Project 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
May or september 2025
Research supervision
Fateh Chebana, professor, INRS
Jérémie Boudreault, PhD student, INRS
Study program
Taylor-made MSc program in climate-health (or MSc in Water science, program details in French only), Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, INRS
Funding
2-year scholarship of $27,000/year.
Required qualifications
University education: Undergraduate degree in a field related to the project including, but not limited to: biostatistics, data science, actuarial science, mathematics, computer science, econometrics, epidemiology, public/environmental health, geomatics, environment, climate.
Other skills required :
- Data analysis
- Statistical, epidemiological or machine learning modelling
- R or Python programming
- Geospatial data processing, an asset
- Interest in health costs and climate change, an asset
How to apply
Please use the form below to send your application before February 28, 2025 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.