Current Opportunities 

 

Staff

We currently have two staff positions open: 

 

Graduate Positions

We have multiple graduate student positions open: Start Date September 2026 or later 

  1. Multiple positions (MSc or PhD): Intelligent stormwater management for improved farm productivity and environmental protection*: This project focuses on understanding how on-farm stormwater management practices influence farm productivity (yield), improve water resilience, and improve water quality entering downstream environments. Based on the students’ preferences, practices such as controlled tile drainage, stormwater recycling, subirrigation, wetland treatment and/or biofiltration systems could be studied as part of their projects. The students will work in an interdisciplinary team helping to support the planning and refinement of stormwater management measures at agricultural demonstration sites, contribute to field-based monitoring programs that involve using IoT based sensing systems, and collect water and soil samples during dry and wet weather periods to understand how stormwater and tile drainage systems influence pollutant transport and soil conditions. Field work will also be used to understand changes in crop yield metrics associated with water management practices. Laboratory analyses will be used to assess water quality and soil health indicators, including nutrients and biological indicators, alongside environmental datasets generated through long-term monitoring. The students will analyze these datasets to evaluate the effectiveness of innovative stormwater management practices and to support the development of evidence-based best management practices and practical guidance for farmers and environmental stakeholders. It is expected that both MSc and PhD students will produce fact sheets from their research that can be shared with other Ontario farmers and produce several high-impact journal publications. Two students will work together with a number of research assistants/associates to complete this project. Due to time constraints, preference will be given to applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

     

  2. PhD position: Design and testing of a wastewater-tailored multispectral imaging system for autonomous urban drainage monitoring: Sensing is currently one of the critical bottlenecks in urban drainage research. To understand and monitor sewer networks at a city scale, fleets of low-cost, low-maintenance, and autonomous sensors are urgently needed. While multispectral imaging is a promising approach for wastewater characterization, current research relies on sensors adapted from food processing or remote sensing that suffer from high technology costs, a lack of flexibility, and a critical absence of sensitivity in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. Hosted at University of Guelph by Prof. David McCarthy, a specialist in low-cost environmental sensing, and co-supervised by Pierre Lechevallier (UC Berkeley), an expert in wastewater spectrophotometry, this project focuses on designing, assembling, and field-testing the first multispectral imaging system built specifically for wastewater applications. The candidate will work in an interdisciplinary environment to develop a custom optical setup and deploy prototype sensor fleets in real urban drainage systems to evaluate long-term autonomy. Due to time constraints, preference will be given to applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

     

  3. PhD in Internet of Things (IoT)-based urban stormwater monitoring for environmental surveillance. Traditional stormwater monitoring relies on sparse, expensive, and manually serviced instruments that cannot capture the spatially distributed, event-driven nature of urban drainage at city scale. IoT sensor networks offer a fundamentally different paradigm: continuous real-time data at high spatial density, with the capacity to detect contamination events as they unfold. Yet designing robust, low-maintenance networks suited to the harsh and variable conditions of stormwater infrastructure remains an open research problem. Hosted at the University of Guelph by Prof. David McCarthy, whose group has pioneered IoT-based stormwater sensing in partnership with the Cities of Guelph and Cambridge and leads the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for IoT in Water, and co-supervised by Dr. Shadman Khan (University of Guelph), an expert in next-generation sensing of waterborne pathogens, this project will develop and deploy novel IoT sensor networks for real-time monitoring of stormwater quality and pathogen indicators across urban drainage systems. The candidate will design, manufacture and field-test low-cost sensors, integrate them into multi-node wireless networks in live stormwater infrastructure, and apply machine learning approaches to detect contamination events and generate early warning signals for public health and environmental risk. Through the NSERC CREATE-eSENSORs program and the ARC IoT in Water Hub at QUT, the student will have access to an international community of sensing researchers and industry partners and the opportunity for an overseas research exchange. Due to time constraints, preference will be given to applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

     

  4. PhD in Passive sampling for pathogens and AMR genes in environmental ecosystems. Passive samplers are devices deployed in the field that continuously accumulate microorganisms and genetic material from surrounding water, offering a powerful and low-cost alternative to conventional grab sampling for pathogen and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance. Unlike grab samples, passive samplers integrate exposure over hours to weeks, substantially improving detection probability for targets present at low or fluctuating concentrations. Despite demonstrated success across a range of water environments, fundamental research gaps remain: the kinetics of microbial uptake across different pathogen types and water matrices are poorly characterized, the effects of temperature, flow, and fouling are incompletely understood, and the application of passive sampling to AMR gene detection alongside whole-cell pathogens is largely unexplored. Hosted at the University of Guelph by Prof. David McCarthy, whose group developed the torpedo passive sampler now deployed in more than 23 countries for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance, this project will investigate passive sampling performance for concurrent detection of pathogens and AMR genes across multiple environmental ecosystems including urban stormwater, agricultural drainage, and recreational waters. The candidate will conduct laboratory experiments to characterize uptake kinetics, followed by field deployments under realistic conditions, integrating passive sampling with molecular platforms including qPCR and next-generation sequencing to simultaneously characterize pathogen load and resistome profiles. The work will produce evidence-based guidance for the use of passive samplers in routine environmental surveillance across a range of water management contexts. Due to time constraints, preference will be given to applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

     

  5. PhD in New sensing technologies for pathogen detection in water. Conventional pathogen detection in water is slow, expensive, and laboratory-dependent, with turnaround times ranging from hours to days. Miniaturized detection technologies including biosensors, metal-organic framework (MOF)-based optical sensors, and portable nucleic acid amplification platforms offer the prospect of pushing pathogen detection directly to the point of sampling. Significant challenges remain in adapting these technologies to real environmental water systems, where complex matrices, low pathogen concentrations, fouling, and the near-absence of rigorous independent field validation have all slowed adoption. Hosted at the University of Guelph by Prof. David McCarthy, whose CERC program carries a dedicated research theme on in situ sensors and in-field pathogen detection, and co-supervised by Dr. Shadman Khan (University of Guelph), an expert in next-generation sensing of waterborne pathogens, this project will evaluate, develop, and field-validate new sensor technologies for the detection of pathogens and key indicators in water. The candidate will benchmark commercially available portable detection platforms against laboratory reference methods, optimize sensor configurations for improved sensitivity and specificity in environmental water samples, and conduct field trials with the CERC's municipal and government partners. The project will leverage the University of Guelph's Electrochemical Technology Centre and CL2+ biosafety facility, and the student will contribute to the group's commitment to open-source hardware by publishing validated designs and protocols for adoption by the broader water research community. Due to time constraints, preference will be given to applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

     

  6. Don't see an opportunity that fits you? Check out our CERC proposal or ongoing projects and reach out with your project ideas if you see something that aligns with your interests and experience. 

     

Application Instructions: Please send a statement of interest, CV and unofficial transcripts to Dr. David McCarthy ([email protected]) and Amber Park ([email protected]). Please note which position you are applying for in your statement of interest. Those interested in pursuing a PhD would preferably also have a MSc in a related field. 

*Projects ongoing; Due to time constraints, preference will be given to applications from citizens and permanent residents.  

 

Post-docs

  • We will have another round of Post-Doc openings in 2027 - keep an eye out for them! If you like, you can also email us with your CV and cover letter at anytime (Attn: CERC program manager, [email protected]). We are always looking for amazing post-docs- so don't be afraid to send your details with an awesome idea.  

     

Undergraduate Positions

  • We have many opportunities for undergraduate students in our research group. If you are interested in a co-op, work study, summer research assistantships, research projects (e.g. MCB*4500/4510), or volunteer positions please reach out. 
    • NOW OPEN- Work Study for F26-W27
      • 149051: Research Assistant in Environmental Monitoring
      • 149048: Research Assistant in Environmental Microbiology
      • The Work Study Program provides students with financial need the opportunity to meet their educational costs through part-time paid work experiences. Eligible U of G undergrads can apply through Experience Guelph 
    • NOW OPEN-We are accepting fourth-year students for Research Topics (MCB*4500/MCB4510). Topics include:
      • Reducing risks related to water-based recreation: Isolation and identification of key waterborne pathogens (e.g., E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella) from recreational water sources using culture-based and molecular (e.g. qPCR) methods.
      • Microbial source tracking (MST): Compiling and validating a library of host-specific genetic markers (e.g., human-, avian-, ruminant-associated) to track sources of feacal contamination in surface water (rivers, lakes) and stormwater.
      • Molecular validation of sensor data: Pairing real-time water quality sensor readings (turbidity, conductivity) with qPCR-based microbial indicator testing to see how well physical sensor data predicts microbial contamination events. 
      • Please send an expression of interest, CV, and an unofficial transcript to [email protected]

 

Assistant Professor Positions

We are excited to share that we have secured five tenure-track positions at the University of Guelph as part of our initiative to build a critical mass of researchers in water quality. Our vision is to establish an international centre of excellence in water quality, leveraging my current Canada Excellence Research Chair position.

  1. Assistant Professor in the Transport and Fate of Waterborne Pathogens in Terrestrial Water Systems, Requisition ID 2475- OPEN. The candidate will work closely with others on campus (CERC, The Morwick G360 Groundwater Institute, and colleagues across the Engineering programs) to develop a research program on the surveillance and control of waterborne pathogens and AMR in the terrestrial water cycle (i.e., stormwater and wastewater impacts to the groundwater-surface water system). More information and apply using the link above. 

     

  2. Assistant Professor in Waterborne Disease Modelling, Requisition ID 2132- OPEN. The candidate should have a skills necessary for research excellence and impact in computational modelling of pathogens in water systems, human health risk assessments, climate change impacts on waterborne disease transmission, or the development of decision support tools and models for public health intervention to control pathogens or AMR risk. More information and apply using the link above. 

     

  3. Assistant Professor in Next Generation Sensing of Waterborne Pathogens- CLOSED. The candidate should have a proven record of research excellence and impact in water sensor development/validation and have skills or abilities applicable for sensing of waterborne pathogens/AMR. Dr. Shadman Khan; Khan Research Group

     

  4. Assistant Professor in Smart, Nature-based Treatment of Waterborne Pathogens- CLOSED. This includes passive treatment systems such as constructed wetlands, engineered biofilters, ponds, swales, etc. and expands to nature-based solutions that integrate real time monitoring and control technologies to improve water treatment. The candidate should have a proven record of research excellence and impact in nature-based water treatment, should have skills or abilities applicable for intelligent monitoring/control/automation of water treatment systems and should have skills or abilities applicable for the treatment of waterborne pathogens/AMR. Dr. Wenxi Liao; Liao Research Lab 

     

  5. Assistant Professor in Assistant Professor in Waterborne Epidemiology- CLOSED: The candidate should have a proven record in water-based epidemiological studies in waterborne pathogens and/or AMR. Knowledge of molecular subtyping methods for pathogens and/or the determinants of AMR and experience with the mathematical modeling of disease transmission are preferred. Experience in data science, machine learning, or health analytics are considered assets. Dr. Binyam Desta

 

CLOSED: Graduate Students

  • MSc Opportunity in Predicting Cyanobacterial (Blue Green Algae) Risk at Recreational Beaches Across Canada. Co-supervised with Dr. Binyam Desta. Closed August 2026
  • MSc Opportunity in Nature-Based Wastewater Treatment. Co-supervised with Dr. Wenxi Liao. Closed May 2026
  • MSc and PhD opportunities in Pathogen Sensing: Co-supervised with Dr. Shadman Khan. Closed May 2026.
  • Six PhD Positions: closed November 2024
    • Sources of pathogens and AMRs in environmental ecosystems: 
    • Passive sampling for pathogens and AMR genes in environmental ecosystems: 
    • New sensing technologies for pathogen detection in water
    • Fate and transport of AMRs in nature-based treatment systems
    • Microbial risks of water-based recreation in Guelph
    • Low-cost monitoring of water quality

 

CLOSED: Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Two PDF Positions: closed November 2024
    • Postdoctoral Scholar in Water System Monitoring & Modelling: This postdoctoral scholar will develop their expertise in the monitoring or modelling of water pollution in areas such as: (1) water sensing to enhance our ability to monitor water pollution at high spatial and temporal resolution through low cost IoT devices, (2) developing novel sensors or sampling systems to detect a wider range of pollutants of concern to public health, OR (3) developing models that include the real time control of assets to optimise the performance of our water system.   
    • Postdoctoral Scholar in One Health Environmental Microbiology: This postdoctoral scholar will develop their expertise in the fate and transport of pathogens (& AMRs) through the environment, with a particular focus on enhancing our detection methods, determining the sources of waterborne pathogens and how these can be mitigated to protect human health. The scholar may also wish to explore how these pathogens can be removed through nature-based treatment systems and to conduct quantitative microbial risk assessments 

 

CLOSED: Staff

Prior openings. Our prior openings included:

  • Program Coordinator, Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program, closed August 2026
  • Water Microbiology Technician - Research Assistant Technician III,  closed December 2025
  • CERC Program Manager - Waterborne Pathogens, closed, June 2024