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Botany

3 Mitacs Globalink (GRI) research projects for Summer 2027.

1. Assessing plant performance and water quality from urban green roofs

Green roofs are increasingly implemented in cities around the world as a nature-based solution to improve stormwater management while restoring urban ecosystem services. In North America, extensive green roofs often use Sedum species because of their high drought tolerance and low maintenance requirements; however, these systems provide limited ecosystem services. This research project aims to improve plant performance and water quality in green roof systems through substrate design and modification. As part of a larger research project, the student will focus on the operation, inspection, monitoring, and maintenance of green roof experimental plots, as well as the collection of water, plant, and substrate samples for laboratory analysis. During the internship, the student will support experimental operation and maintenance, collect and process samples, assist with laboratory and field measurements, and help organize and summarize research data. The student will gain hands-on experience in green roof research, water quality analysis, plant monitoring, soil and substrate analysis, and environmental monitoring, while strengthening their knowledge of green infrastructure design, stormwater treatment, and experimental research methods. The outcomes of this research are expected to improve the design, monitoring, and performance of green roof systems for stormwater management and ecosystem services. The project will also contribute to broader urban sustainability goals by supporting more effective nature-based solutions for resilient and sustainable cities.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Dr. Liao’s research focuses on green infrastructure, water treatment, water resource management, plant-soil-water interactions, environmental monitoring and remediation, and remote sensing. Her work aims to optimize the monitoring and design of nature-based systems to improve water quality, plant performance, and ecosystem functions. She also investigates the design and application of sustainable, engineered materials for the removal of both traditional and emerging contaminants from water and the environment, while protecting ecosystem health. In addition, Liao employs remote sensing and data science approaches (e.g., meta-analysis) to understand, assess, and optimize vegetation, water, and environmental performance and management at multiple spatial scales.

Student roles:
The student will contribute to a broader research project on improving plant performance and water quality in green roof systems through substrate design and modification. The role will involve supporting the operation, inspection, monitoring, and maintenance of green roof experimental plots, collecting and processing water, plant, and substrate samples, assisting with field and laboratory measurements; and organizing and summarizing research data. The student will play an active role in evaluating green roof performance while gaining hands-on experience in green infrastructure research, stormwater monitoring, plant and soil analysis, and applied environmental sciences.

Skills required:
- Academic background in environmental science/engineering, civil/chemical engineering, engineering, analytical chemistry, plant and soil sciences, landscape architecture or a closely related field.
- Strong interest in applied research focused on water quality, plant science, and nature-based solutions.
- Previous research experience in laboratory analysis and field monitoring relevant to water, plant, or environmental systems.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and teamwork skills.

2. Carbon dynamics, ecosystem function, and resilience in Quebec Wetlands

The Wetland Resilience Research Group (WRRG) and the CARCLIQUE Research Chair investigate the role of wetlands in carbon cycling and climate regulation. Our research combines field measurements, laboratory analyses, field spectroscopy, remote sensing, and ecosystem monitoring to better understand how wetlands store and exchange carbon across landscapes. Current projects include: 1. Above- and belowground carbon dynamics in peatlands: Examining how green leaf phenology and root phenology influence carbon storage, carbon cycling, and greenhouse gas fluxes in peatland ecosystems. 2. Carbon stocks and fluxes in freshwater marshes: Quantifying carbon storage and greenhouse gas exchanges in freshwater marshes to improve estimates of their contribution to regional carbon budgets. 3. Carbon stocks and fluxes in swamps and forested wetlands: Investigating carbon accumulation, storage, and greenhouse gas dynamics across a range of forested wetland ecosystems. 4. Scaling wetland vegetation traits using field spectroscopy and remote sensing: Developing methods to link vegetation traits measured with field spectrometers to airborne and satellite observations, enabling ecosystem monitoring at broader spatial scales. 5. Wildfire impacts on peatland functioning: Assessing how wildfire affects peatland carbon storage, greenhouse gas fluxes, biogeochemical processes, vegetation recovery, and post-fire ecosystem resilience, with the goal of improving our understanding of peatland responses to increasing fire activity under climate change. Students will also have the opportunity to work alongside a large multi-institutional research program examining wetland carbon budgets across Quebec. This collaborative network uses a variety of approaches, including greenhouse gas flux measurements, ecological inventories, remote sensing, and eddy covariance towers, to better understand the role of wetlands in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Our research focuses on understanding how wetlands function and respond to environmental change, with particular emphasis on carbon cycling, greenhouse gas fluxes, hydrology, vegetation dynamics, and ecosystem resilience. We study peatlands, marshes, swamps, and forested wetlands to better understand their role in climate regulation and carbon storage. By combining field measurements, laboratory analyses, field spectroscopy, remote sensing, and ecosystem monitoring, we investigate the processes that control wetland carbon budgets across scales. This research supports the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of wetlands as important nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Student roles:
The student will participate in both field- and laboratory-based research investigating carbon dynamics, ecosystem functioning, and vegetation responses in wetlands across Quebec. Responsibilities will vary depending on the specific project but may include conducting vegetation surveys, identifying plant species, measuring plant functional traits, collecting soil, water, and vegetation samples, and measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes using chamber-based methods in peatlands, marshes, swamps, and forested wetlands.

The student may also assist with field-based spectrometer measurements, environmental monitoring, data collection from research instrumentation, and sample processing and analysis in the laboratory. Depending on project needs, opportunities may exist to contribute to remote sensing analyses, ecological data management, and statistical analyses.

Fieldwork will often take place in remote wetland environments and may require hiking, carrying equipment, working outdoors for extended periods, and occasionally traveling to field sites. The student will work closely with graduate students, research staff, and collaborating researchers while also being expected to complete assigned tasks independently.

The position provides an opportunity to gain experience in a collaborative, multi-institutional research environment focused on wetland carbon cycling and climate change. Students will contribute to ongoing projects examining carbon stocks and fluxes, vegetation dynamics, wildfire impacts on peatlands, and the application of field spectroscopy and remote sensing to wetland ecosystems. The role is well suited to students interested in ecology, environmental science, biogeochemistry, wetland research, and climate change science.

Skills required:
Training in specialized field and laboratory techniques will be provided, including plant species identification, vegetation surveys, plant trait measurements, greenhouse gas (GHG) flux measurements, field-based spectrometer measurements, soil and water sampling, and chemical extractions. Applicants should have a background in ecology, plant biology, environmental science, ecological or environmental chemistry, soil science, or a related field. Previous field or laboratory experience, as well as involvement in outdoor activities, would be considered an asset. We are seeking a motivated individual with a strong interest in ecological research who can work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and who demonstrates

3. Disturbance, Regeneration, and Restoration in Forest Ecosystems

We study biodiversity in forest ecosystems: wet swampy forests, riparian forests, mixed hardwood forests and coastal forests. Across these forest types we are looking at forest states: old growth, regenerating, and restored (planted) forests. We investigate vegetation diversity and ecosystem indicators in addition to the biodiversity across ecosystem boundaries associated with different forest states: fish, macro invertebrates and water quality.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Restoration and disturbance ecology, biodiversity and ecosystem change.

Student roles:
Supporting graduate student research through data collection: greenhouse experiments, forest biodiversity surveys.

Skills required:
Willingness to work as a team and get dirty doing field work. These systems can be cold, hot, humid and buggy. Mostly just day trips, possibly opportunity to do overnight trips to neighbouring islands. Enthusiasm for the natural world, ecology, field work and learning is the most important aspect.