Description
MSc. and Ph.D. positions: Capitalizing on long-term experimental manipulations to understand and
predict arctic terrestrial ecosystem responses to climate warming
‘The Arctic is undoubtedly experiencing rapid recent warming that is already substantially affecting the
structure and functioning of is ecosystems, including Northern peoples. | am seeking motivated
graduate students wth an undergraduate background in plant ecology, environmental scence,
biogeography, andor soil science who are interested in developing a project in one of te lab’s current
research themes:
- Tundra plant community responses to summer warming
- Role of phosphorus as well as nitrogen in determining tundra plant community structure and
responses to climate change
- The potential fr transition from low to medium stature (~ 1m tall) shrub tundra vegetation across the
Low Arctic: When, Where, Which?
- The impacts of deepened snow on soil carbon and microbial nutrient dynamics in low arctic tundra
- The biogeochemical sigificance of the stoichiometric differences among plant species, soils, and soil
‘microbes in understanding tundra ecosystem responses to climate change.
‘The proposed graduate student projects will develop and test their own innovative research hypotheses
Using the experimental infrastructure that has been maintained at our Northwest Territories's Daring
Lake research site in central low arctic Canada since 2004, These fully replicated (n = 5-10)
experimental manipulations include bath high and low-level factorial NxP annual additions, summer
plastic greenhouses, snowfences, and caribou exclosures. In addition, we have an ongoing long-term
‘observational study of shrub vegetation change across the full range of habitat-types in the Daring Lake
landscape, and significant research collaborations with colleagues across Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Visit the lab website for lots more information: https: /Aww.queensu.ca/terrestral-ecosystem-ecalogy!
Ideal start date: Summer 2024 to January 2025,
‘Minimum curren (2023-24) annual stipend support is $25,750 (M.Sc. and $27,750 (Ph.D.) for wo and
four years respectively, while the costs of Queen's graduate tuition and fees for domestic students
currently total $7250. Note this minimum stipend is a starting point: ditional top-up is possible
contingent on scholarships and additional funds in te lab, Unfortunately, Queen's graduate tuition and
fees for international M.Sc. students currently total $15200, and so the positions advertised here are not
available to petsons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada unless they have
Potential access to supplementary funding sources.
Review of applications will begin on February 18th, 2024 and continue thereafter until the positions are
filled. To apply, please send an email to groganp@queensu.ca that includes:
- A one-page cover letter clearly outlining your research interests and how they relate to the themes
above, and how your previous experiences and training have prepared you for an M.Sc. of Ph.D.
- Your cv
- Unofficial copies of your undergraduate and M.Sc. (if applicable) transcripts
- Contact details for three references
‘The successful applicant will join a dynamic group of faculty and students in the Department of Biology
(htps:biology.queensu.ca/) at Queen's Univesity, which is located in te particulary attractive,
historical, and small but diverse and progressive city of Kingston, with many local outdoor recreational
opportunities in surrounding Eastern Ontario, and cose proximity to Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal
Our Department of Biology is distinctive by continuing to deliberately integrate across all major
biological disciplines rather than splitting into separate organismal and molecular-focussed departments
In accordance with our university-wide commitment to equity and diversity, applications from women,
visible minorities, Black and Indigenous peoples, People of Colour, persons with disabilities, and
2SLGBTQ* persons, s well as mature (Le. older) students, are especially encouraged and will likely be
eligible for extra support.
