Position Description

Area: COVID-19 Pandemic Modelling via a Granular Approach

Duration: One year, with possibility of renewal

Start Date: Immediate

Salary: $50,000 CAD per year, plus Alberta Blue Cross Plan C Health Insurance benefits

The Department of Civil Engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering and the Department of Community Health Sciences in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary are accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the development of a novel agent-based granular model of the COVID-19 pandemic in a heterogenous population. A multi-scale mechanistic approach is used that embeds detailed characteristics of viral spread and individual interactions. This work is being conducted in collaboration with INRAE Aix-Marseilles and Université Savoie Mont Blanc in France.

Job Description:
The research project will focus on calibrating the model that is currently being developed, while also interfacing with a highly interdisciplinary team across the fields of epidemiology, virology, bioinformatics, sociology, economy, psychology, and community health. The work will involve gathering and analyzing data pertaining to social demographics and socio-cultural factors, including viral and epidemiological aspects. A main source of this data will be compiled from the Centre for Health Informatics (CHI) at the University of Calgary, medical and social psychology journals as well as France’s Disease Institute (INSERM). Both the CHI and INSERM have a rich database of information collected over three years of the COVID-19 pandemic pertaining to disease, demographics, socio-cultural and other more subtle facets. The data can then be analyzed statistically and through machine learning tools to derive the parameters that govern the population dynamics in the granular model. Prototype populations from both Canada and France will be ultimately simulated to study the emergence of complex patterns arising from the collective interactions of individuals with heterogenous backgrounds.

Qualifications:
The postdoc candidate is expected to have a strong background in computational mechanics with one or more of the following skills:

• Materials modelling
• Discrete element modelling
• Molecular dynamics
• Mathematical physics
• Complex systems
• Biological modelling
• Statistical methods
• Big data
• Machine learning
• Knowledge in C/C++
• Python programming language
• Linux
• High-Performance Computing Environments

Application details:
Interested candidates are requested to send as a single .pdf document on or before April 14 at 11:59 PM MDT via email to Dr. Richard Wan at [email protected]

Your application must include:

(i) a cover letter describing your suitability and motivation for the role, summary of research experiences and related skills

(ii) a current curriculum vitae (CV)

(iii) a recent publication list of ISI journal papers
 

Additional Information

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Schulich School of Engineering.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).