Sessional Lecturer: CHL5923H Environmental Risk Analysis & Management (0.5 FCE)

Course Description:

This course introduces the principles of environmental toxicology and risk assessment. Study of the basic principles of toxicology, including routes of exposure, dose response, and target organ effects from exposure to environmental toxicants will be covered. The course presents the quantitative methods used to assess the human health risks associated with exposure to toxicants, focusing on the four major components of risk assessment - hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Risk communication and public consultation will also be addressed. The course will include an overview of Canadian regulations and policies and their impact on the practical realties facing practitioners, policy makers and stakeholders.

We will explore risk assessment issues related to exposure to contaminated sites, air quality and projects undergoing Environmental Assessment. The intent is to make this course hands on and practical so that you are able to participate as a team member conducting human health and ecological risk assessment upon its completion. The course will be based on actual undertakings of Canadian risk assessment projects.

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to understand the concepts of human health risk assessment and how to apply them in the Canadian regulatory context. Their understanding will go far beyond the theoretical. The course is designed with practical hands on case studies and examples of how to apply the concepts to environmental health challenges facing Canadians. The first half of the course involves understanding the concepts of environmental toxicology, exposure and the mathematics required to conducting a health risk assessment. These fundamentals will be demonstrated through the students conducting individual risk assessments for a federal contaminated site. In the second part of the course students will use this foundation to explore complex environmental health matters involved in the siting of major infrastructure projects across the country. Issues around air quality, electromagnetic field exposure and non-chemical stressors such as noise and shadow flicker from renewable energy will be explored. They will also explore risk communication and the skill of communicating complex scientific concepts to the general public. The students will be able to demonstrate their applied knowledge in the final term paper and presentation to the class. Ultimately, after completing the class each of the student would have the knowledge to participate a team member in a professional environmental health sciences company or government team.

Estimated course enrolment : 15                  

Estimated TA support : None                                                

Class Schedule :           Mondays (9am – 12 Noon)                                                                

Sessional dates :          January 1-April 30, 2027                                

Salary :     $9,997.47 (Sessional Lecturer I)

$10,699.21 (Sessional Lecturer I Long Term)

$10,699.21 (Sessional Lecturer II)

$10,953.96 (Sessional Lecturer II Long Term)

$10,953.96 (Sessional Lecturer III)

$11,228.90 (Sessional Lecturer III Long Term)

(Salary Inclusive of 4% or 6% vacation pay, where applicable)

Please note that should the rates stipulated in the Collective Agreement vary from the rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the Collective Agreement shall prevail.

Minimum Qualifications :   PhD, MD or equivalent; expertise in environmental health and risk assessment

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in environmental health risk assessment in the Canadian context.

Description of duties :

• Preparation of syllabus, delivery of lectures (in person, at least 70% of the time), student interaction, marking of assignments, preparation and marking of evaluation materials. Submission of final grades to Graduate Coordinator.  

All individuals interested in this position must submit a Curriculum Vitae, and the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form available at to:

c/o   Christine Lowe

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

University of Toronto

Email:  View email address on jobs.utoronto.ca

Closing Date: 11/03/2026, 11:59PM EDT
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This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.