PhD Project at Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada Our group supported by FRQNT includes university professors (Université Laval: J. André Fortin, Alison Munson, Yves Piché and UQAC, Hubert Morin); scientists in governmental agencies Canadian Forest Service: Jean Bérubé, David Paré, Caroline Rochon; and Québec Ministry of Forests, Nelson Thiffault. The members of the team are working on the validation of a new paradigm on fertility and nutrition of trees in boreal forests. Recent observations, mainly in Scandinavia, suggest that we should modify our current fertility soil analyses for forest soils and this also opens a new perspective for novel forest fertilization practices.
Our research will consider alteration of minerals including ectomycorrhizal fungi as well as microorganisms of the mycorrhizosphere, at the scale of forest stands (sugar maple, spruce and pine), in greenhouses using microcosms, and in the laboratory (mineral alteration, fungal and microorganisms culture, enzymology, molecular biology). Several experiments will be conducted in natural forests where raw micronized minerals will be applied to maple forest affected by acid rain (apatite), white spruce suffering from potassium deficiency (feldspar, biotite) as well in jack pine invaded by ericaceous vegetation. The student will be part of a dynamic research centre, the Centre for Forestry Research (http://www.cef-cfr.ca), which includes 55 researchers from 8 Quebec universities, and over 300 graduate students. Although Quebec is a French-speaking university, PhD students have a minimum of course work, and this can be accommodated depending on the level of French of the candidate. This is also a great opportunity to acquire a second or third language. Quebec City, which recently turned 400 years old, is a wonderful place to live and work, especially if you like outdoor activity and a lively local culture (and food). Ph.D. fellowship at 27 000 CAN$/year for three years; project beginning in September 2012 Implications of mycorrhizae and associated soil microorganisms in nutrient cycling of trees of the boreal forests Fellowship involving contact with industry (BMP innovation) supported by NSERC-FQRNT-Ressources d'Arianne. Interested persons can send a CV (with coordinates of at least two references), and a copy of latest academic record to Yves Piché: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> The post will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
