Ph.D. 2020
Climate Simulation and analysis specialist at Ouranos (government/private sector)
1- What was your area of study (atmospheric or oceanic sciences)? Could you describe in a line or two your research/ area of interest while you were studying at McGill?
At McGill my area of interest was broadly in synoptic meteorology. More specifically, my Ph.D. research focused on the conditions leading to prolonged freezing rain events in North America, such as the extreme January 1998 ice storm that affected much of southern Québec and nearby regions.
2-Looking back, what do you value most about your studies at AOS at McGill?
I particularly appreciate the freedom I was given by my supervisor (Prof. Gyakum) to develop a research project that interested me, which is especially important for a Ph.D. given the need to stay motivated for several years! I also was able to gain numerous extracurricular experiences that were highly beneficial to my development.
3- How are you applying your degree in atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences from McGill?
I now apply my expertise in synoptic meteorology and my understanding of atmospheric and climate science more broadly in my position at Ouranos, a consortium working to help Quebec adapt to climate change. In my role, I run a regional climate model and analyse the output to identify how various phenomena of importance to Quebec’s climate may change in the future. This includes freezing rain – work that my Ph.D. studies prepared me very well for.
4-What advice would you give to someone considering graduate studies in atmospheric or oceanic sciences at McGill?
I would advise prospective students to use their time as a graduate student to gain as many experiences as possible outside of your graduate research. While research and studies can be very time-consuming, gaining extracurricular experiences doing outreach, volunteering on committees, interning, etc. are extremely important. These experiences will help you decide on your next steps after grad school, allow you to make connections and will help keep you motivated.