MSc - Aquatic Ecology - reconstructing historical fish introductions & biodiversity impacts

Reconstructing historical aquatic communities and documenting human-mediated fish introductions using sedimentary DNA in parc national du lac-Témiscouata, Québec

Start: May or Sept 2025 – ideally May 2025

in the department of biological sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal Q

A MSc opportunity in aquatic ecology is available with

Prof. Alison Derry, department of biological sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal  

in co-supervision with Prof. Andrew Hendry, department of biology, McGill University

and Dr. Grant Haines (Hólar University, Iceland).

Canadian freshwater habitats are changing rapidly due to climate change, invasive species, and human development. Threespine stickleback fish are an important node for these dynamics because they are a key part of freshwater ecosystems in their role as a predator of invertebrates and prey for larger fish and birds.

Many of the stickleback habitats in Eastern Canada are being heavily modified by human activity, and information regarding biodiversity and the evolutionary dynamics of the species are needed to inform efforts to maintain ecosystem services benefiting commerce and recreation.

We will focus on threespine stickleback populations in a cluster of lakes in Québec's Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata that have undergone rapid evolutionary adaptation of defensive spines since brook trout stocking began less than 60 years ago. We will apply sedimentary environmental DNA to uncover ecological shifts in aquatic biodiversity and communities over time linked with human-stocking of brook trout and subsequent evolutionary changes in the three-spine stickleback. The project will contribute to management and conservation plans for Parc national du Lac-Témiscouata for protecting stickleback habitat and mitigating invasion impacts.

We will work in close partnership with the Sépaq (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec), le Parc National du Lac-Témiscouata, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Freshwater Habitat Science research group).

The successful candidate will benefit from training in aquatic ecology, field research, paleolimnology, and molecular applications in environmental DNA. The successful candidate will benefit from a strong scientific core in aquatic sciences at UQAM, and they will work in a collaborative and dynamic environment in Montreal.

The successful candidate will:

- have graduated or be closed to graduating with a BSc - ideally in biology

- Ideally bilingual (FR/EN)

- Have at least the ability to communicate in French

- have taken at least one course or have experience in aquatic ecology and molecular biology

- Will receive a scholarship of a minimum of $18,000/year for two years

To apply, send an e-mail to Prof. Alison Derry, Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal: [email protected]

Please include: your curriculum vitae, transcripts (“unofficial” format is sufficient at this stage) and the contact details of at least one reference (who can comment on your scientific abilities).