From ancient times, engineering has had a profound impact on our lives. During the past few decades in particular, it has been challenged to help us deal with dwindling energy resources, drinking water safety and traffic gridlock. Increasingly, government and business leaders are looking to engineering to help devise wise, sustainable solutions to these and emerging issues.

Recognizing this need, Professional Engineers Ontario created the Ontario Centre for Engineering and Public Policy in June 2008 to enhance the voice of engineering in the public policy process. It is envisioned that the centre will operate independently, with support expected from an array of organizations interested in nurturing the contributions of engineering to public policy.

The centre focuses on specific areas of research, including energy, the environment, health care, regulation and engineering talent. This focus will expand to further specializations as the centre develops.

The centre has five key areas of activity:

• developing policy issue papers;
• hosting an annual engineering and public policy conference;
• producing an engineering and public policy publication;
• building public policy-focused collaborations throughout the engineering profession; and
• creating links to university programs covering engineering and public policy.

The centre seeks a postdoctoral scholar working on engineering and public policy issues to fill a junior fellow position in 2010-11 beginning July 1, 2010. The junior fellow will collaborate on all of the centre’s programs as well as conduct an independent research program. Junior fellows are young scholars who have completed all requirements for a PhD, including a successful thesis defense, within the past five years. Priority will be given to Canadians or candidates from Canadian universities.

Compensation is up to $50,000 CAD per year. Applications will include a curriculum vitae, a summary of the pertinence of previous research for the centre’s programs (no longer than 500 words), and a research proposal (no longer than 1,000 words) addressing the role of engineering in public policy development in Canada and Ontario. Three letters of reference should be submitted directly by referees.

Application in PDF format and letters of reference must be submitted no later than April 30, 2010.

Applications and letters should be sent directly to: info[at]ocepp.ca

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Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.