Apply for the University of Guelph’s 4-year Postdoctoral Research Associate position on climate change in the Himalayas. Salary starts at CAD $70,000. Deadline: 4 September 2026.
Researchers passionate about climate change, ethnography, and mountain communities have an exciting opportunity to join an ambitious international research initiative at the University of Guelph in Canada.
The university is recruiting a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Ethnographic and Qualitative Visual Research for the groundbreaking AdaptAIR: Climate Adaptation through Artificial Ice Reservoirs in the Himalayas project.
Funded by the European Research Council (ERC), the four-year appointment offers a minimum annual salary of CAD $70,000, with a flexible start date.
The successful candidate will be based at the University of Guelph while conducting extensive fieldwork across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and potentially Nepal, collaborating with leading researchers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and India.
Applications are open until 4 September 2026.
About the AdaptAIR Project
Climate change is accelerating glacier retreat across the Himalayas, threatening water security, agriculture, and rural livelihoods. The AdaptAIR (Climate Adaptation through Artificial Ice Reservoirs) project seeks to understand how innovative water management solutions—specifically Artificial Ice Reservoirs (AIRS)—can improve climate adaptation in mountain communities.
The interdisciplinary project combines expertise from:
- Anthropology
- Climate science
- Hydrology
- Glacier modelling
- Agrarian studies
- Environmental history
- Social sciences
Working alongside private-sector partner Acres of Ice, the research examines how artificial ice reservoirs influence water availability, agricultural systems, and the social and cultural dynamics of Himalayan communities.
Research activities span several case-study regions including:
- Ladakh
- Spiti Valley
- Potential sites in Nepal
About the Position
The successful applicant will serve as a Research Associate/Postdoctoral Scholar within the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Guelph.
The position focuses on understanding how climate change is transforming rural life, agricultural practices, and community resilience in Himalayan mountain regions using innovative qualitative and visual research methods.
The researcher will work under the supervision of Associate Professor Karine Gagné while collaborating closely with researchers at King’s College London, scientists in India, and other members of the international AdaptAIR consortium.
Research Focus
The project emphasizes community-engaged, participatory research designed to document people’s lived experiences of environmental change.
Research themes include:
- Climate change experiences
- Water management
- Rural livelihoods
- Agrarian transformation
- Social and cultural adaptation
- Community resilience
- Environmental knowledge
- Climate memory
- Mountain livelihoods
The successful researcher will help generate new insights into how communities respond to rapidly changing environmental conditions.
Innovative Research Methods
Unlike traditional climate studies, this project places strong emphasis on visual and multimodal anthropology.
Methods may include:
- Photovoice
- Photo elicitation
- Visual ethnography
- Participatory mapping
- Oral life-history interviews
- Semi-structured interviews
- Focus group discussions
- Documentary analysis
The project also encourages creative outputs that communicate research findings beyond academia.
Potential outputs include:
- Digital storytelling
- Documentary film media
- Climate memory archives
- Photography exhibitions
- Community visual resources
- Academic publications
- Policy reports
This interdisciplinary approach seeks to bridge scientific and community perspectives on climate adaptation.
Key Responsibilities
The Postdoctoral Research Associate will undertake a wide range of responsibilities throughout the four-year project.
Primary duties include:
- Conduct extensive ethnographic fieldwork across Himalayan communities
- Carry out interviews and qualitative data collection
- Engage with community organizations
- Develop participatory visual research activities
- Curate visual and narrative materials
- Contribute to multimodal climate research methodologies
- Produce academic journal articles
- Prepare project reports
- Present findings at international conferences
- Participate in interdisciplinary research meetings
- Travel to meetings in Canada, the United Kingdom, and India
- Build an independent research agenda aligned with the AdaptAIR project
The researcher will also collaborate closely with another postdoctoral scholar working on agrarian change to ensure complementary research approaches.
Fieldwork Expectations
This position requires extensive field research in remote Himalayan environments.
Applicants should be prepared to:
- Spend extended periods in mountain communities
- Work in cold, high-altitude environments
- Travel through rugged terrain
- Conduct research in areas with limited connectivity
- Build relationships with local organizations
- Engage respectfully with diverse cultural communities
The role is particularly suited to researchers who enjoy outdoor fieldwork and participatory community engagement.
Required Qualifications
Applicants should possess:
Essential Requirements
- PhD in Anthropology, Geography, International Development, or a related discipline (or near completion)
- Strong knowledge of qualitative research methods
- Experience conducting field-based research
- Fluency in English and Hindi
- Previous research experience in Himalayan communities
- Excellent academic writing and communication skills
- Ability to present research internationally
- Willingness to undertake long-term fieldwork
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Experience working within interdisciplinary teams
Desirable Qualifications
Additional advantages include:
- Experience across multiple academic disciplines
- Knowledge of visual anthropology
- Familiarity with multimodal research methods
- Enthusiasm for rural and outdoor research
- Knowledge of regional Himalayan languages such as Ladakhi or languages spoken in the Spiti Valley
Salary and Contract
Successful applicants will receive:
- Four-year full-time appointment
- Minimum salary of CAD $70,000 per year
- Flexible start date
- 35-hour work week
- Opportunity to work within an internationally funded ERC research project
- Extensive international collaboration opportunities
The appointment provides an excellent platform for researchers seeking to establish careers in climate anthropology, environmental research, and interdisciplinary climate adaptation studies.
International Collaboration
One of the most attractive aspects of this position is its highly international nature.
Researchers will collaborate with:
- University of Guelph (Canada)
- King’s College London (United Kingdom)
- Indian scientists and social scientists
- European Research Council-funded collaborators
- Community organizations across the Himalayas
- Private-sector partner Acres of Ice
This network provides significant opportunities for international publications, partnerships, and long-term research development.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
The cover letter should specifically address how the applicant meets each essential criterion.
Applicants are also asked to indicate:
- Nationality
- Current residential address
- Whether Canadian work visa sponsorship is required
Applications should be submitted via email to:
- Dr. Karine Gagné
- Suzanne Dodd
Application Deadline
Closing Date: 4 September 2026
Because this is an internationally competitive postdoctoral opportunity funded through the European Research Council, applicants are encouraged to prepare comprehensive application materials well before the deadline.
Why Apply?
This position offers a rare opportunity to contribute to one of the world’s leading interdisciplinary climate adaptation projects while conducting meaningful community-based research in one of the planet’s most environmentally significant mountain regions.
Researchers will gain experience in:
- Climate adaptation research
- Visual anthropology
- Community-engaged scholarship
- International collaboration
- Environmental humanities
- Participatory methodologies
- Himalayan field research
Combined with a competitive salary, four-year funding, and extensive international networking opportunities, this postdoctoral appointment provides an exceptional platform for early-career scholars seeking to make significant contributions to climate change research.
University of Guelph Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026: 4-Year Climate Change Research Position in the Himalayas
