MSc Candidate Position in Arctic Paleolimnology
Greening landscapes and thawing permafrost: Long-term impacts of climate change on carbon cycling in Arctic lakes
We are looking for a motivated and curious MSc student to join our research team in the Paleoenvironmental Research and Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). This project investigates how climate-driven Arctic greening and permafrost thaw are reshaping long-term carbon dynamics in remote Arctic lake ecosystems.
Project Overview
The Canadian Arctic is undergoing rapid environmental transformation due to ongoing climate change. Expanding vegetation and widespread permafrost thaw are altering carbon pools and transport pathways across the landscape, with important implications for the amount and form of carbon entering lake ecosystems. But how have these changes evolved over time, and what do they mean for the future of Arctic lakes?
This project will use lake sediment cores as natural archives to reconstruct long-term shifts in carbon dynamics between lakes and the surrounding landscape over the past several centuries. The MSc research will involve fieldwork in the Arctic, laboratory analysis of lake sediments, and multi-proxy techniques, including geochemical analyses, spectroscopic methods, and remote sensing and satellite image interpretation. The student will be supervised by Professors Carsten Meyer-Jacob (UQAT) and Milla Rautio (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)), and will work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative research environment.
Position Details
Start Date: January 2026 or May 2026
Duration: 2 years (full-time MSc)
Financial Support: Scholarship of 21,000 CAD/year for 2 years
Location: UQAT, Rouyn-Noranda campus (Quebec, Canada)
Graduate Program: Maîtrise en écologie et aménagement des écosystèmes forestiers
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from students with:
– A BSc or equivalent in Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or related fields
– Experience or strong interest in field and lab work
– Good written and spoken communication skills in English
– Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
– A strong motivation to explore and address environmental challenges in a changing environment
– Background in paleolimnology, aquatic ecology or biogeochemistry (an asset)
How to apply: For inquiries or to apply, please send an email with the subject line “MSc Project: Arctic Carbon Cycling” to Professors Carsten Meyer-Jacob (carsten.meyer-jacob@uqat.ca) and Milla Rautio (Milla.Rautio@uqac.ca). Applications should include a statement of interest, a CV, a copy of transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable), and the names of three references. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.
