physical-chemical property estimation, which will benefit future efforts to model the atmospheric emissions and fate of SVOCs from oil-producing locations. The planned research is a necessary precursor to experiments planned to estimate fluxes from the oil sands tailings ponds to air. Knowledge of Henry’s Law Constants will allow for prioritization of compounds investigated in these flux experiments and to generalize the flux measurements beyond the measurement campaign.

Specific tasks:
• Determine levels of poly aromatic compounds (PACs) on Oil Sands Tailings Pond (OSTP) water and air samples.
• Determine the air-water partition coefficient (Henry’s Law constants) of PACs in OSTP water.
• Estimate net fluxes of PACs from OSTPs.
• Non-target analysis of OSTP water.

Work environment

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is a department within the Federal Public Service. With a budget in excess of $600 million dollars and approximately 4,700 employees located in 100 communities across Canada, we work with thousands of partners in every province and territory and around the globe.

ECCC's mandate is to preserve and enhance the quality of the natural environment, including water, air and soil quality; conserve Canada's renewable resources, including migratory birds and other non-domestic flora and fauna; conserve and protect Canada's water resources; carry out meteorology; enforce the rules made by the Canada - United States International Joint Commission relating to boundary waters; and coordinate environmental policies and programs for the federal government.

Our vision is to see a Canada where people make responsible decisions about the environment, and where the environment is thereby sustained for the benefit of present and future generations.

Our mission is to make sustainable development a reality in Canada by helping Canadians live and prosper in an environment that needs to be respected, protected and conserved.

At ECCC we value our environment and its vital importance to the identity and well-being of present and future generations; the dedication and team-work of our people and integrity, trust and mutual respect in our working relationships; the contribution of the natural and social sciences to environmentally responsible decision making; the exercise, by all Canadians, of a shared responsibility for our environment; the contribution of our leadership to the achievement of sustainable development; and the provision of quality service to the public.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Have an Honors Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Have applied or have been accepted into a Master's program at a Canadian recognized post-secondary institution, in the Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or Earth Science department.

Degree equivalency

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Have an Environmental Science or Chemistry degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Degree equivalency

Possession of a valid First aid and CPR certificate.
Possession of Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) qualification.

Experience* working in a laboratory setting.

*In the context of student recruitment in the federal public service, experience can be acquired through studies, work experience or volunteer activities.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

Ability to work well independently but also in a group.
Ability to use sound judgement in decision making.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Note: Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment. Therefore, the student will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-related documents.

Must have reliable transportation to the work site, it is a rural site with no public transport.
Must be willing to work with chemicals and solvents.

Other information

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

A situational exercise may be administered.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.