See below for information on open opportunities in the group and the research ecosystem at the University of Alberta (UoA).

Open Opportunities

Ideal candidates will have experience in data science (e.g. machine learning, statistics, Bayesian methods, inverse problems), plasma science (e.g. space physics, fusion, astrophysics), or natural science and engineering (e.g. aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering, planetary science). This is not a restrictive list as I often support students who are motivated to pursue a change in their careers.

Please see below for the current status regarding graduate, undergraduate, and post-docs and visitors (updated September 16, 2026).

Graduate Students

Graduate student positions are open for Fall 2027 entry in Physics, ECE, and CS.

Interested candidates should apply via the directions below depending on the project of interest.

Graduate projects available for Fall 2027:

• (1) Probabilistic machine learning for Mars space weather / space environment. Candidates should apply with this form and through either the UoA Physics or ECE departments.

• (2) Flow based models for solar wind kinetic data analysis. Candidates should apply via this form and through the UoA ECE department. This position is co-supervised with Prof. Atanackovic.

• (3) Continual learning for space weather prediction with extensions to onboard spacecraft. Candidates should apply with this form and through the UoA CS department. This position is co-supervised with Prof. White.

Important Application Information:

• The ARG application form requires a Google account for sign ins. If you are unable to access the form please email aazari+gradapp@ualberta.ca.
• Candidates who do not yet hold a MSc are strongly recommended to apply to the MSc program first; MSc students are funded, as are PhD students.
• Applicants should plan to apply by December 1, 2026 for the widest consideration for Fall 2027 programs.
• When writing your interest statement to the UoA review the group’s prior publications or current research themes in ARG.
• If your background does not contain 400 level, or equivalent, physics coursework but does possess methodological expertise (e.g. computation, mathematics, probability, statistics), then applicants are suggested to apply to ECE.
• Candidates with financial or logistical restrictions on application fees, or English language exams that impact their ability to apply to the UoA formally should include this information when completing the form.
• Candidates are welcome to mark other prospective advisors in their UoA application as this increases your overall chances of acceptance. For consideration in ARG, make sure to mark my name upon application in addition to any other advisors of interest.
• Candidates who have specific questions about ARG before or during application should include the following information in their email. A response is not guaranteed.
  • Your application status
  • Your reason for emailing

Undergraduate Students

I only work with students through payroll, course credit, co-op, or other official opportunities because I view research as valuable labor to a society. I encourage students interested in working with me to pursue paid (e.g. USRA/SUPRE, summer, co-op, DRA) or credited opportunities (e.g. 399, 499).

Undergraduate opportunities are prioritized for students who have completed 300 level coursework and are interested in pursuing graduate education. If you are interested in a position send me an email with your CV/resume, most recent transcript, and a description of what your research or career goals entail including how they align with the work of the Azari Research Group.

Post Doctoral and Visitor Funding Opportunities

There are currently no open calls but the following are several (always availiable) avenues to work with the research group. ARG is happy to sponsor visiting scholars and I encourage potential post docs and visitors to review these before contacting me. I am always happy to be pitched a research collaboration of mutual interest by motivated individuals. I am generally interested in machine learning for inverse problems, uncertainty quantification, spatiotemporal datasets, space plasmas, and planetary space environments. I have active projects on solar wind estimation for Mars’ space environment and in reinforcement learning for space science.

• Izaak Walton Killam & Grant Notley Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship (open to all citizenships) https://www.ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/fees-funding/scholarships-awards/postdoctoral-fellow-funding/killam-fellowships.html
• Canada Post Doc Research Award (open to all citizenships), https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PD-NP/cpra-bprc_eng.asp
• ESA Living with a Planet Fellowship, Canada has a cooperative agreement with ESA and this can be held at the U of A https://eo4society.esa.int/communities/scientists/living-planet-fellowship/
• EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Post Doctoral Fellowship (nationals or long-term residents of the EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, additional restrictions apply) https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/postdoctoral-fellowships
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellowships (US citizens and permanent residents only), certain opportunities can be held at University of Alberta new.nsf.gov/funding/postdocs#postdoctoral-research-fellowships-599
• More information for UA post doc fellowship funding is availiable at ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/postdocs-visitors/funding.html
• More information for visiting scholars is availiable at ualberta.ca/en/graduate-studies/postdocs-visitors/funding.html

Displaced Students and Scholars

The University participates and sponsors students and scholars whose professional journeys have been disrupted by conflict. Please see this update from the Provost for more information on programs.

Machine Intelligence and Space Research at the UoA

The UoA has a long history of research excellence and global leadership in artificial intelligence. The University ranks second in North America for AI research and is co-located with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Amii is one of three AI-research institutes consisting of more than 35 artificial intelligence and machine learning researchers at the UoA. Particularly, Amii researchers are known for their leadership and development of reinforcement learning including recent recognition of the Turing Award.

The UoA has one of the largest and oldest space physics programs in Canada with research in planetary magnetospheres, space weather, magnetohydrodynamics, and fundamental plasma physics. It is a founding member of Space Environment Canada, one of the foremost ground-based array for space physics in the world, and the leading institute behind the RADICALS space mission. The aurora is commonly observed in Alberta, offering unique observational capacity at one of the top ranked research universities in the world and North America.