McGill University Research Scholarships in Canada

The Polar Remote Sensing Research Group at McGill University is recruiting at least one MSc and one PhD student to work on radar remote sensing of Arctic sea ice, starting Fall 2027. Both positions are fully funded (Award+RA+TA). 

The laboratory has MSc, PhD and several undergraduate student opportunities available for sea ice remote sensing research. 

The lab’s research is driven by a team of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) dedicated to investigating innovative remote sensing technologies to advance sea ice monitoring – supported by comprehensive field-based research in the Arctic region.

To be considered for the McGill University Scholarships, you must:

• Meet the entry requirements for the Department of Geography.

• Meet the English Language requirements of McGill University.

• Experience in scientific programming and remote sensing data handling is required.

PhD position

The PhD project will focus on radar analysis of Arctic sea ice using multi-frequency SAR. We are looking for a candidate with:

• An MSc in remote sensing, geography, physics, engineering, or a closely related field

• Prior hands-on experience with radar data, including a working understanding of backscatter and polarimetry

• Advanced programming skills is required, experience with large raster datasets, cloud platforms, or machine learning is an asset

• Interest in participating in Arctic field campaigns

• Strong scientific writing, ideally with a first-author publication or manuscript in preparation.

MSc position

The MSc project will focus on SAR-based characterization of sea ice in the Canadian Arctic. Radar experience is welcome but not required. We are looking for a candidate with:

• A BSc in geography, environmental science, physics, engineering, computer science, or a related field

• Advanced programming skills. 

• Coursework or project experience with satellite imagery is an asset

• A background in remote sensing, GIS, or geophysics

• Interest in Arctic fieldwork

• Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given preference for this position

Graduate Students are offered assistantships that cover;

• tuition fees for the duration of the program.

• monthly stipend to cover living expenses.

Undergraduate research may receive support from research grants, SURA and NSERC USRA as potential funding sources. 

To apply for the McGill University Research Scholarship, interested and qualified candidates should;

• 1

  Click the button to visit Dr Malik Mahmud’s website.

• 2

  Contact the PI (Dr. Mallik Mahmud) at [mallik.mahmud@mcgill.ca ] Please include the following in your email:

1. 3

   Curriculum Vitae (CV)

2. 4

   Academic transcript

3. 5

   Brief explanation of why you are a strong fit for this position

• 6

  Start Date: Fall 2027

• 7

  Please be aware that the Fall admission deadline for graduate student applications in the Geography department is January 15. I encourage you to reach out to me at your earliest convenience to initiate discussions on research interests, suitability, and feasibility.