Environmental Studies

Research area: My research focuses on environmental health and Ecohealth approaches. I am interested in the effects of environmental contaminants, including metals, PFAS, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, on human health and ecosystems. My work aims to better understand the links between environment, health, and society by integrating biological, social, and community perspectives. I am also interested in environmental risk perception, exposure inequalities, and knowledge mobilization to support informed decision-making and interventions tailored to community needs.

Student roles:
The student will contribute to the preliminary development of a socio-environmental vulnerability index. Activities will include conducting a literature review on vulnerability indices, environmental inequities, and methodologies used in public health and environmental justice research.

The student will assist in identifying, selecting, and documenting potential indicators from publicly available databases. They will also contribute to data collection, organization, and exploratory analyses required for index development.

The internship will involve participating in the development of the index conceptual framework, evaluating different approaches for combining indicators, and producing a preliminary version of the index. Depending on the student's interests and skills, spatial and cartographic analyses may also be conducted.

Finally, the student will contribute to the interpretation of findings and the preparation of scientific and knowledge mobilization materials. This project will provide hands-on experience in environmental health, data analysis, indicator development, and interdisciplinary research focused on environmental inequities.

Skills required:
Strong interest in environmental health, geography, public health, environmental sciences, social sciences, or a related field. Attention to detail, autonomy, and analytical skills are essential. Experience with databases, statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), or quantitative analysis is considered an asset. The ability to conduct literature reviews and work with publicly available datasets is desirable. Familiarity with issues related to social or environmental inequalities would also be beneficial.

Research area: My research interest is mainly in Data science with focus on applications in environment and environmental health. My expertise is in a large variety of interdisciplinary research with data science approaches (including but not limited to hydrology, water sciences, climatology, climate epidemiology, climate change effects). I'm interested in developing new data science methodologies, as well as adapting or applying recent/advanced approaches.

Student roles:
- Analyzing and modelling different types of data (e.g. climate, health)
- Producing interactives reports (ex. Leaflet maps, Shiny apps)
- Writing parts of report and presenting results
- Collaborating with PhD students through GitHub

Skills required:
Skills (at least two) :
- Knowledge in data science or statistics or mathematics
- Programming language such as R or Python
- Geospatial analyses tools such as QGIS or ArcGIS
- Interest for environmental and public health research

Research area: Research Area: Local scale climate change impacts; Local government climate change policy; local scale climate change resilience/ adaptation planning. Research Interests: Broadly speaking, my research is organized around the theme resilient cities and communities. Within this theme, my program is currently focused on local government climate change adaptation planning, which explores how coastal cities/ communities (of varying size) confront climate change and adapt to the emerging challenges imposed on theme due to increases in temperature, more extreme weather events and a rise in sea level. Decision dynamics around action conception/ implementation are explored.

Student roles:
The student will be involved in analyzing strategic planning documents such as Official Community Plans, climate change and sustainability strategies, board reports, press releases, and scientific literature related to weather and climate/ environmental change, planning and policy.

The student may be involved in selecting and organizing interviews with key actors in each city/ community; and, developing a research protocol for semi-structured interviews. The student will be involved in analyzing the data obtained from the interviews (interviews will be conducted by the supervisor).

The student will be involved in drawing insights/ conclusion from the research, and (potentially) disseminating the findings.

All student research/ activities will be done in collaboration with the supervisor.

Skills required:
A background in environmental studies/ geography/ planning (or a related field), with an interest in coastal cities/ communities is required, this will provide a broad appreciation for studying the nuances involved in local climate resilience. The following skills are required:

- An understanding of qualitative data gathering and analysis, namely approaches associated with document analysis and narrative analysis;
- Proficiency in english (written and oral) language is absolutely VITAL;
- Organization and time management skills;
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills;
- Map reading/ interpretation skills;
- GIS skills;
- Desire to try new things, learn new approaches/ skills

Research area: Mon domaine de recherche spécialisé porte sur la santé des populations dans des contextes de catastrophes naturelles et technologiques. Mes travaux s’intéressent aux effets de ces événements sur les déterminants sociaux de la santé, aux vulnérabilités différenciées des populations, ainsi qu’aux capacités de résilience individuelles et collectives. J’explore également les réponses des systèmes de santé et des services sociaux, en mettant l’accent sur des approches adaptées culturellement et ancrées dans les réalités des communautés, notamment autochtones

Student roles:
L’étudiant·e participera activement aux différentes étapes du projet de recherche. Plus spécifiquement, il ou elle contribuera à la préparation et à l’organisation des données qualitatives, à leur analyse (codage thématique à l’aide de NVivo), ainsi qu’à l’interprétation des résultats. L’étudiant·e sera également impliqué·e dans la rédaction de rapports de recherche, de synthèses et de documents de valorisation scientifique. Enfin, il ou elle pourra collaborer aux rencontres d’équipe et aux discussions méthodologiques liées au projet.

Skills required:
Dans le cadre de ce projet de recherche, nous sommes à la recherche d’étudiant·e·s souhaitant réaliser un stage en recherche. Les personnes recherchées devront démontrer un intérêt pour les enjeux de santé environnementale et posséder des compétences en analyse et traitement de données qualitatives, notamment avec le logiciel NVivo. Une expérience en codage thématique, en synthèse de résultats et en rédaction de rapports de recherche constitue un atout important. Les stagiaires seront appelés à contribuer activement aux différentes étapes du projet, incluant l’analyse des données, la production de livrables scientifiques et la valorisation des résultats.

Research area: This research program is situated within the environmental humanities (EH), an interdisciplinary area seeks to understand and address pressing environmental problems by employing humanistic methods that attend to, for example, ethics, values, design, cultures, and communication. The PI’s recent research has focused on arts-based methods that complement the ways that humans understand and communicate scientific information, such as large-scale environmental crises, and how those methods can inquire into human feelings of efficacy. This has resulted in the development of the UW Environmental Humanities Network, which seeks to grow its influence by developing international collaborations through identifying relevant research gaps.

Student roles:
The Environmental Humanities Network assistant would engage in primary research of an environmental scan of Environmental Humanities centres and programs worldwide and analyze them according to a rubric given by the PI. They would also work closely with the Environmental Humanities Network point person to plan, schedule, and organize an October 2026 symposium based on research areas revealed by the environmental scan of EH centres and programs. The Environmental Humanities Network assistant will be expected to liaise directly with symposium attendees, campus offices, and catering/hospitality, as well as develop online and print materials that promote the event.

Skills required:
The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal, written, and oral English communication skills, and ideally be familiar with the environmental humanities as a multidisciplinary area of study. They will have strong organizational and problem-solving skills, and be able to work independently once given a task. Proficiency with web management and the ability to undertake local University WCMS (website maintenance) training needed; ability to work with multiple online platforms (Canva, Word, social media) recommended.

Research area: Prof Prieto-Espinoza's research focuses on contaminant hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. Her work focuses on understanding the transport, transfer, transformation and remediation of various contaminants in groundwater flow systems.

Student roles:
Collect core samples from soils, river and lake sediments; Collect surface water and groundwater samples; Extract pesticides and metabolites from the aqueous and solid phases; Prepare aqueous and solid samples for chemical analysis; Interpret data of pesticide exports to groundwater and identify mechanisms generating pesticide metabolites.

Skills required:
Adaptability to field and lab work, analytical skills, critical thinking and good organization.The ideal student possesses some experience with the manipulation of field and laboratory samples. Knowledge of hydrogeology, soil hydrology and environmental chemistry is welcome. However, students are encouraged to apply and learn about this subject.

Research area: Prof Prieto-Espinoza's research focuses on contaminant hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. Her work focuses on understanding the transport, transfer, transformation and remediation of various contaminants in groundwater flow systems.

Student roles:
Analytical skills, modeling skills, critical thinking, data management and good organization. The ideal student possesses some experience of handling datasets and manipulating existing codes. Knowledge of hydrogeology, soil hydrology and geochemistry is desired. However, students are encouraged to apply and learn about this subject

Skills required:
Familiarize with the MIN3P model; Build a conceptual model including a hydrogeological, geochemical and mineralogical framework of Ni-rich tailings; Conceptualize different climate scenarios relevant for Nordic regions; Calibrate hydraulic and geochemical parameters; Interpret data and provide geochemical profiles of thiosalts in filtered tailings.

Research area: My research program focuses on reducing the public health burden of food-borne, water-borne and zoonotic diseases. The main objectives of my research program include understanding the epidemiology and burden of these diseases; investigating the prevalence and use of health protection behaviours of different population and stakeholder groups, including key drivers and determinants of behaviour change; and evaluating key strategies and interventions that could be used to modify or change the behaviours of individuals and organizations to improve public health. I use a variety of research methods and approaches to achieve these aims, including epidemiology, mixed-methods, surveys, focus groups, and interviews.

Student roles:
The student will be involved in various research activities contributing to one or more of the above-mentioned projects, in collaboration with a larger research team. This could include recruiting beachgoers to participate in a cohort study about their beach activities and illnesses, conducting interviews and/or surveys with those beachgoers, preparing and compiling datasets for analysis, conducting descriptive analysis of data, conducting literature reviews, co-writing a report of the study findings, and developing or maintaining other knowledge dissemination activities and materials, such as infographics and a project website. The student will be an important part of a diverse research team in the School of Occupational and Public Health, located in a new state-of-the-art health sciences building in downtown Toronto: https://www.torontomu.ca/occupational-public-health/. Regular meetings will be held with the faculty supervisor and other research team members. Through this project the student will have a chance to gain a variety of skills in public health research and analysis methods, data collection and management, literature reviewing, manuscript writing, knowledge dissemination methods, and conducting research in a team environment. The student will learn new software programs. The student will have an opportunity to co-author one or more scientific manuscripts that will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Skills required:
The ideal student should have a background in public health, health studies, geography, environmental science, psychology, or a related area with an interest in public health and water quality. The student should have taken at least one research methods and statistics course. The student will have strong written and verbal communication skills in English, and will be able to work well independently and as part of a research team. The student must be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, with the ability and interest to learn new software programs for data collection and analysis

Research area: Mes recherches portent sur le développement régional, les politiques publiques et les dynamiques territoriales dans les pays en développement et dans le Canada atlantique. Plus spécifiquement, mes recherches sont à l’interface de l’adaptation aux changements climatiques, de la gouvernance environnementale et du développement territorial, avec une attention particulière pour les territoires côtiers et ruraux. La programmation de recherche que je développe sur les systèmes alimentaires alternatifs et les formes collectives d’organisation économique et sociale au sein des communautés côtières est ainsi ancrée dans la Péninsule acadienne, à Moncton et dans les autres municipalités du Nouveau Brunswick en général.

Student roles:
La personne étudiante travaillera sur 3 ou 4 aspects du projet:
- elle réalisera la revue systématique de la littérature avec la méthode PRISMA ou Rayyan QCR des publications scientifiques évaluées par les pairs en anglais et en français et de la littérature gris sur les études de cas au Canada en général et au NB en particulier sur une période allant de 2015 à 2025. Elle sera aidée par un membre de l'équipe à l'étape de la selection finale qui nécessite la lecture intégrale des articles en anglais
- elle contribuera à l'analyse et à la synthèse des résultats de la revue systématique de la littérature;
- elle participera aux entrevues d’une vingtaine des personnes immigrantes sur la pratique de jardinage alimentaire domestique,
- enfin, selon ses intérêts, elle pourra également si elle le souhaite, participer aux activités de diffusion des premiers résultats de la recherche (conception de podcasts, organisation de café scientifique, etc.)

Skills required:
La personne étudiante devra maîtriser la langue française à l'oral et à l'écrit. Pour l'anglais, une comprehension des résumés d'articles scientifiques suffira sachant que ce sera une autre personne étudiante qui effectuera la lecture intégrale des articles en anglais une fois ceux-ci identifiés.
Une connaissance, ou une une volonté d'apprendre rapidement, des méthodes PRISMA ou Rayyan QCRI est également demandée.
Enfin, une capacité d'analyse est également attendue de la part de la personne étudiante.
Un intérêt pour la vulgarisation des connaissances (podcasts, café scientifique, etc.) serait un plus, mais pas obligatoire.

Research area: The research group of Dr. Santos has been at the forefront of studying opportunities to deploy enhanced rock weathering as a large-scale approach to remove atmospheric CO2 to combat climate change. Canada has resources of minerals that can rapidly drawdown CO2 from air when they are mined, crushed and spread onto land, and these same minerals have been shown to promote soil and plant health in such a way that they can replace or work alongside traditional soil amendments, such as fertilizers and limestone. The complexity of crop systems, soils and regional climates calls for continued research to guide deployment.

Student roles:
The project activities will be divided into three main tasks: (1) studying the transport, in soils and subsoils, of alkaline earth metals that are released from applied minerals; (2) understanding how climatic conditions affect soil properties and mineral weathering reactions; (3) investigating how various crop systems can benefit from mineral amendment. Each student will work on one of these tasks, and the work can involve lab experiments, field experiments, modeling, and sample analysis.
The first intern, studying reactive transport, will run column and lysimeter experiments to identify the rate of weathering and determine the most reliable techniques to verify carbon sequestration. The second intern, focusing on climatic conditions, will build analytical models at watershed scales to predict long-term carbon drawdown in different regions across Canada. The third intern, investigating agronomic benefits to plants and soils, will identify opportunities for replacement of traditional soil conditioners with mineral amendments and perform potting trials to verify the efficacy of proposed replacements.
These tasks require iterative research, so interns can expect many trials and close assistance from the research team. Interns will be encouraged to explore ideas, be exposed to complex questions, and be challenged to innovate. With assistance from the research team, the interns will have a chance to see how electron microscopy, X-ray analysis, thermal analysis, among other instrumental lab techniques, are performed using high-end equipment. It is expected that the research results will add value to ongoing efforts by the research team, and where possible the interns will be able co-author conference and/or journal publications.

Skills required:
Interns should have an academic background in agricultural sciences, earth sciences, food sciences, or engineering. A diverse team will preferably be assembled.
Interns should also have some formal training on performing laboratory work, ideally including experience with designing/planning experiments and using analytical instruments to characterize samples, and also some experience in performing field work, such as collecting environmental samples.
Mitacs interns will work closely with graduate students and other researchers, so an aptitude for team work, professionalism, and good communications skills are important.
Students will benefit from most this project if they are inquisitive, self-motivated, and resourceful.

Research area: Dr. Balshine and her research laboratory, ABEL has investigated the behaviour of the round goby from the beginning of its settlement in Lake Ontario. Dr. Balshine is an international expert in fish behaviour and specifically has expertise with the particular invasive fish species that the proposal is focussed on, the round goby. Dr. Balshine works closely on this project with Dr. Grant McClelland who built his ecophysiology lab at McMaster in 2003.

Student roles:
The student(s) will sample and characterize the demography of the invasive round goby populations by comprehensive sampling fish using minnow traps along a 500m edge region and then repeat sampling at established populations where round goby have been present for 20 years or more. All fish caught will be sexed, measured and tissues will be collected for later diet, age, foodweb analyses. A sample of the fish caught will also be used for behavioural and physiological experiments that are part of a larger project.

Additionally, the student may help determine the range of temperatures tolerated by individuals using well established thermal tolerance tests, where fish lose equilibrium at their lower and upper critical temperatures. As well they may assess the tolerance to low dissolved oxygen levels by reducing oxygen to a point where fish can no longer maintain resting oxygen consumption (the critical PO2, or Pcrit) and the point of a loss of equilibrium (LOE), another metric of tolerance to low oxygen.

Skills required:
Ideally we would like to recruit students interested in ecology, physiology, conservation biology and animal behaviour. If you are comfortable around the water and with fish handling and capture this will be a big asset. If you have an interest and some experience with field work and any previous training in aquatic sciences, water quality assessment, enzyme, physiological or behavioural analyses these skills and background will also be super helpful.

Research area: Our research will unfold in three phases. In Phase 1, through land-based water camps, we will identify Indigenous traditional water knowledge, practices and tools used to mitigate water risk by collecting stories and starting discussions amongst Indigenous Elders, Knowledge-keepers, and leaders representing three highly affected Saskatchewan communities. In Phase 2, we will facilitate the development of a community-led evaluation framework for identifying and evaluating alternative water governance options characterized by different Indigenous knowledge and values. In Phase 3, we will create community-led policy dialogues with industry and government to improve practice and policy by engaging with activists, providing Indigenous communities

Student roles:
The student will perform literature reviews, review data, prepare papers and reports, meet with Indigenous communities, attend cultural events and camps.

Skills required:
The student who works on this project needs to be curious, open minded, a good writer and communicator.

Research area: My research focuses on environmental health and Ecohealth approaches. I am interested in the effects of environmental contaminants, including metals, PFAS, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, on human health and ecosystems. My work aims to better understand the links between environment, health, and society by integrating biological, social, and community perspectives. I am also interested in environmental risk perception, exposure inequalities, and knowledge mobilization to support informed decision-making and interventions tailored to community needs.

Student roles:
The student will contribute to several stages of the research project. Activities will include conducting a literature review on environmental risk perception and existing tools used to assess perceptions and concerns related to environmental contaminants. The student will help identify, synthesize, and organize relevant scientific information to support questionnaire development.

The student will also participate in drafting, reviewing, and refining questionnaire items. Depending on the project's progress, they may contribute to consultations with experts and stakeholders and assist in analyzing feedback collected during the validation process.

The student will be involved in quantitative analyses related to the assessment of the questionnaire’s psychometric properties, including internal consistency and reliability. They will also contribute to the interpretation of findings and the preparation of scientific and knowledge mobilization materials.

Throughout the internship, the student will gain practical experience in environmental health research, research methodology, questionnaire development and validation, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization. The project will provide valuable interdisciplinary research experience at the intersection of environment, health, and society.

Skills required:
Strong interest in environmental health, environmental sciences, public health, psychology, sociology, or a related field. Curiosity, autonomy, attention to detail, and strong written communication skills are essential. Experience with literature reviews, data analysis, or research methods is considered an asset. An interest in interdisciplinary approaches and the ability to work collaboratively are also desirable. Knowledge of questionnaires, psychometrics, or survey research methods would be beneficial but is not required.

Research area: Prof Prieto-Espinoza's research focuses on contaminant hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. Her work focuses on understanding the transport, transfer, transformation and remediation of various contaminants in groundwater flow systems.

Student roles:
Extract porewaters from core samples; Characterize core samples (texture, granulometry, carbon, moisture content); Prepare aqueous and gas samples for chemical analysis; Interpret data and provide geochemical profiles of PFAS in local soils.

Skills required:
Adaptability to lab work, analytical skills, critical thinking and good organization.The ideal student possesses some experience with the manipulation of field and laboratory samples. Knowledge of hydrogeology, soil hydrology and environmental chemistry is welcome. However, students are encouraged to apply and learn about this subject.

Research area: Research at the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainable innovation Focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their performance Study of big data analytics and AI capabilities to enhance innovation and sustainability outcomes Interest in green innovation and circular economy Examination of the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR), data governance, and dynamic capabilities Emphasis on the responsible and ethical use of digital technologies Use of mixed research methods (systematic literature reviews, bibliometric analysis, qualitative case studies)

Student roles:
Conduct a comprehensive literature review on responsible AI, circular economy, and data governance
Assist in the development of the research framework and research questions
Participate in the design of the research methodology
Support data collection activities (e.g., interviews, surveys, secondary data)
Contribute to the interpretation and discussion of research findings
Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, and academic papers

Skills required:
Strong interest in artificial intelligence, sustainability, and circular economy
Capacity to review and synthesize academic and professional literature
Good written and oral communication skills (English or French)
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research environment

Research area: My research uses remote sensing technologies, including satellite imagery and passive acoustic sensors, together with GIS and environmental data analysis to study ecosystem functioning, structure, biodiversity, phenology, carbon dynamics, and environmental change. A core focus of my research is the development and validation of remote sensing models that estimate ecological indicators and environmental variables from sensor data. These models integrate field measurements with remotely sensed data to estimate ecosystem properties across space and time. Through this work, I aim to improve our understanding of ecosystem processes and support environmental monitoring, conservation, and evidence-based resource management.

Student roles:
The students will assist in the different phases of the project, including literature review, field data collection, acoustic and geospatial data collection and processing, statistical and machine-learning analyses, and the interpretation of relationships between bird diversity and environmental characteristics derived from remote sensing data. The students will also contribute to the preparation of reports. Training and mentorship will be provided in areas where additional knowledge or technical skills are required.

Skills required:
Candidates should have strong skills/background in GIS and Remote Sensing. Some knowledge about vegetation processes would be needed to understand the application of GIS and Remote Sensing to vegetation monitoring.
GIS and data collection skills needed include, but not limited to:
- Atmospheric corrections of satellite data, Georeferencing / ortho rectification of satellite data
- Vector and raster analysis: clipping; overlay; local, focal, zonal and global functions
- Programming (python)
- Satellite data collection, and Field data collection

The following are considered assets:
- Statistical analysis using R or other software (SPSS, SAS, etc)
- Google Earth Engine programming

Research area: My group carries out research on the functioning and importance of vegetated coastal ecosystems, notably salt marshes and mangroves. Plant-soil interactions are often central to our research questions. By integrating state-of-the-art tools such as flumes, CT scanners, eDNA, and remote sensing, we develop innovative interdisciplinary approaches to better understand and predict ecosystem dynamics.

Student roles:
The student will support the ongoing research activities of the group either in the field, in the lab or via desktop-based activities. Additionally, the student will have the opportunity to develop and/or carry-out a mini-research project on vegetated coastal ecosystems.

Skills required:
Interest in soil-plant interactions and/or coastal ecosystems and processes, Basic laboratory skills in the beforementioned areas, Ability to perform literature researches, Data analysis skills using softwares such as R. Basic French language skills or the willingness to learn some French will be advantageous in Quebec.

Research area: My research is at the confluence of infrastructure and construction management with data analytics. I have contributed to the development of Ontario Excess Soil Regulation (O. Reg. 406/19) and its application to pits and quarries.

Student roles:
Literature review, data collection, interview

Skills required:
Environmental engineering, soil and water contamination, invasive species, excess soil

Research area: My research group focuses on the design and implementation of environmentally sustainable pathways with a reliance on light energy as the primary driving force (photocatalysis) for many of the reactions of interest. This approach has been used in a multifaceted, interdisciplinary research program at the interface of materials science, nanochemistry and photocatalysis to explore novel means of pollutant degradation, improved organic transformations of industrially relevant chemical feedstock synthesis (the focus of this project), clean energy (hydrogen) evolution. Successful interns will be able to gain experience in many of these areas to afford a diverse internship opportunity.

Student roles:
In this position, you will be mainly responsible for aiding the conceptuatization and testing of a series of solar light activated materials for hydrogen fuel generation, to be transitioned, via flow cell technology, towards industrial settings and real world, off-grid applications. The successful candidate needs to be willing to work in a fast paced, collaborative environment with the desire to expand independent research skills.

Duties/Responsibilities:
• Preparation of solid, light-activated materials
• Systematic testing of materials for artificial- and sunlight promoted clean fuel technologies and sustainable chemical generation – with focus on chemicals of societal importance
• Data analysis
• Use of analytic techniques
• Informal and formal presentation of scientific results
• EDIA Training

Skills required:
• Currently be enrolled in or be a recent graduate of a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or Environmental Sciences
• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment
• Be able to work productively as part of a dynamic team of likeminded individuals while responding to feedback
• Be able to work productively as part of a dynamic team of likeminded individuals while responding to feedback