Position Description

Two Postdoctoral Positions at The University of British Columbia
Department: Mathematics 

(A)    Postdoctoral research fellow in mathematical modelling and control theory in sustainable fisheries management

Advisors: Dr Cyrille Kenne (Mathematics) and Professor Rashid Sumaila (Fisheries)

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join an interdisciplinary project focused on developing mathematical models and control theory tools to support sustainable fisheries management. The project will optimize fishing practices to reduce ecological impacts, providing actionable insights to inform policy decisions that balance economic performance with environmental conservation.

Project overview

The primary objective is to develop realistic multi-species fish models that determine optimal fishing strategies, adhering to key sustainability rules. The models will be fitted with data on fish population dynamics, and bioeconomic recommendations will be developed. The project will aim to integrate these models with climate change and ecosystem-based management approaches to minimize the environmental and socio-economic impacts of fishing.

The outcomes of this project will include refined multi-species models for sustainable fisheries management and practical recommendations to inform adaptive policy frameworks.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

·         PhD in Mathematical Biology, Ecological Modeling, Economics, Fisheries Science, or a related field.

·         Strong background in ecological and/or economic modeling, population dynamics, and quantitative analysis.

·         Expertise in nonlinear multi-species models, bioeconomic models, or related quantitative methods for natural resource management.

·         Proficiency in programming languages such as R, Python, or MATLAB for model development and data analysis.

·         Knowledge of fisheries biology, management practices, and sustainable fishing strategies.

·         Strong communication and collaboration skills.

·         A knowledge of optimization methods will be a plus.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and analyze multi-species models for optimal fisheries management.
• Integrate bioeconomic principles to optimize catch levels and profits while ensuring sustainability.
• Work with empirical data sets to calibrate and validate models.
• Contribute to the development of policy recommendations for sustainable fisheries management.
• Publish research in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Assist in writing grants and co-advise graduate students.
• There is no formal teaching load for this position.

Salary: 65,000-70,000 CAD per year including benefits for up to 2 years.

Travel/Research Allowance: $5,000 per year for up to 2 years.

Estimated start date: September 1, 2025.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

1.      A cover letter outlining their qualifications and research interests.

2.      A CV, including a list of publications.

3.      A research statement.

4.      At least two references.

5.      Contact information, including your mailing address, email address, and phone number, as well as citizenship or permanent resident status in Canada.

Application should be directed to Dr. Cyrille Kenne (kenne@math.ubc.ca) with a cc to Prof. Rashid Sumaila (r.sumaila@oceans.ubc.ca), along with the subject line “Application for a Postdoc at UBC in Maths for Fisheries”.

(B)              Postdoctoral research fellow in translational computational approaches for single cell migration through non-isotropic environments

Advisor: Professor Anotida Madzvamuse (Mathematics)

We seek a highly talented and motivated postdoctoral research fellow with expertise in numerical analysis, numerical scientific computing (including high performance scientific computing), and finite element numerical methods for partial differential equations (PDEs). The Fellow will be responsible for designing, developing and implementing highly efficient, robust and stable numerical methods for mechanobiochemical models on domains and surfaces that are continuously deforming in space and time. These models include, but are not limited to, bulk-surface-extracellular matrix PDEs for describing single and collective cell migration through non-isotropic environments as well as through microfluidic devices. The goal is to develop artificial synthetic cells for biomedical and experimental research. As a by-product, we seek to develop cell migration software packages for biomedical research, pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. The fellow will work within an interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with experimentalists, cancer research scientists and biomedical engineers.

Qualifications

The candidate must hold a PhD in one of these disciplines: Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Computational Mathematics, Mathematical and Computational Biology, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Continuum Mechanics, or other equivalent discipline.

Expert skills required and desirable

·         Must have a strong expertise in nonlinear partial differential equations and their applications.

·         Has experience with mathematical biology related models, often consisting of partial differential equations and their numerical approximations.

·         Has a deep understanding of state-of-the-art numerical solution methods, including finite elements, finite differences, geometric multigrid methods, and their parallelisation architectures and challenges

·         Has the experience of using finite element open-source software packages such FeNiCs, deal.ii, Dune, and FreeFEM++. Experience in Abaqus or COMSOL are desirable but not necessary.

·         Experience in translating numerical algorithms into open source and sometimes commercial software packages for wider use by the research community and industrial companies is desirable but not essential.

·         Has experience using various HPC clusters for large scale simulations of complex nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs).

·         Experience of publishing research in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.

·         Assist in writing grants and co-advise graduate students in high performance scientific computing.

Salary: 65,000-70,000 CAD per year including benefits for up to 2 years.

Travel/Research Allowance: $5,000 per year for up to 2 years.

Estimated start date: September 1, 2025.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

6.      A cover letter outlining their qualifications and research interests.

7.      A CV, including a list of publications.

8.      A research statement.

9.      At least two references.

10.  Contact information, including your mailing address, email address, and phone number, as well as citizenship or permanent resident status in Canada.

Application should be directed to Professor Anotida Madzvamuse (am823@math.ubc.ca), along with the subject line “Application for a Postdoc at UBC in HPSC for Cell Dynamics”.

Other experience

·         The candidate will have a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, to create a welcoming community for all, particularly those who are historically, persistently or systematically marginalized

·         The position requires a minimum of a PhD or equivalent in mathematics or a related discipline

The selected candidate must be able to work within a highly interdisciplinary environment, must have experience of working with biologists, applied mathematicians, computer scientists, biomedical engineers, and industrialists. The anticipated starting date is September 1, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter.

We take our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion seriously, and we strive to offer a productive and inclusive space for all department members.  University-wide strategic priorities are outlined in the UBC Inclusion Action Plan (https://equity.ubc.ca/about/inclusion-action-paln/) and the Indigenous Strategic Plan (https://isp.ubc.ca).  Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence.  An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.  Inclusion is an individual and institutional responsibility, built through engagement with diversity in all its forms.  We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, martial or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Applicants are requested to supply a current CV including a list of publications, statements describing previous performance in research and teaching, and a statement stating how they meet the selection criteria. Names and contact details of at least three references should also be sent and submitted by the closing date.

Applicants should apply on-line as described at mathjobs

The final deadline for ALL applications for BOTH positions is May 30, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.