Description
Climate change leads to changes in the frequency and intensity of a number of climate-related hazards (e.g. heat and cold waves, ice and snow storms, etc.). These hazards have major impacts on the health of the population. The objective of this project is to analyze the climate-health relationship for these different hazards, and to use this relationship to project their health and economic impacts on the Quebec healthcare sector.
First, the statistical relationship between the above-mentioned hazards and various health outcomes (e.g. mortality, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, etc.) will be modelled. Then, climate and demographic projections will be used to analyze the impact of these hazards for different time horizons (e.g. 2050, 2080, 2100). Finally, an analysis of the healthcare costs associated with these health impacts in historical and future periods will be carried out using the most accurate economic data available. Ultimately, this project will provide insights into the health and economic burden of different climate hazards on Quebec’s healthcare sector, such that society can better adapt to a changing climate.
This project is being carried out in collaboration with Céline Campagna (Université Laval), Éric Lavigne (Health Canada, University of Ottawa) and Félix Lamothe (Institut national de santé publique du Québec). The student will be based at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique in Quebec City, with the possibility of an internship with the collaborators.
Start date
Fall 2025 or Winter 2026
Research supervision
Fateh Chebana, professor, INRS
Jérémie Boudreault, PhD student, INRS
Study program
Taylor made PhD program in climate-health or data science, or PhD in water science, Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, INRS
Funding
3-year scholarship of up to $35,000/year. The estimated duration of the project is 3 years with the possibility of an additional year.
Required qualifications
Academic background:
Completed (or pending) graduate degree in a field related to the project: biostatistics, data science, epidemiology, actuarial science, applied mathematics, econometrics, public/environmental health, etc.
Desired skills:
- Interest in climate change adaptation and health costse.
- Experience in analyzing health, environmental and/or economic data
- Use of (bio)statistical, environmental epidemiology and/or machine learning models
- Facility with R or Python programming for processing temporal and spatial data
How to apply
Only applications from candidates already in Canada will be accepted.
Please use the form below to send your application as soon as possible including the following documents in PDF: 1) a presentation letter (max 1 page); 2) a resume; 3) up to date university transcript; 4) two reference letters.