by Jamie Contos
Canadian marine ecosystems are facing a plethora of challenges, but with forward-thinking solutions, it’s possible to get ahead of them. The future of ocean health depends on innovative research and collaborative projects that will pioneer the next phase of Canadian ocean science.
That’s why the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) is dedicated to supporting the next generation of marine professionals and their research initiatives through the Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) Awards.
Covering four challenge areas – Ocean Observation, Forecasting/Projection, Coastal Resilience, and Marine Operations/Transportation – projects awarded with PDF funding will complete relevant research activities while honouring MEOPAR’s objective to connect partners, resources, and expertise to combat risks and take advantage of opportunities in the changing marine environment.
By supporting researchers whose work not only responds to today’s marine issues but also inspires the next generation of ocean professionals, the PDF Awards ensure that impactful, diverse research continues to advance national priorities in the ocean sector.
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards and 2025/2026 Recipients
With the aim to empower postdoctoral fellows in marine research by enabling them to take full advantage of professional development and career-building opportunities, the PDF Awards were launched in 2018. Since its inception, three cohorts of researchers have been partially funded (a top-up of $ 20,000 per year for up to 2 years) through PDF — in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Now, under the Strategic Science Fund (SSF), new fully funded ($70,000/year for a 2 year stipend for PDF + $10K for research fund) PDF projects have been selected for the 2025-2026 year.
These projects offer opportunities for outstanding early-career PhD holders to join the MEOPAR network and conduct innovative, full-time and collaborative research aligned with federal priorities in Canada. These projects foster new leaders who contribute to addressing challenges in the ocean sector through opening new connections with other researchers, supporting collaborative opportunities and creating possibilities to carry out research outside of the traditional academic system.
Join MEOPAR in celebrating the four postdoctoral fellows and initiatives that have been selected as the recipients of the 2025 PDF awards:
Fisheries Futures: Strengthening Food Sovereignty and Resilience in Arctic Coastal Communities
Meghan Brockington, University of Montreal
Arctic communities face escalating challenges from climate change, limited infrastructure, and high reliance on market foods, which threaten traditional harvesting practices, food security, and food sovereignty. This project investigates the transformative potential of inshore fisheries and marine infrastructure developments to advance food sovereignty, sustainable livelihoods, and community resilience in Inuit Nunangat.
Analysis of the Contribution of Canadian Blue Schools to Ocean Education in Ontario (Analyse de la contribution des Écoles Bleues Canadiennes à l’éducation océanique en Ontario)
Anna Cecilia De Alencar Reis, University of Ottawa
Blue Schools are certified to integrate ocean literacy into their curriculum, promoting ocean-related skills, knowledge, and values for students, as well as encouraging critical reflection on the relationship between humanity and the ocean. This project aims to analyze the educational activities of Canada’s Blue Schools (CBS) to identify how they foster youth engagement in addressing ocean-related climate challenges. These results could enrich the Blue Schools program and inspire new educational strategies in Canada and internationally.
Coastal Erosion and Sediment Transport Dynamics Around an Arctic Harbour (Umiujaq, Nunavik): Analyzing the Influence of Storms and Relative Sea Level on an Emergent Coast
Zahra Gholami, L’Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)
As diminishing sea ice increases Arctic marine traffic and tourism, the demand for sustainable infrastructure grows. Incorporating Inuit Traditional Knowledge that provides valuable insights into historical shoreline dynamics and storm impacts, this research aims to quantify sediment transport around Arctic harbours, predict coastal evolution under various climate scenarios, and create hazard maps to guide sustainable decision-making for emergent coasts. The findings will address critical global questions about Arctic coastal responses to environmental changes and long-term port accessibility.
SNOWMASS: Scalable Network of Observations With Multi-sensor and Multi-frequency Altimetry for Snow Studies
Renée Mie Fredensborg Hansen, University of Calgary
Snow on sea ice plays a critical role in the Earth’s climate system; its reflective properties determine whether solar radiation is reflected or absorbed, and its insulating properties regulate the growth and decay of sea ice. Gathering data and conducting research on snow brings with it complexities due to its variable nature. Remote sensing is necessary, yet current methods are inconsistent. The SNOWMASS project will use a combination of field observations and airborne and satellite data to help understand current research limitations as well as develop a new standard for accurate data retrieval methods.
Are you a postdoctoral fellow with a passion for ocean research? Do you know of a prospective applicant that may be eligible for the PDF Awards?
Applications for the next round of PDF Awards will be opened in 2026 for the 2027 season. Keep an eye on the MEOPAR Call to Proposal webpage to be the first to know when the next round of PDF Awards opens.
If you’re not involved in academia, you can still help inspire the next generation of ocean researchers by spreading the word about the program and supporting current projects by keeping up with the latest work.
Visit MEOPAR stories to read about more transformative collaborative ocean research initiatives.
