MESC Funded Master's Positions

Project Description 

The Environment & Society Research Group and Canada Research Chair in Human-Environment Interactions at The University of Winnipeg is looking for a creative student who will be eligible to enroll full-time in the Master in Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg (MA or MEnv) starting September 2024. The successful candidate will develop a thesis project focused on forest governance models that promote increased inclusion of adaptation and mitigation strategies into how public forests are managed in Canada. The student will carry out qualitative or mixed methods research to examine how forest governance is enabling or hindering the adoption of long-term perspectives in forest management that impact climate resilience. This is an NSERC funded position.

Qualifications and Support

The successful candidate will have a 4-year bachelor’s degree (honours preferred) in a related field of study (e.g., Environmental Studies, Environmental Resource Mgt., Forestry, Geography, Indigenous Studies, Northern Studies), a track record of academic excellence, strong English writing skills, and be committed to teamwork. Experience working with Indigenous communities and/or participatory community-based research is preferred. The successful candidate will receive a competitive 2-year funding package and be eligible to access support for direct costs of research.

How to Apply
Serious applicants will email Dr. Ryan Bullock, Canada Research Chair in Human-Environment Interactions (r.bullock@uwinnipeg.ca) with the subject line “MESC - FOREST” with:

1. an updated CV;
2. transcript(s) (unofficial acceptable);
3. a research writing sample (e.g., senior undergraduate thesis or course project report);
4. and a brief statement of interest in the above-described research project, research supervisor, and the MESC program

In conjunction with The University of Winnipeg’s employment equity and diversity policy, the ESRG is committed to achieving, retaining and supporting a diverse research team and to ensuring each member has access to opportunities to develop their potential. We recognize that a diverse lab membership and equitable structures improve learning and research environments and lead to better research. We actively encourage applications from equity-deserving groups and folks who work respectively, constructively and collaboratively.  

Project Description

The Environment & Society Research Group and Canada Research Chair in Human-Environment Interactions at The University of Winnipeg have partnered with scholars and organizations across Canada through CANSTOREnergy: Seasonal storage of renewable energy - to develop renewable energy storage technologies in northern and southern Canadian climates. Canada possesses a large capacity for renewable energy sources; however, these renewable energy sources are subject to wide seasonal variations, making energy production out of sync with energy demands. Equitable, long-duration storage systems are needed to address this problem and to contribute to decarbonizing the power system in Canada. To achieve positive and equitable energy transformations, the development of energy technologies must be participatory, support community-led visions and plans, and be developed collaboratively with those that will be affected by these technologies – communities, industries, and other interests. The successful student will carry out qualitative or mixed methods research to assist this interdisciplinary research team by studying governance structures and processes to engage the public in sustainable energy transitions.  The successful student must be eligible to enroll full-time in the Master in Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg (MA or MEnv) starting September 2024. This position is funded through the New Frontiers in Research Fund.

Qualifications and Support

The preferred candidate will have a 4-year bachelor’s degree (honours preferred) in a related field of study (e.g., Environmental Science, Environmental Resource Mgt., Ecology, Biology, Geomatics), a track record of academic excellence, strong English writing skills, and be committed to teamwork. Experience working with Indigenous communities and/or participatory community-based research is preferred. The successful candidate will receive a competitive 2-year funding package and be eligible to access support for direct costs of research.

How to Apply

Serious applicants will email Dr. Ryan Bullock, Canada Research Chair in Human-Environment Interactions (r.bullock@uwinnipeg.ca) with the subject line “MESC - CANSTOREnergy” with:

1. an updated CV;

2. transcript(s) (unofficial acceptable);

3. a research writing sample (e.g., senior undergraduate thesis or course project report); and

4. a brief statement of interest in the above-described research project, research supervisor, and the MESC program.

In conjunction with The University of Winnipeg’s employment equity and diversity policy,

the ESRG is committed to achieving, retaining and supporting a diverse research team and to ensuring each member has access to opportunities to develop their potential. We recognize that a diverse lab membership and equitable structures improve learning and research environments and lead to better research. We actively encourage applications from equity-deserving groups and folks who work respectively, constructively and collaboratively.

Project Description 

This research project aims to support community-centered energy resilience initiatives in Churchill, Manitoba, focusing on sustainable heating solutions. Working with a team of energy coordinators, the successful candidate will explore the human dynamics surrounding the implementation of innovative energy technologies (such as installations of air-source heat pumps in remote housing) and how the community interacts with them.

This research project builds on work designed to apply renewable energy technologies by bringing in community engagement, emphasizing how user experiences and educational outreach can enhance energy program effectiveness. The student will engage with Churchill residents to gather insights on local energy needs, helping shape policy and advocacy efforts around sustainable energy solutions that best serve remote communities like Churchill. 

Qualifications and Support

The preferred candidate will have a 4 year bachelor’s degree (honours preferred) in a related field of study (e.g., human geography, environmental studies, northern studies, etc.), demonstrated interest (through academic and/or volunteer work) in the energy transition, and an ability to do field work in a remote location. Experience with qualitative research is highly valued. The successful candidate must have strong English writing and verbal communication skills. 

This position is funded through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The successful candidate will receive a competitive 2-year funding package and be eligible to access support for direct costs of research.

How to Apply

Please prepare a resume, your transcripts, and a two-page statement of interest explaining your interest and experience with the energy transition. 

Pending further instructions on where to send the application package.  

Project Description 

The fish biology and conservation lab is looking for a M.Sc. student (environmental science program) to start in May 2025. The student will complete a GIS analysis of the risk to Manitoba Métis Federation’s freshwater resources should an oil spill occur.  Most of the work will involve desktop and computer work with some time being spent in the field either ground truthing GIS files or participating in community outreach. Dr. Joni Storie (Geography) will co-supervise the thesis.

Qualifications and Support

The preferred candidate will have a 4-year bachelor’s degree (honours preferred) in a related field of study (e.g., Environmental Science, Environmental Resource Mgt., Ecology, Biology, Geomatics), a track record of academic excellence, strong English writing skills, and be committed to teamwork. The successful candidate will receive a competitive 2-year funding package ($27,000 per year) and be eligible to access support for direct costs of research.

How to Apply

Interested students should email Caleb (c.hasler@uwinnipeg.ca) and address their interests. Please also attached a current transcript (unofficial is ok) and a resume.

Project Description 

Canada is teeming with lakes, streams and wetlands. Clean, healthy fresh waters support biodiversity and provide extensive health, economic and cultural benefits to Canadian communities. However, rates of climate change in northern boreal regions are among the highest of anywhere on Earth. Rising temperatures, changes to precipitation and declining snow cover will fundamentally alter how water and chemicals move through the environment, and could threaten our valuable aquatic resources.

We invite expressions of interest for a student who will be eligible to enroll in the Master in Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg (MSc) starting September 2025. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team to explore how rising temperatures, shorter winters and changing precipitation patterns alter watershed carbon cycling in boreal catchments. Depending on the interests and background of the student, the project will involve a combination of field work, lab work, data analysis and/or mathematical modeling.

Qualifications and Support

We seek an enthusiastic and dedicated colleague with a 4-year Bachelor degree (e.g., Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Forestry, Geography, Earth Science). The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate how their background and goals fit with the graduate opportunity. The successful candidate will receive guaranteed funding support for two years, plus support for direct costs of research and conference participation. The incoming team member will also have access to the CFI-funded Water Quality Analysis Lab at UWinnipeg.

How to Apply

Serious expressions of interest can be sent to Dr. Nora Casson, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Influences on Water Quality and Associate Professor in the Department of Geography (n.casson@uwinnipeg.ca). Your email must include your 1) updated CV, 2) transcripts (unofficial acceptable at this time), and 3) a brief statement outlining why you want to join our team. Please include “MESC Position 2024” in the subject line of your email.

Dr. Ed Cloutis is seeking students to complete Masters of Science theses in the following project:

• Preparation for Canada's first lunar rover mission. This project involves spectroscopic (reflectance/Raman) analysis of lunar samples, meteorites, and terrestrial analogues, to enhance development of the rover mission and to understand the geology of the south pole region of the Moon.

Successful candidates will have a related 4-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and be eligible to enroll in the Master of Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg starting September 2024.

Expressions of interest should be sent to Dr. Ed Cloutis (e.cloutis@uwinnipeg.ca), Department of Geography. Please send your (1) CV, (2) transcripts (unofficial acceptable at this time), and (3) a brief statement of interest regarding your proposed research.

Dr. Ed Cloutis is seeking students to complete Masters of Science theses in the following projects:

• Biological potential of icy bodies in the solar system. A number of icy bodies in the solar system (particularly asteroid Ceres, the jovian moon Europa and the saturnian moon Enceladus) may harbour subsurface oceans and conditions conducive to life. This project will involve a combination of laboratory spectroscopic studies of icy moon analogues and samples from appropriate terrestrial sites. The long term goal is to enable our participation in future missions to these bodies.

Successful candidates will have a related 4-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and be eligible to enroll in the Master of Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg starting September 2024.

Expressions of interest should be sent to Dr. Ed Cloutis (e.cloutis@uwinnipeg.ca), Department of Geography. Please send your (1) CV, (2) transcripts (unofficial acceptable at this time), and (3) a brief statement of interest regarding your proposed research.

Dr. Ed Cloutis is seeking students to complete Masters of Science theses in the following projects:

• Martian astrobiology. This project involves spectroscopic analysis of geological samples from terrestrial Mars analogue sites to support analysis of data from the current NASA Perseverance and future ESA Rosalind Franklin mission, with a focus on the utility of Raman spectroscopy for surface investigations.

Successful candidates will have a related 4-year bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and be eligible to enroll in the Master of Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg starting September 2024.

Expressions of interest should be sent to Dr. Ed Cloutis (e.cloutis@uwinnipeg.ca), Department of Geography. Please send your (1) CV, (2) transcripts (unofficial acceptable at this time), and (3) a brief statement of interest regarding your proposed research.

Mapping Pathways to Rocky Cree Territory

The Asiniskaw Íthiniwak (Rocky Cree) of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation have lived in the Churchill River drainage since time immemorial, developing an intimate knowledge of the region’s watercourses, plant and animal life. This knowledge is passed to future generations through oral traditions including place naming.  Place names convey spiritual significance and tell the story of the peoples’ history and relationships. Due to centuries of incursions, many of their place names were lost – ‘mapped out’ of existence by colonial surveyors or submerged by flooding for hydro development.  The NCN community at Nelson House in northern Manitoba would now like to recover their place names, share this knowledge widely in the community, and project this knowledge outward as a statement of their territorial heritage. 

This project assists the Nelson House NCN by providing research support to their community effort of recovering place names.  It will answer the following questions:

• What are the historical roles of place names and place naming in Rocky Cree culture and what roles do they have today?
• What are the tools, methods, and technologies available for collecting and representing traditional Cree place names and incorporating them into geospatial systems, many of which build on the same colonial methods used to erase and re-map local Indigenous territory?
• What tools, methods, and technologies are available to the NCN members to access land and stories now submerged by hydro development?
• What Indigenous spatial traditions exist that can inform and aid the project underway?

Expressions of interest are welcome from potential graduate students wishing to complete a master’s thesis (M.A. or M.Env) on any or all of the topics above.  Students will work closely with community members in Nelson House and will be aligned with University of Winnipeg graduate students on a companion Rocky Cree history project.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in geography, anthropology, Indigenous studies, or a related field.   Experience conducting primary/field research, working independently, or completing a major undergraduate project will be an asset. The successful student will receive funding support for two years, plus support for direct costs of research and conference participation.   All applicants must meet eligibility requirements to enroll in the Master of Environmental & Social Change program at The University of Winnipeg.

Expressions of interest can be sent to Dr. Matt Dyce (m.dyce@uwinnipeg.ca), Department of Geography.  Please include the following

• A resume or CV
• A transcript - unofficial is fine!
• An expression of interest in some aspect(s) of the project

Preference will be given to Nelson House community members, Cree students, and First Nations and Indigenous students.