The LEMR and GEO labs in the Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics at the University of Guelph invite applications for a fully funded PhD position to lead an innovative project that integrates satellite and drone remote sensing with tropical community ecology.

The project aims to uncover how macro-scale environmental variation shapes local lemur species richness, occurrence, and interactions in the hyper-diverse, endemic, and threatened dry forests of western Madagascar. The student will pair high-resolution remote sensing data (LiDAR, multispectral satellite imagery, UAVs, and GIS) with intensive ground-based monitoring to investigate how forest structure, composition, and dynamics drive species assembly and disassembly. Research themes include scale effects, novel remote sensing tools from emerging satellite missions, and the use of remotely sensed data to infer biotic processes such as environmental filtering, competition, and niche differentiation.

The position focuses on advanced computational and data-driven modeling and may include rugged, hands-on fieldwork. The student will have access to existing field data and may conduct their own field seasons in Madagascar before returning to Guelph to build predictive macroecological models. The package includes access to world-class computational facilities, analytical mentorship, and international field experience in a global biodiversity hotspot.

Applicants should hold an MSc (or equivalent experience) in Ecology, Remote Sensing, Geography, Forestry, Environmental Science, or a related field. Strong quantitative skills (R, Python, and GIS/remote sensing software), a solid grounding in ecological theory, enthusiasm for fieldwork in remote tropical environments, and evidence of success obtaining grants or scholarships are expected. Applicants interested in an MSc related to this project are also encouraged to get in touch. The University of Guelph strongly encourages applications from groups underrepresented in STEM.

Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada, with fieldwork in western Madagascar
Position type: Fully funded PhD (4 years)
Funding: Competitive stipend and tuition coverage
Application deadline: December 1, 2026
Contact: Travis Steffens, tsteffen@uoguelph.ca
To apply: Send a single PDF with a cover letter (research interests and field experience), a current CV, and contact information for two academic references to tsteffen@uoguelph.ca