Graduate Programs in Environment & Geography
Student Profiles
Ph.D. Students and Projects
Fowzia Ahmed
Supervisor: Dr. C.J. Mundy
Thesis topic: Nutrient dynamics of sea ice algae in the Arctic
ahmedf6@myumanitoba.ca
Elvis Asihene
Supervisors: Dr. Dustin Isleifson, Dr. Colin Gilmore
Thesis topic: Remote sensing techniques to detect and characterize oil spills in the Arctic sea ice
asihenee@myumanitoba.ca
Atreya Basu
Supervisors: Dr. Jens Ehn, Dr. Simon Bélanger
Thesis topic: Optical oceanography, in satellite and in-situ based remote sensing approaches, to study the water optical constituents (SPM and CDOM) in relation to the aquatic environment.
basua@myumanitoba.ca
David Babb
Supervisors: Dr. Ryan Galley, Dr. David Barber
Thesis topic: Sea Ice Transport in the Beaufort Gyre
david.babb@umanitoba.ca
Debangshu Banerjee
Supervisors: Dr. Karen Alley, Dr. Dorthe Dahl Jensen
Thesis topic: Antarctic Ice shelf stability and Ice-Ocean Interaction
banerjed@myumanitoba.ca
Tonya Burgers
Supervisor: Dr. Tim Papakyriakou
Thesis topic: The marine carbon cycle in Baffin Bay and Nares Strait, including specific biogeochemical processes that affect the cycling of inorganic carbon
burgertm@myumanitoba.ca
Vaishali Chaudhary
Supervisors: Dr. Julienne Stroeve, Dr. Dustin Isleifson
Thesis topic: SAR Remote Sensing of Sea Ice to Detect Ice Break-Up Events in the Canadian Arctic
chaudh23@myumanitoba.ca
Veronica Coppolaro
Supervisors: Dr. David Barber, Dr. Marianne Marcoux
Thesis topic: Passive acoustic monitoring of Arctic marine mammals and influence of human activities and a changing Arctic on their populations and habitat use
coppolav@myumanitoba.ca
Durell Desmond
Supervisors: Dr. Gary Stern, Dr. Dustin Isleifson, Dr. David Barber
Thesis topic: Remote sensing detection and mitigation of oil in sea ice
umdesmod@myumanitoba.ca
Aura Diaz
Supervisors: Dr. Jens Ehn, Dr. Tim Papakyriakou
Thesis topic: Study and characterization of the processes that can slow or fast-track sea ice melt progression
umdiaza@myumanitoba.ca
Brock Edwards
Supervisors: Dr. Feiyue Wang, Dr. Peter Outridge
Thesis topic: Investigating volcanic and geothermal mercury emissions in Iceland
brock.edwards@umanitoba.ca
Zhiyuan (Jeff) Gao
Supervisor: Dr. Feiyue Wang
Thesis topic: Interactions between mercury species and organic compounds
gaoz3459@myumanitoba.ca
Laura Gasque-Belz
Supervisors: Dr. Mark Hanson, Dr. Markus Hecker
Thesis topic: Risk assessment of legacy contaminated sites: Bioassay-driven analysis of complex mixtures in fish
gasquel@myumanitoba.ca
Kaushik Gupta
Supervisors: Dr. Jens Ehn, Dr. David Barber
Thesis topic: Landfast ice in the Canadian Sub-Arctic: Monitoring, Processes and Impacts
Guptak1@myumanitoba.ca
Braedon Humeniuk
Supervisors: Dr. Mark Hanson, Dr. Jose Luis Rodriguez Gil
Thesis topic: Assessing the ecological risk associated with salinity and salinization in Canadian freshwaters using the Lake Winnipeg watershed as a case study
humeniub@myumanitoba.ca
Nicole Loeb
Supervisors: Dr. Julienne Stroeve, Dr. John Hanesiak
Thesis topic: Using high-resolution climate models to study changes in extreme precipitation events in the Baffin Bay region over the 21st century, and how those changes lead to mass changes in the region’s ice caps and glaciers
loebn@myumanitoba.ca
Kimberly Ovitz
Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Loseto
Thesis topic: The co-interpretation of spatial data by traditional knowledge holders and western scientists to facilitate the co-production of new knowledge on beluga movement ecology in the Beaufort Sea under a changing climate
ovitzk@myumanitoba.ca
Chris Peck
Supervisors: Dr. Jens Ehn, Dr. Zou Zou Kuzyk
Thesis topic: The concentration of suspended sediment and its potential impacts on declining eelgrass beds in various locations across the Hudson Bay
peckc@myumanitoba.ca
Kasia Polcwiartek
Supervisors: Dr. Feiyue Wang, Dr. Gary Stern
Thesis topic: Interphase partitioning and fate of petrogenic PAHs and BTEX in sea ice following oil spills
polcwika@myumanitoba.ca
Luke Storrie
Supervisors: Dr. David Barber, Dr. Lisa Loseto
Thesis topic: Impacts of climate change on Beaufort Sea beluga whales, using satellite telemetry data to learn about their dive behavior and habitat use
storriel@myumanitoba.ca
Enooyaq Sudlovenick
Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Loseto
Thesis topic: Looking at the health of marine mammals through pathology and exposure to pollutants, impacts on human health, incorporated with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) through project ideas, methodological approaches, and interpretation
sudlovee@myumanitoba.ca
Esdoorn Willcox
Supervisors: Dr. Søren Rysgaard, Dr. Ryan Galley
Thesis topic: How solutes in the sea ice-brine system (gases, salts, nutrients) vary with changes in initial conditions and freezing regime
willcoxe@myumanitoba.ca
Kedong Zhang
Supervisor: Dr. Feiyue Wang
Thesis topic: Oil spill response in the Arctic, especially the cryospheric photochemistry in the ice-infested environment
zhangk10@myumanitoba.ca
Masters Students and Projects
Meaghan Bartley
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Zou Zou Kuzyk
Thesis topic: Records of organic carbon and mercury in sediments from James Bay, Canada
bartleym@myumanitoba.ca
Gerald Beta
Program: M.Env.
Supervisor: Dr Stephane McLachlan
Thesis topic: An evaluation of Health and environmental impacts of hydroelectric developments across Manitoba First Nations
betag@myumanitoba.ca
Katarina Djordjevic
Program: M.Env.
Supervisor: Dr. Jonathan Peyton
Thesis topic: Manitoba’s Hydrological Landscape: Encountering Settler Colonialism in Energy Development
djordjek@myumanitoba.ca
William Dowie
Program: M.Env.
Supervisors: Dr. John Sinclair, Dr. Rick Baydack
Thesis topic: Residential-scale ecological design: helping the urban realm move towards greater sustainability, resilience, and regeneration.
umdowie@myumanitoba.ca
Enoil de Souza Júnior
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Dr. John Hanesiak
Thesis topic: Arctic warming and its possible linkages to low-latitudes
enoil@myumanitoba.ca
Rebecca (Becky) Filopoulos
Program: M.Env.
Supervisor: Stephane McLachlan
Thesis Topic: Exploring technologies that facilitate Indigenous research and data sovereignty.
filopour@umanitoba.ca
Agoston Fischer
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Dr. David Barber
Thesis topic: Observing the optical properties of water across a continuum of salinity gradients (freshwater-brackish-marine) in Manitoba through remote sensing and in-situ sampling
fischer5@myumanitoba.ca
Kari Green
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Dr. Eric Collins
Thesis topic: My current research interests are focused on microbial ecology in extreme environments. Using a large metagenomic dataset, my research investigates the characterization, distribution, and function of archaea in Arctic ecosystems
greenk37@myumanitoba.ca
Heather Jovanovic
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. Jose Luis Rodriguez-Gil, Dr. Mark Hanson
Thesis topic: Investigating the fate and effects of pharmaceuticals in freshwater ecosystems, focusing specifically on the mixture toxicity of common antidepressant and antipsychotic medications
jovanovh@myumanitoba.ca
Fiona Lebar
Program: M.Env.
Supervisor: Stephane McLachlan
Thesis Topic: Exploring northern Manitoba Métis food sovereignty through the use of community gardens
lebarf@myumanitoba.ca
Patricia S. Montalvo-Rodriguez
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. Lisa Loseto, Dr. Sara Good
Thesis topic: Characterizing Gut Microbiota in Wild-Caught and Lab-Reared Larval Sea Lamprey Under Different Feeding Regimes
montalvp@myumanitoba.ca
Hakeem Omilowo
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Dr. Vince Palace, Dr. Mark Hanson
Thesis topic: Effect of oil spills on Periphyton Communities in a Freshwater Environment
omilowoh@myumanitoba.ca
Katelyn Rodgers
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. David Barber, Dr. Greg McCullough
Thesis topic: Annual and seasonal changes in nutrient loading and runoff in Swan and Woody Rivers (Lake Winnipegosis Watershed)
rodgersk@myumanitoba.ca
Monojit Saha
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. Julienne Stroeve, Dr. Dustin Isleifson
Thesis topic: Using satellite altimetry to monitor snow on sea ice distribution in the Canadian Arctic
saham1@myumanitoba.ca
Adam Scott
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. Mark Hanson, Dr. Jose Luis Rodriguez-Gil
Thesis topic: Effects of Oil Spills on Amphibian species in Canada, specifically looking at effects on Wood Frog development in a freshwater ecosystem
scotta39@myumanitoba.ca
Emma Sutherland
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Dr. Lisa Loseto
Thesis topic: Using satellite telemetry to explore decadal changes in migration and energetics for belugas in the Eastern Beaufort Sea
suther62@myumanitoba.ca
Emily Thoroski
Program: M.Env.
Supervisors: Dr. Rick Baydack
Thesis topic: Using Media Tools to Promote Science and to help to Educate the Public on Environmental Conservation
thoroske@myumanitoba.ca
Leanna Wiebe
Program: M.Env.
Supervisor: Dr. Rick Baydack
Thesis topic: Socioeconomic drivers and barriers influencing implementation of water retention and wetland conservation projects: Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives in the Swan Lake Watershed
fehrl3@myumanitoba.ca
Kiran Yendamuri
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisors: Dr. C.J. Mundy, Dr. Julienne Stroeve
Thesis topic: Determining primary production timing and magnitude in the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic using multi-year oceanographic mooring and satellite data
yendamuk@myumanitoba.ca
Kate Yezhova
Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: Dr. Tim Papakyriakou
Thesis topic: Assessment of Ocean Acidification for the Southampton Island Region
yezhovay@myumanitoba.ca
Department Resources
Forms
Milestone Checklists
Registration Approval Form (generally due before Fall term, covers both Fall and Winter)
Resources
Milestone instructions
You must pass various milestone meetings and presentations during your degree. A quick list of how to prepare for each is below. Find full details in the Supplementary Regulations. All meetings can be held in person, virtually, or a hybrid.
Master's Proposal
- No need to register for anything specific.
- Read the Proposal section in your Supp Regs (6.7.1.1).
- Confirm committee with advisor. Can check with Coordinator (Celia) to make sure committee is adequate (Supp Regs 6.5.2).
- Confirm with your advisor that your written proposal is adequate for the meeting, and send it to your committee members. (Typically 10 - 20 pages.)
- Arrange a date for your committee to meet. No outside chair is necessary. Does not need to be advertised or open to visitors.
- Tell the Coordinator so the FGS form can be prepped before the meeting.
Master's Thesis Defence
- Register for GRAD 7000 the term you may want to defend. (No penalties for doing this multiple terms.)
- Read the “Style and Format” section about the thesis (6.8) in the Supp Regs.
- Consult FGS’s “Submit your thesis” page, for the thesis submission deadline for the term you want to graduate (ignore the PhD section).
- Confirm with Coordinator (Celia) that Appointment of Examiners Form is turned into Graduate Coordinator at least a month before you want to defend.
- Send Thesis draft to advisor.
- Advisor sends (or tells you to send) Thesis draft to whole committee, at least three weeks before intended defence date.
- Read the “Oral Examination” section of the Supp Regs (6.7.1.3).
- Set defence date, and at the same time, make sure your advisor picks a Chair for the defence (must come from Dept). Tell Coordinator these details.
- Coordinator makes a poster and distributes to your colleagues at least a week ahead of time. Must be open to visitors, either virtually or in person.
- Defend!
- Chair or Advisor gives signed paperwork to Coordinator, who sends to FGS (may be delayed until after revisions).
- Revise thesis based on comments; get advisor’s approval.
- Submit thesis to MSpace.
- Graduate and enjoy your degree!
Ph.D. Proposal
- Normally within the first 18 months.
- No need to register for anything specific.
- Read the Proposal section in the Supp Regs (7.9).
- Confirm committee with advisor. Can check with Coordinator to make sure committee is adequate (7.2.4).
- Confirm with your advisor that your proposal is adequate, and send it to your committee members. (Typically 20 - 40 pages.)
- Arrange a date for your committee to meet; include Grad Chair in scheduling--needs to chair meeting or designate another chair.
- Tell Coordinator about your time/date/title of the proposal defence at least 3 weeks in advance.
- Coordinator advertises at least a week ahead of time. Must be open to visitors.
- If the proposal is accepted (sometimes with revisions), your committee signs the form and returns it in to the Coordinator. If it is not acceptable, make arrangements with the committee to try again within one term.
Ph.D. Candidacy Exam
- Normally within the first 3 years; must be completed at least one year before graduation.
- Register for GRAD 8010 the term you may want to hold the exam. (No penalties for doing this multiple terms.)
- Read the Candidacy Examination section of the Supp Regs (7.8). Pay attention to specifics around committee members participating remotely, if necessary. Currently must be all by videoconference.
- Advisor & Committee arranges your question/procedure and scheduling.
- Turn in your written response.
- Advisor schedules exam date; include Grad Chair in scheduling, who needs to find a chair for the meeting; tell Coordinator at least 3 weeks in advance.
- Coordinator advertises the open portion of your exam to your colleagues at least a week ahead of time. Must be open to visitors.
- If the exam is passed, the committee signs the form and returns it to the Coordinator. If it is not passed, make arrangements with the committee to try again within 6 months.
Ph.D. Defence
- Register for GRAD 8000 the term you may want to defend. (No penalties for doing this multiple terms.)
- Read the Thesis sections of the Supp Regs (7.10 to 7.12).
- Consult FGS’s “Submit your thesis” page, for the thesis submission date recommendation for the term you want to graduate.
- Confirm with your advisor(s), then send draft to your committee members with "Approval to proceed form."
- Advisor(s) gathers a list of 3 potential External examiners. (New rules require advisor or coordinator to contact them to confirm availability in advance.)
- Committee members must sign the Approval to Proceed form.
- Upload the draft and Approval to Proceed form to the Thesis portal.
What happens next?
- Advisor is asked for potential externals.
- WAITING
- FGS picks an external and sends the draft to all examiners.
- All examiners submit comments to the portal within 4 weeks.
- FGS returns comments to advisor.
- If the thesis is deemed defensible, the student receives the comments, and the advisor works to set the defence date with all examiners.
- Candidate sends FGS biographical data, abstract, etc, as asked for in the Guidelines document sent with examiners' comments
- Tell FGS and the Coordinator (Celia) the defence date at least 2 weeks before; include details about any virtual attendance
- FGS will pick a Chair for the defence, with help of advisors/department.
- Coordinator distributes a poster to invite your colleagues. Must be open to visitors.
- Defend!
- Chair gives signed paperwork to FGS; other form may be kept by advisor(s) until any revisions are completed. If the defence is not passed, talk to advisor about next steps, possible second defence.
- Revise thesis based on comments; get advisor’s approval.
- Submit thesis to MSpace.
- Graduate and enjoy your degree!
International Student Resources
Application Requirements for Graduate Programs
- All graduate programs require at 3.0 incoming GPA, and some require higher. Please check with the individual programs.
- In addition, many students must submit an English Proficiency exam score.
Living Expenses and Arrangements
- Housing options (UMGSA)
- Living expenses (UMGSA)
- Renting/Leasing info
Health Care
- FAQ about the UM's required International Student Plan (MISHP)
- MISHP website
General International Student Questions
Instalment plan for tuition
- International students can apply to pay tuition in an instalment plan, contact stdntfee@umanitoba.ca
UM Graduate Student Resources
Indigenous Student Resources
- Campus Indigenous resources centre/Migizii Agamik
- SAGE - Supporting Aboriginal Graduate Enhancement
- Ashley Edson, Indigenous Graduate Student Success Coordinator
Library Resources
- Faculty liaison librarian & Environment, Earth, and Resources library resources guide
- GIS and Data Visualization librarian & GIS Geovisualization resources guide
- Research tools and support services
- Library workshops & events
Teaching/Learning Resources
- The Academic Learning Center provides hour or half-hour long appointments with a writing specialist. Select the Grad Student Writing option, and choose one of the specialists recommended for graduate students.
- Graduate Teaching Program
- Graduate Student Workshops
UM Grad Student Association
Contact us
Department of Environment and Geography
Room 220 Sinnott Building
70 Dysart Road
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2M6 Canada