Northern Environmental Geoscience Laboratory
Graduate student and other opportunities at the Northern Environmental Geoscience Laboratory at Queen's University
The Northern Environmental Geoscience Laboratory regularly advertises for funded master and doctoral positions for projects investigating permafrost distribution & permafrost geohazards, permafrost interactions with snow cover, and satellite-era changes in snow cover. All of these projects would be focused on the Labrador region of northeastern Canada and would involve fieldwork in remote regions/communities. Preference will be given to Northern and Indigenous applicants, and Canadian residents (funding related). Some examples of potential projects are listed below:
One student is being sought for a full MSc project focused on remote sensing and/or modelling of snow and ice conditions across coastal Labrador. This work would involve field data collection, remote sensing and modelling. This position would be funded to at least $25,000 per year and would require fieldwork in addition to remote sensing or modelling work. This opportunity is financially supported by ArcticNet and Queen’s University.
One student is being sought for a PhD project in the following area:
[a] Combining field work with modelling and/or remote sensing to help improve our ability to understand permafrost and permafrost-related geohazards in the Labrador region of northeastern Canada. This position would be funded to at least $30,000 per year and has plenty of existing data waiting for the right person to make use of it in their studies. This is opportunity is financially supported by ArcticNet, NSERC, the Nunatsiavut Government, the Weston Foundation and Queen’s University.
For prospective students
The ideal candidate for a MSc project would currently be pursuing a degree in geography, environmental studies, environmental science, biology and/or other natural science areas and would be comfortable with potentially participating in fieldwork in remote areas of Labrador during the summer and/or winter. Depending on the project, knowledge of geographic information systems would be considered an asset but openness to development of additional skills is necessary. Due to the nature of fieldwork, students will be required to undertake training for remote and wilderness first aid, handling of firearms and UAV certification.
The ideal candidate for a PhD project would currently be pursuing a graduate degree (MA/MSc) in a field related to the natural sciences (although not strictly obligatory) and would be comfortable with working outside in the field in remote areas of Labrador during the summer and/or winter. Knowledge of geographic information systems and statistics would be considered an asset but openness to development of additional skills is once again necessary. Due to the nature of fieldwork, students will be required to undertake training for remote and wilderness first aid, handling of firearms and UAV certification.
Student funding
Standard financial support provided by Queen’s University’s Department of Geography and Planning and this research laboratory combined provide graduate stipends of at least $20,000 per year for master students (maximum of 2 years) and at least $25,000 per year for doctoral students (maximum of 4 years). These stipends are guaranteed assuming that the prospective student provides service as a teaching assistant (TA) throughout their time at Queen’s University. Additional support linked to specific research grants is usually provided for specific assistance on ongoing research projects but this will be project specific and should be directly discussed with the project lead.
If applicable, MSc and PhD students can receive additional/contributing financial support by applying for external funding from the Ontario Graduate Scholarship program (http://www.queensu.ca/sgs/prospective-students/awards-scholarships/ontario-graduate-scholarship), the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (http://acuns.ca/en/awards/), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/index_eng.asp) and the Northern Scientific Training Program.
Note: International students may not qualify for all of the funding opportunities listed above so it is important to consider other potential funding opportunities which may be available for international students.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Robert G. Way, robert.way@queensu.ca, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
A curriculum vitae, sample publication and/or university transcript may be requested from prospective students depending on the project and academic level (MSc vs PhD).
Also see the following information for indigenous students considering Queen’s:
https://www.queensu.ca/sgs/aboriginal-students