We seek a motivated PhD student to investigate hypotheses regarding the importance of lakemount environments as ecological ‘hotspots’ in the Great Lakes and their role in supporting offshore fish production. Thanks to funding from Parks Canada, the PhD stipend for the work is guaranteed at $40,000 CAD per year for three years and is open to both domestic and international students, with additional opportunities for scholarship funding for a 4th year, with an anticipated start date of May or September 2026. The work is being conducted with collaborators at Parks Canada, the Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Windsor and the University of Vermont.

We particularly encourage students with experience and/or interest in the analysis of hydroacoustic data and/or data collected through ADCPs and gliders. Interest or experience in the use and interpretation of stable isotopes for assessing energy flow through aquatic food webs is also a Field work will include several open water missions on board large ships on the Great Lakes, with a focus on Lake Superior lakemounts (including Superior Shoal).

International students interested in applying will be encouraged to apply to an institutional (Lakehead) allocation from the recently announced Canada Research Impact + Training Awards.Details on the nomination process for Lakehead will be available early in the new year.

The student will be based at the Thunder Bay campus at Lakehead University.

Interested students should e-mail mrennie[at]lakeheadu.ca with a one-page letter of interest, a curriculum vitae and copies of recent transcripts (unofficial are sufficient).