Prospective Students

The short answer is YES, I am seeking highly motivated, knowledgeable, clever, and hard-working graduate students interested in forest ecology and ecophysiology.

Work in the lab includes both applied and “basic” research in tropical, temperate, and boreal systems. Support for graduate studies is available on a competitive basis for both international and Canadian students (though more opportunities exist for the latter). In order to be competitive for admission and financial support you will need to present very strong academic credentials. A good match with a potential graduate advisor is also critical.

My main areas of research interest include applied forest ecology and silviculture, comparative ecology and ecophysiology of trees, forest canopy biology; ecological aspects of global environmental change, and tropical forests. The topics are planned as the main focus of research in my lab over the next 4-5 years:

Mitigation of GHG emissions from urban forestry waste. A recently funded project is examining GHG emissions from urban forestry waste, with a focus on methane and remediation of emissions using waste diversion and mitigation strategies. This is a high priority area for qualified applicants.
Methane and N2O flux patterns from leaves and soil. Ongoing and planned research is also examining greenhouse gas flux (GHG) patterns in forest soils, and in live and dead trees. Specific projects include examination of spatial variation in soil GHG flux patterns in natural and managed forests with a specific focus on variation in relation to tree species composition. High priority for qualified applicants.
“Biochar” use in green infrastructure and environmental remediation.Research is planned to examine biochar use for environmental remediation of contaminated soils, and in green infrastructure and urban forestry applications. Specific projects include development of biochar-based seed coatings for use in environmental restoration and biochar use for green roofs and urban tree plantings, and development of biochar products (e.g., pelletized or granulated biochars) for use in urban green infrastructure. In all cases studies will include lab, greenhouse, and field components, and will focus on the development of “designer” biochars for specific remediation purposes. A strong background in soil science and/or chemistry would be desirable for these studies (e.g., knowledge of physical chemistry of sorption processes, metals bioavailability, physio-chemical characterization of porous materials).
Greenhouse gas fluxes in heavily impacted forest systems, and remediation thereof. Highly impacted parts of managed forests, in both traditional forestry and urban forest settings, are likely important as a source of greenhouse gas emissions but have received little research attention. Planned projects will be focused on heavily impact urban sites, including sites where urban forestry waste is stored and processed, and on potential remediation and planning efforts to mitigate GHG fluxes in the context of urban forestry.
Silviculture and forest restoration for climate change mitigation.Ongoing and planned research has focused on understanding effects of forest operations, including alternative “climate smart” silviculture, on forest structure and composition, and on microenvironment and soil greenhouse gas fluxes.
Spatial ecology of temperate forest systems, and tropical-temperate comparative studies. The lab has ongoing work making use of a forest “mega-plot” encompassing a 13.5-ha area in old-growth forest along a lake margin at Haliburton Forest in central Ontario with ~50,000 trees/plot mapped. The main motivations for the project are to understand the role of aquatic-terrestrial margins on forest diversity and dynamics, to examine relationships between soil factors and tree distributions and growth patterns, and as basis for parameterization and testing of individual-based forest simulation models. We are also specifically examining spatial variation in soil greenhouse gas fluxes. The plot has been established in collaboration with the Smithsonsian ForestGEO plot network and is being used in large-scale comparative studies of temperate vs. tropical forests.
Energy balance, albedo, and greenhouse gas flux patterns of urban “living infrastructure”. Projects are being initiated to characterize and find means of enhancing performance of green roofs, bioswales, and similar projects in terms of energy balance and GHG flux patterns. Experiments currently initiated include additions of biochar to “intensify” green roof installations.

Special consideration will be given to students with prior experience closely related to these projects and/or methods used; prior natural history background, especially related to work in tropical sites, is also an important factor.

If you think that I would be a good match as a prospective advisor, I will need to evaluate your background and prior work more carefully. What I specifically would need from you is:

(1) a note explaining your interests and prospective thesis topic, how this would fit with what the direction of research in my lab (as outline above), and what skills and background you would bring to this effort

(2) a resume and copy of transcripts (or list of prior coursework with marks)

(3) a copy of a paper you have written that represents what you consider to be your best scientific work to date.

Please entitle your email "Graduate student inquiry".

Contact me at: sc.thomas@utoronto.ca