The Postdoctoral Position on Climate Change Research in the Himalayas 2026 is a fully funded four-year research opportunity at the University of Guelph, Canada. The position supports researchers interested in climate change adaptation, anthropology, and environmental sustainability through interdisciplinary research in the Himalayan region.
Funded under the European Research Council (ERC) project AdaptAIR, the successful candidate will receive a competitive salary while conducting ethnographic and visual research on artificial ice reservoirs and climate adaptation in Himalayan cold deserts.
Postdoctoral Position on Climate Change Research in the Himalayas Summary
- Host Country: Canada
- Host Institution: University of Guelph
- Study Level: Postdoctoral
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Position Duration: 4 Years
- Funding Type: Fully Funded
- Benefits: Minimum CAD 70,000 annual salary, fieldwork funding, research support
- Application Deadline: 4 September 2026
About the Postdoctoral Position
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for the AdaptAIR project, an ERC-funded initiative examining how artificial ice reservoirs contribute to climate change adaptation in the Himalayan cold deserts.
The project investigates the social, cultural, and environmental impacts of water management strategies in regions experiencing increasing climate-related challenges.
The successful researcher will conduct community-based ethnographic and qualitative visual research in collaboration with researchers from:
- University of Guelph
- King’s College London
- Partner institutions in India
Fieldwork will primarily take place in:
- Himachal Pradesh
- Ladakh
- Selected locations in Nepal (where applicable)
The project offers an opportunity to contribute to internationally significant research while developing an independent research agenda.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants will receive:
- Minimum annual salary of CAD 70,000.
- Full-time employment (35 hours per week).
- Four-year research contract.
- Flexible starting date.
- Extensive funded fieldwork opportunities in Himalayan communities.
- Opportunity to publish interdisciplinary research on climate change and water management.
- Mentorship from leading international researchers.
- Support to develop an independent research program within the AdaptAIR project.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Hold a PhD in:
- Anthropology
- Geography
- International Development
- Or another closely related discipline.
Applicants nearing completion of their PhD may also be considered.
Candidates should also:
- Have experience with qualitative and ethnographic research methods.
- Demonstrate previous field research experience.
- Be fluent in both English and Hindi.
- Have prior research experience in Himalayan communities.
- Possess excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills.
- Be willing to undertake extended fieldwork in remote Himalayan regions.
- Demonstrate strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Be able to work independently as well as within an international interdisciplinary research team.
Position Conditions
Successful applicants will be expected to:
- Conduct fieldwork in remote Himalayan communities.
- Participate actively in the AdaptAIR research project.
- Produce high-quality academic publications.
- Collaborate with international research partners.
- Contribute to project meetings, workshops, and dissemination activities.
How to Apply
To apply for the Postdoctoral Position on Climate Change Research:
- Prepare a cover letter addressing all essential selection criteria outlined in the job description.
- Prepare an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Include your nationality, current address, and whether you require visa sponsorship to work in Canada.
- Email your application documents to:
- Dr. Karine Gagné
- Suzanne Dodd
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.
📋 Required Documents
- Indication of whether visa sponsorship will be required to work in Canada
- Nationality details
- Current residential address
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover letter addressing each of the essential selection criteria