Soils and the Environment (PhD)

This program relates to environmental soil science in general and to environmental protection in agricultural, urban, and industrial contexts. It will prepare you for work in scientific outreach or as a specialist in environmental soil science. 

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a master’s degree in soils and the environment or an equivalent degree.

Applicants with a master’s degree in forest sciences, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, agri-food engineering, geography or geology are also admissible. 

The program director reserves the right to admit, under certain conditions, applicants with a master’s degree in another field and relevant experience with the type of research they plan to conduct.

The program director may require applicants who do not hold a master's degree in soils and the environment to do qualifying coursework, depending on their previous education and research interests.

Qualifying courses do not count toward program credits. Any coursework requirements will be decided by the director after reviewing the student’s file. 

For certain multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary work, or for any other reason deemed relevant, the program director may officially assign a research codirector. 

Applicants must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 out of 4.33 or the equivalent. 

French proficiency

The language of instruction at Université Laval is French. Hence, a good knowledge of written and spoken French is highly recommended. 

Université Laval's School of Langugages has courses for students wishing to improve their French.

Language courses do not count toward program credits.

English proficiency

No requirement

Research Areas

• Soil biochemistry
• Environmental soil chemistry
• Soil and water conservation in agricultural environments
• Agro-environmental management and soil quality and fertility
• Agro-environmental microbiology
• Precision irrigation and soil physics and hydrodynamics
• Restoration of contaminated soils
• Waste treatment and nanotechnology
• Recovery of agri-food waste and byproducts
   

Professors

For a full list of professors, please refer to the descriptions on the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences website giving their fields of research in soils and the environment.

A number of professors have an interest in supervising students under the agreement between UL and the CSC. Their areas of expertise and contact information are provided below.