A master's-level research project is available at the Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), to study the microbial ecology of flooded underground mines in Quebec and Ontario. When mines are closed, they are flooded with groundwater. In addition to releasing many trace metals into the soil while they are in operation, when the mine stops its activity and the groundwater rises from the bottom, it carries with it all the waste – including trace metals – resulting from mining. This creates aquatic environments with unique environmental characteristics. However, the link between contamination and underground microbial communities and surface microbial communities remains understudied. This project therefore aims to: 1) analyze the diversity (taxonomic and functional) of microbial communities in two abandoned mines, 2) study the diversity of microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems connected to old mines, 3) establish the potential impact of contamination in underground mines on surface communities.
The candidate will receive training in microbial ecology, aquatic systems ecology, genomics and metagenomics, metallomics, bioinformatics, and experimental research. The candidate will have the opportunity to go into the field for sampling. The candidate will collaborate with technical divers. The successful candidate will benefit from a dynamic work and research environment in the field of aquatic sciences at UQAM and within the GRIL, Ecotoq, and Geotop research groups. In addition, this project will be co-supervised by Prof. Maikel Rosabal (UQAM), involving the study of trace metals in the mines, and Violaine Ponsin, geochemist.
The successful candidate will ideally have an undergraduate degree in Biology or Environmental Sciences, demonstrate research potential, and show a keen interest in microbial ecology and aquatic ecology. Experience in microbiology, molecular biology, statistical analysis, and/or bioinformatics will be considered an asset.
The start date is September 2025 or January 2026. Interested applicants are requested to send a cover letter (maximum 1 page) and a CV to:
Cassandre Lazar, Associate Professor
Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
lazar.cassandre [at] uqam.ca (lazar[dot]cassandre[at]uqam[dot]ca)