Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Snow and Ice Hydrology (Canmore, AB) Applicants are invited for the position of Post-Doctoral Fellow to undertake research to apply a new land surface hydrological model in the Canadian Rockies and evaluate its representation of snow and glacier physical processes and ability to predict cold regions hydrology. The researcher will use the observations from the Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory of Global Water Futures Observatories and remote sensing products to evaluate model performance and diagnose deficiencies. This research is part of the MountAInWater Project of the Virtual Institute for Earth’s Water.

Nature of Work: The successful candidate will conduct research under the direction of Distinguished Professor John Pomeroy in the USask Centre for Hydrology’s Coldwater Laboratory in Canmore, Alberta as a contribution to of the MountAInWater Project of the Virtual Institute for Earth’s Water – a program funded by Schmidt Sciences that is headquartered at ISTA in Austria. The candidate will evaluate and apply the Thethys-Chloris land surface hydrology-cryosphere model and evaluate its process representation against field and remote sensing observations in the Canadian Rockies, compare its simulations to Canadian models such as CRHM, CHM and MESH and diagnose model improvements and tipping points in cryospheric-hydrological system behaviour in the region. There will be opportunities to participate in fieldwork in the Canadian Rockies Hydrological Observatory at its 40 sites in Banff and Jasper National Parks and Kananaskis Country parks.

This is the most intensely monitored mountain environment in Canada including research basins on glaciers, tundra, forests and wetlands. The Centre for Hydrology is the premier research group for cold regions hydrology in Canada and is known around the world for advances in snow, glacier and frozen ground hydrology and modelling The work will be based out of its Coldwater Laboratory in Canmore, Alberta.

The Coldwater

Lab has scientists, technicians,



students and professors devoted to better measuring, predicting and understanding mountain cryospheric hydrology. It contributes to the USask Global Institute for Water Security, the top ranked water resources research institute in Canada, and contributes to the World Climate Research Programme’s GEWEX and the UN’s Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences. Work with minimal supervision, multi-task, and prioritize workload.

Conduct studies that advance the science and practice of hydrological-cryospheric modeling. Prepare drafts of papers and reports as necessary. Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues as necessary.

Establish and maintain effective, productive relationships with staff, peers, immediate supervisor and senior management and with the campus community. Provide technical support for other team members through technical advice. The successful candidate will have completed a PhD in a relevant discipline such as hydrology, water resources, civil or agricultural engineering, environmental earth science, physical geography or atmospheric science, within the last 5 years.

The PDF will have knowledge either in hydrology, water resources engineering, physical geography, environmental earth science, computer science, data science, atmospheric physics, or a related discipline.

Experience in cold regions hydrology or water resources engineering and computational methods is essential. In-depth knowledge of hydrological and water resources principles and modelling in cold regions.

Experience handling large and heterogeneous geophysical datasets including research basin observations and field data collection.



Solid competence in data preparation/analysis/visualization with Python, R, or a similar scripting and visualization language.

Experience with high performance computing. Strong competence in programming with C/C++ or Fortran for model development & debugging. Competence in software engineering best practices such as unit testing, use of modern version control systems, such as git, use of profilers / debuggers, software development etc.

Experience and dedication to open science. Ability to conduct fieldwork and collect hydrological observations in cold remote environments. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively in both spoken and written English. Ability to work with minimal supervision, multi-task, and prioritize workload. Interest in science communication (e.g., blog posts, social media, and media interviews).

Geography and Planning Employment Group: Postdoctoral Fellows - PSAC Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0 The University of Saskatchewan aspires to be what the world needs and embraces equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to excellence and innovation. Applications from equity-deserving groups are encouraged as part of our ongoing efforts to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve: EDI Framework for Action. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships.

Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. Should you require support through any stage of the recruitment process, contact us for assistance. #

📌 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Snow and Ice Hydrology (Canmore, AB)
🏢 University of Saskatchewan
📍 Canmore