Md Abdul Halim

Post-Doctoral Fellow

University of Toronto

Biography

I am a post-doctoral fellow (December 2019– onward) at the University of Toronto. My current research examines the energy balance of green roofs and greenhouse gas fluxes from green roof substrates.

I received a Ph.D. in biometeorology (2020) from the University of Toronto, where I studied some biogeophysical and biogeochemical aspects of post-fire and post-harvest boreal stands. The current post-doctoral project is an excellent augmentation of my Ph.D. work that allows me to use similar tools and techniques to solve problems in a different ecosystem. I also study biochar as a climate change mitigation tool. My overarching research goal is to study biometeorological issues to help achieve "climate-smart" management in managed ecosystems spanning from tropical to boreal biomes.

After receiving B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Forestry from the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, I worked as an Assistant Professor (2009–2013) at the same university. My struggles with resources for teaching and research in Bangladesh has led me to use open-source teaching and learning materials extensively. I am nourished by open-source resources and committed to contributing to their development. Additionally, to make climate research more accessible in countries where it is needed the most, I have co-founded a company CredoSense Inc. that builds cost-effective environmental sensor-logger systems.

Download my latest CV.

Interests

Biometeorology
Biogeochemistry
Remote sensing & GIS
Forest ecology
Climate change
Biochar
Cost-effective environmental sensor-logger systems

Education

PhD in Biometeorology, 2020

University of Toronto
MSc in Forestry (Major in Remote Sensing), 2006

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology
BSc in Forestry (Major in Remote Sensing), 2005

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology

Skills

R

Statistical Programming Language

C

Programming Language

Python

Programming Language

Remote Sensing

Satellite, LiDAR, UAV

Embedded Electronics

AVR & ESP uC Families

Teaching

Universal Design for Learning

Data Analysis

Statistical & Data Science Approaches

Academic Writing

Photography

Hobbyist Landscape & Portrait Photographer

Experience

Course Instructor - Conservation of Tropical & Subtropical Forests

Graduate Department of Forestry, University of Toronto

Jan 2020 – Apr 2020 Toronto, Canada

Taught Conservation of Tropical and Subtropical Forests for undergraduates of class size ~210. Responsibilities include:

Design lecture materals and conduct classes (physical and online)
Prepare exam papers and grade them.
Hold weekly office hours to assist/mentor students.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

University of Toronto

Dec 2019 – Present Toronto, Canada

Studying the effects of biochar on microclimate and greenhouse gas fluxes of green roofs.

Teaching Fellow and Trainer

Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation, University of Toronto

Jan 2018 – Dec 2019 Toronto, Canada

Develop training sessions and resources for TAs.
Facilitate on-site departmental TA training sessions.
Run microteaching sessions and workshops.
Evaluated teaching dossiers and in-class observations for professional development certificate programs.
Develop and facilitat workshops on open educational resources and effective science communications

Teaching Assistant

University of Toronto

Aug 2014 – Dec 2019 Toronto, Canada

TAed the following courses:

Conservation of tropical and sub-tropical forest (undergraduate course of class size ~210).
Applied forest ecology (graduate course of class size ~35).

Responsibilities include:

Run tutorials and labs.
Grade assignments and final examinations.
Hold weekly office hours to assist/mentor students.

Assistant Professor

Shahjalal University of Science & Technology

Jun 2011 – Aug 2013 Sylhet, Bangladesh

Designed, developed, and taught the following courses with average class size ~40:

Tropical Forest Ecology (undergraduate course).
Forestry and Climate Change (graduate course).
Remote Sensing and GIS (undergraduate course).

Additional responsiblities include:

Grade assignments and final examinations for these courses.
University-wide administrative duties including serving curriculum design and thesis evaluation committees.
Supervised ~30 undergraduate and M.Sc. research projects.