University of Saskatchewan

 

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment

  NSERC CREATE Program in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment (HERA)

Three-year program

 

Summary:  For Ph.D. students in toxicology or public health, this NSERC CREATE HERA program will train you to become a professional assessor of ecological and human risk.  For doctoral students in law, it will equip you to work at an advanced level at the interface of law and science in law and policy relating to ecological and human risk. Five specific graduate courses are offered as well as a work placement with industry and government agencies that routinely perform risk assessment.  At the conclusion of your Ph.D. program, you not only will have a Ph.D. in your chosen discipline but also an advanced understanding of risk assessment.

Description:  The CREATE HERA program is composed of four distinct components: (1) advanced specialized course work, (2) Summer Institute of Risk, (3) work placement and (4) professional development.

Advanced Course Work

Human Health Risk Assessment-Covering theory and case studies, this course trains students to identify, collect, and critically analyze data pertinent to assessing human health risks posed by contaminants in the environment.

Toxicological Risk Characterization-This course gives students working knowledge of current processes and techniques for toxicological risk characterization.

Regulatory Systems in Environmental and Health Law-This course explores how the risk assessment process of sites and chemicals is regulated by environmental and health law.

Societal Dimensions of Risk-Using theory and case studies, this course introduces students to many of the societal issues that impact on risk and its management such as communication, perception and First Nation knowledge frameworks.

Exposure Assessment-This course describes the interactions between humans and the environment and how contaminants move through ecosystems into human and ecological receptors. 

Summer Institute of Risk Each year in early May, in association with a Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) chapter for the participating university (i.e., the Northern Prairie, Laurentian, and North Atlantic chapters), we will host a Summer Institute on Risk Assessment and Management. Students will attend courses on risk communication, first-year students will present their case study results, and senior students will present research results to SETAC chapter members and the other students

Cooperative Work Placement Over a four- to six-month work placement term, students will gain private and public sector experience in applying environmental quality data to public health decisions.

Professional Development Course The professional development course will help students explore the role of communication, ethics, and leadership in a professional setting.

Academic Structure

The CREATE HERA program is not a Ph.D. or J.S.D. program.  It is a value added component to your graduate program.  The CREATE HERA courses may be counted towards your Ph.D. or J.S.D. course requirements at the discretion of your advisory committee in your home university.  If you are required to discontinue your CREATE HERA program, it does not impact your standing in your Ph.D. or J.S.D. program.  However, students required to discontinue their Ph.D. or J.S.D. program will also be required to discontinue their CREATE HERA program.

Admission Requirements

You must be accepted into a Ph.D. or J.S.D. program in your home university with a first class standing. Outstanding M.Sc. or M.A. candidates will be considered on a case by case basis.  Your academic background must have prepared you to appreciate the risk posed to human and ecological receptors from chemicals or, in the case of doctoral students in law, of the role of science in law and policy that seeks to address the risk posed to human and ecological receptors from chemicals.  This background will be assessed in your application package.

CREATE HERA Financial Benefits

CREATE HERA will pay your Ph.D. stipend of $21,500 plus 8.17% benefits.  In addition, CREATE HERA will provide you with $1073 to attend the Summer Institute of Risk as well as $1430 to attend the Human Health Risk Assessment course in August. 

Students who already receive a NSERC/CIHR/SSHRC stipend support, will not receive CREATE HERA stipend support but will receive the travel grants to attend the Summer Institute of Risk and the Human Health Risk Assessment course.

Admission Process

To apply to CREATE HERA please send:

  • 1) a copy of your official graduate transcripts,
  • 2) a letter of acceptance into a Ph.D. program,
  • 3) a letter of support from your Ph.D. supervisor indicating that (a) the research project you are working on is financially supported by sources other than CREATE HERA and (b) that the supervisor will attend the Summer Institute of Risk at least once during your tenure in CREATE HERA.
  • 4) a letter indicating why you wish to enrol in CREATE HERA and how your academic background has prepared you to understand the risk posed to human and ecological receptors from chemicals or, in the case of doctoral students in law, of the role of science in law and policy that seeks to address the risk posed to human and ecological receptors from chemicals.

Please send your application by June 1st to:

CREATE HERA
Attention Fiona Price (fiona.price@usask.ca)

Toxicology Centre
University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3 CANADA