Three funded graduate student positions in neotropical geography

Profs. Oliver Coomes and Yann le Polain at the Department of Geography of McGill University are looking for three motivated individuals to join them at McGill University for graduate work in Geography, starting in September 2021. The positions correspond to three research projects in the Neotropics:

1. The first project’s goal (Tropical Carbon Offset – MSc) is to study dynamics of land-use change around a carbon offset project sponsored by McGill in an Emberá indigenous community in Panamá. The successful applicant will work with the participant community to understand the determinants of adoption of the project at the household level and analyze pathways of indirect land use change that might have affected the net outcome of the project. The applicant will be working under the co-supervision of Profs. Oliver Coomes and Yann le Polain de Waroux.

Requirements:

• Experience with qualitative methods, quantitative methods, and/or GIS
• GPA > 3.5 or notable relevant work experience
• Upper-intermediate level (B2) in Spanish (following the CEFR framework)
• Demonstrable travel and/or fieldwork experience in countries of the Global South, preferably in Latin America
• Willingness to conduct extended fieldwork (3-4 months) in remote areas.

2. The second project’s goal (Tropical Secondary Forests – MSc) is to assess secondary forest dynamics in the Peruvian Amazon using remote sensing analysis. Shifting cultivation systems transform old growth forest into secondary forest fallows through the cultivation cycle and intensification is reflected in shorting of the fallow period. This project would assess the drivers of intensification in shifting cultivation using remote sensing analyses of forest cover coupled with community and household data collected as part of the Peruvian Amazon Rural Livelihoods and Poverty project (see parlap.geog.mcgill.ca). The applicant will be working under the supervision of Prof. Oliver Coomes.

Requirements:

• Experience with remote sensing/GIS and quantitative methods
• GPA > 3.5 or notable relevant work experience
• Beginner-intermediate level in Spanish

3. The third project’s goal (Tropical Floodplain Agriculture - PhD) is to assess the potential of the floodplains in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon for agricultural production and provide information needed to develop risk mitigation tools for farmers. The project will: (1) assess the characteristics, economic importance and risks of floodplain farming; (2) estimate the probability of crop loss from hydrological data available from river gauging stations along the Amazon, Ucayali, and Marañón rivers; (3) survey selected areas along on the study rivers to map the topography and soil conditions on the floodplain; and, (4) assess using remote sensing the extent of floodplain that is available and is actually used. Data on how farmers use the floodplain and cope with risk when combined with the physical data on floodplain use potential, will allow us to provide insights needed to assess the development potential of floodplains in the Upper Amazon. The applicant will be working under the supervision of Prof. Oliver Coomes.

Requirements:

• Experience with land use studies, quantitative methods, surveying, and remote sensing/GIS
• GPA > 3.5 or notable relevant work experience
• Upper-intermediate level (B2) in Spanish (following the CEFR framework)
• Demonstrable travel and/or fieldwork experience in countries of the Global South, preferably in Latin America
• Willingness to conduct extended fieldwork (8 - 12 months) in remote areas

A stipend to cover living expenses in Montreal and field expenses will be provided; the student will be expected to apply for additional funding. Quebec residents will be given priority, but strong applicants from anywhere are encouraged to apply. If you are interested and meet the above requirements, please send your grade transcripts, CV, and cover letter by December 15, 2020, to oliver.comes@mcgill.ca (for full consideration). More information on graduate programs in Geography can be found at https://www.mcgill.ca/geography/graduate, and information on graduate studies and applications at McGill are available at https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/.