Student Opportunity FW23-24 – Safe Water Optimization Tool RAY Student

Post

Published on September 6, 2023

Job ID: 60009

Job Title: Safe Water Optimization Tool RAY Student

Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. ET (Updated)

Eligibility criteria.

To apply, please submit your application to this form: https://airtable.com/app056pBy3C9IrZE1/shrw2jjXx494GiqLT

Hourly wage: $17.5 per hour

Hours per week: 6 hours per week

Start date: September 18, 2023

End date: April 26, 2024

Job description

The Safe Water Optimization Tool (SWOT) is a water safety modelling platform created at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research in collaboration with the Lassonde School of Engineering. The SWOT provides humanitarian field workers with site-specific and evidence-based operational water treatment guidance using cutting-edge machine learning and process-based modelling that helps ensure water is safe to drink and public health is protected in emergency settings. To support the future evolution of the SWOT, we are seeking to integrate waterborne pathogen data to predict the risk of waterborne illness in humanitarian settings. We are seeking a RAY student to contribute to this new work. The RAY student will support us in conducting a literature review on the occurrence of critical waterborne pathogens in various water media including in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, wastewater and feces. Under the supervision of Dr. Mary Wiktorowicz, Interim Director; Dr. Syed Imran Ali, Research Fellow; and Michael De Santi, Graduate Student Scholar, the RAY student will define and implement a search strategy and review existing academic literature, grey literature, and databases on the occurrence and concentration of critical waterborne pathogens (cholera, Heptatitis E virus) in various water media and produce a database of data extracted from this literature.

Specific research activities the student(s) will be engaged in:

• Designing and conducting a literature review of pathogen occurence and concentration in various media • Extracting relevant data from studies on waterborne pathogen concentrations.
• Contributing to a database of waterborne pathogen concentrations and conduct statistical analyses.
• Producing and presenting literature summaries in meetings with direct reports.
• Production of knowledge products including briefings, slide decks, and reports.
• Any other assigned activities pertaining to the SWOT project.

Type of research experience the student(s) will receive:

• Critical thinking
• Conducting literature review; Creating annotated bibliography; Tabulating data; Database management
• Understanding the intersection of microbiology, drinking water, and global health
• Professional communication, including international and cross-cultural professional interaction and communication

• Design Research Methods
• Preparing presentations and written outputs of research; Editing and formatting drafts; 
• Professional communication skills

Type of training and support that will be provided to the student(s) in carrying out these research activities:

• Methodological training on data analysis
• Subject matter training on global health and humanitarianism
• Regular status meetings with your supervising full-time faculty

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate York student. Applicants from diverse programs of study are encouraged. The Dahdaleh Institute welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive, and inclusive environment.
• Demonstrated interest in global health.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and familiarity with conducting literature reviews.
• Demonstrated knowledge of research methods (quantitative and/or qualitative and/or integrative).
• Demonstrated excellent data management and analysis skills, database management is an asset
• Demonstrated note-taking, journal-keeping, and filing skills.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills: professional written and interactive correspondence, public speaking and presentation.
• Demonstrated excellent computer skills (word processing, email, database, spreadsheets, forms, and slides; facility with Office 365 Apps). WordPress editing skills are an asset. Social media communication skills are an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including international and cross-cultural communication. Ability and willingness to work both independently and as part of a team with researchers, students, and staff.
• Demonstrated an eagerness to learn, support, and take on initiative.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.

Application materials

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample

If you have any questions, please email Michael De Santi

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