Professor in coastal engineering (industrial research chair)

Description sommaire des fonctions

L’Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) and the Ministère des Transports (MTQ) are joining forces to create a research chair in coastal engineering dedicated to the design, construction and maintenance of coastal infrastructure. Their support of this research chair confirms the commitment of UQAR and the Government of Quebec to encourage leading efforts in providing practical solutions to the coastal and riparian community issues in terms of safety, economy and environment. In recent years, coastal erosion has become a major economic issue as well as a public safety issue for Quebec. Induced by modifications in coastal dynamics due to climate change, this phenomenon is increasing as the changes in wind regimes, the reduction of ice cover and the rise of sea levels accelerate during the 21st century. The gradual erosion of the coastline threatens the integrity of residential, industrial, port and commercial infrastructure, as well as regional transport infrastructure.

The Coastal Engineering Research Chair will develop cutting-edge knowledge from which will emanate innovative and environmentally friendly solutions to reduce the vulnerability of populations and coastal infrastructure to environmental hazards. Its framework will focus on 3 main areas of research: 1) design of coastal and riparian infrastructure adapted to hazards, 2) development of innovative technical solutions, adapted to the Quebec context, to measure and reduce the impact of coastal and riparian hazards and 3) preventive or curative maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of coastal and riparian infrastructure.

This research chair in coastal engineering will bring unique expertise in coastal infrastructure design. Joining one of the most important groups of marine and coastal science researchers in Canada, it will bring an opportunity to work towards integrated management of coastal areas and sustainable development of riparian and coastal areas. The Chair will be able to count on the expertise of the Research Chair in Coastal Geoscience and of the Laboratory for Dynamics and Integrated Coastal Zone Management at UQAR, which count more than 10 years of collaborations with various ministries, municipalities, private firms and regional organizations in the field of coastal dynamics. UQAR has many strengths to host such a research infrastructure, including 1) a unique expertise in coastal dynamics of Quebec, 2) a growing engineering department oriented towards design engineering, 3) knowledge of the territories and coastal communities, 4) a tradition of collaboration and interdisciplinary research work, and finally 5) a leadership recognized nationally and internationally.

UQAR launched, in the fall of 2019, his new undergraduate program in civil engineering. While filling an important gap in engineering training in Quebec, it innovates by its unique concentration in coastal engineering in Canada. This new program will train highly qualified engineers who will constitute a pool of potential candidates for graduate studies in the field of coastal engineering. This new program was the logical development for the engineering at UQAR, which has always aimed to aligning its teaching and research expertise with the needs of its region.


Job requirements:
Education: Doctorate (Ph. D) in coastal or civil engineering and undergraduate in civil engineering.
Area of specialization: Coastal Engineering.
Area of specialization and research: Coastal infrastructure design integrating site-specific measurements and observations, and accounting for particular and increasing coastal risks in the context of climate change.
Other requirements:
Being an engineer member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, or being eligible and committed to becoming one.


Application:
Application file:
A detailed curriculum vitae, two declarations of intent (in French: one for research and one for teaching), a certificate of university diplomas, examples of work related to the position as well as three recent scientific contributions, evaluations of the teaching experience if applicable as well as three letters of recommendation (by email, directly from the referee)

Sending application:
Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering
Mr. Jean-Sébastien Deschênes, director
Université du Québec à Rimouski
300, allée des Ursulines
Rimouski (Québec) G5L 3A1

Or by email.


All qualified individuals are welcome to apply, but priority will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. We subscribe to equal access program for women, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities and ethnic minorities and Indigenous peoples.

All applications will be treated confidentially. We will only contact those selected for an interview.