Research & Graduate Studies

Earth and Environmental Sciences’ faculty members are internationally recognized experts in their fields of study, and publish in leading journals.  

We have some of the best equipped laboratories in eastern Canada, and also frequently use supercomputers for research.  The department houses one NSERC Canada Research Chair Tier I in Climate Dynamics, Dr. Hugo Beltrami. 

Research creates opportunity for undergraduate students, and many students will work in university labs alongside their professors – as research technicians, or as honours thesis students.  In recent years, our undergraduate researchers traveled to Spain, Cornwall (England), Ireland, Svalbard (Arctic circle), PEI, BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, and California to carry out projects with their faculty supervisors. These students benefit outside their courses from this one-on-one contact with their supervisors, in a cutting-edge research setting.  Undergrads interested in getting involved in research should contact prospective supervisors directly, as early as first year. 

Research also creates opportunity for graduate studies at the MSc or PhD level.  At any given time, there are 20 or more graduate students active within the department.  Graduate students have a peer group and take common courses, yet also have the close collaborative relationship with their supervisors that is characteristic of small universities. We offer competitive funding for eligible students.

PhD programs are generally arranged through the Memorial University School of Graduate Studies, where students can be resident at StFX.  Incoming students must have high marks and must demonstrate research potential.