PhD projects available in animal ecology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

 

We are looking for 2 PhD students to join the Caribou Ungava research team (www.caribou-ungava.ca). Caribou Ungava is a large research program assessing the factors explaining the large variation in numbers of migratory caribou in the context of climate change. A scholarship of $21 000 to $25 000/year for 4 years is available for each project.

PhD #1: Habitat selection of black bears in Nunavik and predation on migratory caribou

This project will examine the spatial relationships between migratory caribou and one of its main predators, the black bear. The student will study the Rivière-aux-Feuilles migratory caribou herd of the Ungava Peninsula, through simultaneous monitoring of caribou and bears fitted with satellite and camera collars. The main goals are to quantify how predation and scavenging vary according to season and individual bear characteristics, and to assess bear habitat selection at different spatial scales. We have data from 30 black bears fitted with camera collars and we will be equipping another 25 bears in upcoming years. The student will contribute to field work and will analyze 6 years of camera collar data.

PhD #2: Impacts of biting insects on migratory caribou

Biting insects (Culicidae, Simuliidae, Oestridae, and Tabanidae) modify the behavior of caribou. The student will quantify the impact of biting insects on caribou movements, habitat use (including refuges), activity budget, and aggregation using telemetry data and camera collars. Using AI, the student will process the videos recorded from the camera collars to quantify the abundance of the different groups of insects. Another goal is to assess the impact of global warming on the phenology of insect emergence and the intensity of harassment on caribou. The student will achieve this goal combining three approaches: performing field experiments on the summer range of caribou, modelling simulations, and merging scientific and traditional ecological knowledge.

The candidates will work with a team of scientists specializing on caribou ecology, including Valérie Fournier (Université Laval, co-director PhD2), Nicolas Lecomte (Université de Moncton), Mathieu Leblond (Government of Canada), Joëlle Taillon (Quebec government, co-director PhD1), Vincent Brodeur (Quebec government), Guillaume Szor (Quebec government), and Steeve Côté (Université Laval, director PhD1 and 2). All positions will be based out of Université Laval, but longer-term visits to collaborating labs are an option.

Start date: between January 2025 and September 2025.

Prerequisite: a Canadian M.Sc. degree or equivalent.

Useful skills:

  • Strong academic record, experience in animal ecology and spatial analyses.
  • Interest and skills in statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, and artificial intelligence network.
  • Autonomy and initiative, strong oral and written communication skills.
  • First author of at least one paper in a refereed journal.
  • A basic knowledge of French and/or willingness to learn it.

To apply for one of these positions, please e-mail your scientific interests, cv, academic transcripts and e-mails of three referees that could attest your potential as a researcher to:

Steeve Côté, Director of Caribou Ungava
Département de biologie, Centre d’études nordiques,
Université Laval,
Québec (Québec), Canada
steeve.cote@bio.ulaval.ca