Location: University of Alberta, Canada
Lab: Forest Growth & Yield Lab
Supervisor: Dr. Robert Froese
Start Date: Open until filled
Funding: Fully funded
About the Opportunity
The Forest Growth & Yield Lab at the University of Alberta invites applications for a fully funded PhD position in Applied Remote Sensing, with a specific focus on assessing and mapping forest resilience across Canada. The selected student will work under the guidance of Dr. Robert Froese as part of the DIVERSE project, a national-scale initiative that aims to better understand forest ecosystem function and support climate-resilient forest management.
This PhD position is ideal for candidates passionate about forest ecology, remote sensing applications, and spatial analysis who want to contribute to impactful, interdisciplinary research.
Research Focus
The PhD research will support a key DIVERSE project theme:
Assessing and mapping functional diversity and redundancy at a national scale using remote sensing to develop forest resilience mapping.
Forests face increasing pressures from climate change, pest outbreaks, fire, and land-use changes. This project seeks to provide novel insights into how diverse forest ecosystems respond to stressors, by identifying areas with higher or lower resilience using advanced remote sensing techniques, ecological modeling, and geospatial analysis.
This work will directly support national forest management strategies and inform resilience-based decision-making frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
- Collect, preprocess, and analyze multi-source remote sensing data (e.g., LiDAR, hyperspectral, Sentinel, Landsat)
- Model functional diversity and redundancy of forest stands using spatial and ecological data
- Develop and validate forest resilience maps across diverse Canadian ecozones
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers and partner institutions involved in the DIVERSE project
- Present research findings at national and international conferences
- Publish results in peer-reviewed journals
Desired Qualifications
We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in forests, ecosystems, and geospatial technologies. Ideal candidates will possess:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Forestry, Remote Sensing, Ecology, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience with remote sensing tools and geospatial data analysis (e.g., using R, Python, or Google Earth Engine)
- A strong foundation in forest ecology, biodiversity, or ecosystem functioning
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Capacity for independent work and critical thinking
- GRE scores (optional, but can strengthen your application)
Familiarity with machine learning methods, spatial statistics, and/or data visualization is an asset but not required.
Why Join Us?
- Innovative Research: You’ll contribute to a national initiative tackling climate resilience and biodiversity loss.
- Supportive Environment: Work closely with experienced faculty and collaborators in a well-resourced lab.
- Professional Development: Gain access to networking, publishing, and conference opportunities.
- Location Advantage: The University of Alberta is a globally recognized institution located in Edmonton, a hub for environmental and forestry research in Canada.
Application Instructions
To apply, email Dr. Robert Froese ([email protected]) with the following documents:
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A cover letter (1–2 pages) describing your research interests, relevant skills/experience, and motivation for pursuing this PhD
- GRE scores (if available)
- Names and contact information for at least two academic or professional references
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position is open until filled, but early submissions are strongly encouraged.
Contact for Inquiries
Dr. Robert Froese
Email: [email protected]
Lab: University of Alberta – Forest Growth & Yield Lab
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the awarding organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
