McGill University in Canada has announced fully funded MSc and PhD research opportunities for students interested in radar remote sensing and Arctic sea ice research. The positions are available through the university’s Polar Remote Sensing Research Group for the Fall 2027 intake.
The opportunities are open to international students, including applicants from Pakistan. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will receive preference for the MSc position. Funding for both positions will be provided through a combination of an award, research assistantship and teaching assistantship.
The research will focus on using radar remote sensing and satellite observations to study Arctic sea ice. Students will work with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data and develop research experience in polar remote sensing. Selected students may also have the opportunity to participate in Arctic field campaigns during their studies.
The MSc project will focus on SAR-based characterization of sea ice in the Canadian Arctic. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in geography, environmental science, physics, engineering, computer science or a closely related field.
Candidates applying for the MSc position should have strong programming skills and an interest in Arctic research. Experience in remote sensing, GIS, geophysics or satellite imagery can strengthen an application. Previous experience with radar data is useful but is not mandatory for the MSc position.
For the PhD opportunity, applicants are expected to hold an MSc degree in remote sensing, geography, physics, engineering or a related discipline. Candidates should have advanced programming skills and practical experience working with radar data.
The PhD research will involve areas such as multi-frequency SAR data, radar backscatter, polarimetry, large satellite datasets, cloud-based platforms and machine learning. Strong scientific writing skills are also required. Research experience, including a first-author publication or manuscript in preparation, can be beneficial.
Both positions are described as fully funded through a combination of scholarship awards, research assistantships and teaching assistantships. The opportunities are designed to provide students with academic and practical research experience in polar remote sensing.
Students selected for the programs may also take part in Arctic field campaigns. This could provide direct exposure to field-based sea ice research and complement their work with satellite and radar data.
Interested students are advised to contact Dr. Mallik Mahmud before submitting their formal graduate application. Applicants should briefly explain their academic or research background and research interests. They should also attach a CV and unofficial academic transcript when contacting the supervisor.
The application deadline for the McGill University Geography Department is January 15, 2027. Students interested in these opportunities should contact the research group early and complete the formal graduate application before the deadline.
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