Postdoctoral position – Indigenous Knowledge, Fish Health & Environmental Change (Université de Montréal)
Many communities across the Northwest Territories (NWT) rely on fish as a central component of their cultural identity, food security, and overall wellbeing. Local land users, Elders, and harvesters possess deep place-based expertise, built through generations of observation and experience, regarding how fish populations respond to shifting environmental conditions.
Project description
The NWT is facing cumulative impacts from accelerating climate change, resource development, and other
environmental stressors. These changes can alter water quality, disrupt habitats, influence reproductive cycles, and affect the abundance and distribution of key fish species. Land users across the NWT have been reporting changes to key fish species, such as different color, textures and smell of the flesh, changing fish parasites, and changing abundance and distribution. Integrating Traditional Knowledge (TK) with scientific methods can strengthen the capacity of governments and communities to respond proactively to emerging risks.
This project seeks to document and analyze that knowledge in a rigorous and respectful way to inform monitoring, management, and decision-making. This postdoctoral fellowship will support a multidisciplinary research project that investigates Indigenous TK related to fish health, habitat, reproduction, and stock dynamics to understand environmental change in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.
A core component of the fellowship will be meaningful community engagement. The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with Indigenous communities, regional partners, and a collaborative supervisory team to document TK related to fish health, including changes in body condition, behaviour, parasite load, timing of spawning, migration routes, and habitat use. The fellow will analyze these observations alongside existing ecological and environmental datasets to identify converging or contrasting patterns. The project will also explore how TK-based indicators can complement long-term monitoring programs and improve assessments of cumulative impacts on freshwater ecosystems. The project will be supervised by a multidisciplinary and multicenter team spanning the Université de Montréal, the University of Waterloo, the Government of NWT’s, NWT Cumulative Impacts Monitoring Program (NWT CIMP) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). This fellowship is funded by the NWT CIMP, whose mandate is to support research that enhances the understanding of cumulative impacts on caribou, water, and fish and supports effective resource management decision-making in the NWT.
Profile
Motivated, self-directed individuals with an interdisciplinary background are encouraged to apply.
Required profile:
• PhD in Environmental sciences, biological sciences, or another related field.
• Experience or academic knowledge in using qualitative methods, or strong interest in
qualitative approaches;
• Experience and strong interest in knowledge mobilisation approaches;
• Experience working or living with Indigenous communities (asset);
• Strong interest in fish (previous fish or ecology experience is an asset);
• Advanced manuscript writing (proven by peer-reviewed publications);
• Collaborative energy and good adaptation skills;
• Excellent understanding, writing and speaking of English (speaking of French is an asset).
At the time of hiring, the person must have completed their doctorate (PhD) within the last 3 years. The position is open to Canadian citizens, Canadian residents, and non-Canadians (according to the obtention of the visa on time). Support from UdeM International will be offered for immigration procedures if needed. Indigenous People (worldwide) are encouraged to apply.
Details on the position
The fellow will be based at Université de Montréal, in Montréal, Quebec, with frequent trips to the Northwest Territories, Canada. The position is starting in Spring/Summer 2026 (flexible).
Financial support: Training scholarship of a minimum of CAN$ 55 000/year for 2 years, at 35h/week. The successful candidate will also be required to submit scholarship applications to the FRQS, CIHR and other funding opportunities. Social benefits, tax benefits and insurance according to the collective agreement of the Université de Montréal.
Application
To submit an application, send the following documents. Please note that all documents are
required for the application to be considered complete; incomplete applications will not be
considered.
• A cover letter detailing the candidate's motivations, experience and background;
• A complete CV including academic background, list of publications and communications,
list of projects in which the candidate has participated, and experience in science and
knowledge mobilization;
• The names, affiliations and email of two referees;
• Any other relevant document illustrating the candidate's experience, leadership and
qualifications for the profile sought.
Application deadline: March 1st, 2026 or until position is filled.
Please send your application by email to (Email Subject: Application for a Postdoctoral fellow):
Mylene Ratelle, Mylene.Ratelle@umontreal.ca