Université de Montréal

Université de Montréal is a leading French-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, consistently ranked among the top universities in Canada and recognized globally for its academic excellence.

Homepage: https://www.umontreal.ca/en/

Two 4-year PhD positions in land surface science with competitive funding are open immediately in the Department of Geography at the Université de Montréal (UdeM), in Montréal, Canada, under the supervision of Drs. Alexis Berg and Oliver Sonnentag.

* Project 1 - Drivers of hydrological changes in the Canadian North under climate warming:
This PhD project focuses on better understanding the drivers of rapid hydrological change
in Canada's Arctic-boreal region, disentangling the roles of climate warming, precipitation
changes, rising CO2, and evolving land surface processes and disturbances (e.g.,
permafrost thaw, wildfires). The student will analyze existing idealized CMIP multi-model
simulations to separate the effects of climate change and rising CO2 on surface
hydrology, alongside targeted experiments with the CLASSIC land surface model
evaluated against streamflow observations. The goal is a mechanistic understanding of
northern water cycle dynamics and their consequences for ecosystems, communities,
and global climate (co-supervised by Berg and Sonnentag).

• Project 2 - Greenhouse gas budgets in natural and disturbed peatlands: As part of the
CARBONIQUE initiative (https://carbonique.ca/), this PhD project will assess the
greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets (CO2, CH4, N2O) of four recently established peatland
research sites in southern Québec — two intact (open and forested) and two disturbed —
using eddy covariance and chamber techniques (soil and tree). Supported by an
experienced eddy covariance field technician, the student will investigate how water table
lowering drives peat decomposition and alters GHG fluxes, and by combining these
measurements with carbon sequestration rates from companion projects in
CARBONIQUE, determine whether woody biomass accumulation in drained peatlands can
compensate for carbon losses from oxic peat decomposition. Monthly soil chamber
measurements will additionally confirm whether N2O fluxes are negligible and capture
spatial variability across sites. A particular focus will be placed on tree-mediated CH4
transport — an understudied but significant emission pathway in forested peatlands — to
partition gas transport pathways that eddy covariance alone cannot resolve. (supervised
by Sonnentag).

Start dates in the PhD program in the Department of Geography at UdeM will be January 2027.

Requirement and preferred qualifications:

• We are looking for two talented and motivated students with interests in land surface modelling, cold- region hydrology, or peatland biogeochemistry, and a strong background in physical geography, hydrology, atmospheric science, or a related field. There is flexibility, and it is encouraged, for the students to focus on specific aspects of interest under the overarching themes.
• Applicants are expected to hold, or soon complete, an MSc degree (or equivalent) in atmospheric sciences, physical geography, soil science, environmental science or similar fields.
• Experience with scientific programming and data analysis is an asset. Previous experience with eddy covariance instrumentation and data handling is highly favorable for Project 2; prior experience with large-scale land surface/climate observations and model data is an asset for Project 1.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required. French language skills are an asset, but not required at the PhD level at UdeM; resources and support will be available for students who wish to learn or improve their French during the program.

The Berg Research Group and the ATMOSBIOS lab are committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups in the geosciences, including but not limited to women, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ2S+ communities. Candidates with diverse training and non-traditional pathways are encouraged to apply.

Both positions offer competitive stipends supported by the CARBONIQUE initiative and NSERC Discovery Grants held by Berg and Sonnentag. Additional funding is available for fieldwork, professional skills development workshops, and national and international conferences. Students are strongly encouraged to apply for institutional and national scholarships, including recruitment awards for those with strong academic records.

For more information about the Department of Geography at UdeM: https://geographie.umontreal.ca/english/home/

To apply:
Please send a letter of interest to – depending on the project:
alexis.maximilien.berg@umontreal.ca (Berg Research Group) and/or oliver.sonnentag@umontreal.ca (ATMOSBIOS lab). Include:
* resume/CV describing your skills and education;
* university transcripts;
* names of two referees.
Please also feel free reach out to Dr. Berg or Dr. Sonnentag with any questions.
Applications will be reviewed as received and positions will remain open until they are filled.