McGill University Research Scholarship 2027 in Canada: Fully Funded MSc and PhD Positions

Applications are open for fully funded MSc and PhD research positions at McGill University in Canada for students interested in Arctic sea ice, remote sensing, radar technology, and related research.

The Polar Remote Sensing Research Group, led by Dr. Mallik Mahmud in McGill University's Department of Geography, is recruiting at least one MSc and one PhD student for projects beginning in Fall 2027. The advertised positions are fully funded through a combination of awards, research assistantships and teaching assistantships.

The research focuses on using radar and satellite remote sensing technologies to study Arctic sea ice. The group also works with machine learning, geospatial data and field research in the Arctic.

McGill University Research Scholarship 2027

Host Country: Canada

Host University: McGill University

Department: Department of Geography

Research Group: Polar Remote Sensing Research Group

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Study Level: MSc and PhD

Start Date: Fall 2027

Application Deadline: January 15, 2027

Funding: Fully funded MSc and PhD positions

Research Areas

The available positions focus on radar remote sensing of Arctic sea ice.

The research group combines:

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
Multi-frequency radar
Satellite remote sensing
Geospatial and raster data
Machine learning
Sea ice monitoring
Arctic field research

The broader research program investigates how Arctic sea ice is changing and how remote sensing can improve monitoring of ice properties and conditions.

PhD Position

The PhD project focuses on radar analysis of Arctic sea ice using multi-frequency SAR.

Applicants should have:

An MSc in remote sensing, geography, physics, engineering, or a closely related field
Hands-on experience with radar data
Understanding of radar backscatter and polarimetry
Advanced programming skills
Experience with large raster datasets, cloud platforms, or machine learning is an asset
Interest in participating in Arctic field campaigns
Strong scientific writing skills
A first-author publication or manuscript in preparation is desirable

These requirements are based on the current PhD opening listed by Dr. Mahmud's research group.

MSc Position

The MSc project focuses on SAR-based characterization of sea ice in the Canadian Arctic.

Applicants should have:

A BSc in geography, environmental science, physics, engineering, computer science, or a related field
Advanced programming skills
A background in remote sensing, GIS, or geophysics
Coursework or project experience involving satellite imagery is an asset
Interest in Arctic fieldwork

Previous radar experience is welcome but not required for the MSc position. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are given preference for this particular position.

Funding Benefits

The current MSc and PhD positions advertised by the Polar Remote Sensing Research Group are fully funded through Award + Research Assistantship + Teaching Assistantship (RA + TA).

McGill's Geography Department also states that admitted students may receive funding through fellowships, awards and teaching or research assistantships, depending on the position and funding arrangements.

General McGill Admission Requirements

For the MSc in Geography, McGill generally requires:

An eligible Bachelor's degree
A strong academic record
Minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA at the university level
English-language proficiency
Additional program-specific requirements

For the PhD, McGill's Geography program normally requires a Master's degree in Geography or a related discipline.

The department also states that applicants are normally admitted only when a faculty member agrees to supervise and fund them. Contacting a potential supervisor before submitting the formal application is therefore strongly encouraged.

Required Documents

For the Dr. Mallik Mahmud research positions, applicants should prepare:

CV
Unofficial academic transcript
Short description of research interests and skills
Explanation of previous work
Explanation of what they would like to work on with the research group

The lab specifically asks prospective graduate students to contact Dr. Mahmud before the graduate application and provide their CV, unofficial transcript, and research interests.

How to Apply for McGill University Research Scholarship 2027

Step 1: Review the research position

Read the current MSc or PhD position and determine whether your academic background and research interests match the project.

Step 2: Contact Dr. Mallik Mahmud

Send an email to:

mallik.mahmud@mcgill.ca

For the MSc position, use the subject line:

MSc application – sea ice radar

For the PhD position, use:

PhD application – sea ice radar

Include a short explanation of your research interests and skills and attach your CV and unofficial transcript.

Step 3: Discuss research fit

The research group encourages prospective graduate students to contact Dr. Mahmud early to discuss research interests, suitability and the feasibility of a potential project.

Step 4: Submit the McGill graduate application

After discussing the opportunity and supervisor fit, applicants must complete the official McGill graduate application for the Geography program.

The department requires a research statement as part of the graduate application.

Application Deadline

The McGill Geography Department's deadline for complete Fall applications is January 15, 2027 for guaranteed consideration. McGill's current program information also lists January 15 as the Fall deadline for both international and domestic applicants to the Geography MSc and PhD programs.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Mahmud well before the deadline rather than waiting until January.

Important Note

This opportunity is not a general McGill scholarship automatically available to every student. It is a specific set of research positions in Dr. Mallik Mahmud's Polar Remote Sensing Research Group.

The advertised positions are particularly relevant to students with backgrounds in computer science, engineering, physics, geography, environmental science, remote sensing, GIS, programming, satellite imagery or related fields.