Group Leader
Dr. Mallik Mahmud
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography
My research falls under the broad area of Arctic sea ice research in a warming climate. I use remote sensing and sea ice geophysical methods to examine emergent atmosphere–sea ice–ocean properties and processes across scales. I want to understand how snow-covered Arctic sea ice is changing under the new climate regime, and how that change affects the retrieval of snow and sea ice geophysical parameters. To do this, I combine low-frequency surface-based and satellite radar with geostatistical and machine-learning methods to investigate Arctic sea ice from local to pan-Arctic scales. My current work focuses on sea ice hazards and new-ice characterization using multi-frequency radar and physics-constrained AI, grounded in Inuit knowledge, to make hazardous and newly formed ice visible for Arctic communities.
Graduate Students
Maisha Mahboob (2024-Present)
Master's Student, FRQNT Master's Training Scholarship recipient
My primary research involves incorporating numerical and AI methods into remote sensing (climate science). My recent work includes Arctic Sea Ice Classification using dual-frequency SAR and AI, including datasets from the NISAR (NASA-ISRO SAR) mission.
Key focuses: Multi-frequency PolSAR, sea ice classification, radiative transfer inversion, seasonal transitions.
Kareem Hamammi (2025-Present)
Master's Student, FRQNT Master's Training Scholarship recipient
Kareem is pursuing a Masters in Computer Science, jointly supervised by Dr. Mallik Mahmud and Dr. Mike Langer. He holds a BASc in Environment and Geography from McGill University, where he contributed to several geospatial data research projects, and later worked at GHGSat on greenhouse gas emission detection using multispectral remote sensing. His research interests lie at the intersection of Machine Learning and Earth Observation, with a current focus on the study of sea ice surface roughness in the Canadian Arctic.
Key focuses: Machine learning, ice surface roughness, LiDAR, multi-frequency SAR.
Massimo Farrace (2026-Present)
Master's Student
I am a graduate student pursuing my Masters in Geography in the Polar Remote Sensing Group, under the supervision of Dr. Mallik Mahmud. I completed my B.Sc. in Environmental Biology at McGill’s MacDonald Campus, with a minor in Geography. My background in ecology and spatial analysis, with field experience, has provided a strong interdisciplinary foundation in studying rapidly changing polar regions. I hope to contribute to advancing satellite-based methods for monitoring Arctic sea ice.
Key focuses: SAR remote sensing, sea ice classification, Arctic primary productivity, sea ice-ecosystem interactions.
Undergraduate Students
Sonja Kruecker-Green (2025-Present)
Undergraduate Researcher
I am an undergraduate student entering my fourth year at McGill University, studying Geography and Math. I am passionate about climate and atmospheric sciences and have long been fascinated by both the Arctic and Antarctic climate systems. My summer research focuses on using remote sensing data to detect the timing of Arctic sea ice melt pond drainage due to summer melt.
Key focuses: C-band, sea ice, freeze-onset, CAA.
Elisha-Grace King (2026-Present)
Undergraduate Researcher
My research project focuses on applying machine learning for polynya mapping using L- and C-band SAR, optical imagery, and climate data. As an interdisciplinary student studying Geography and Software Engineering, I enjoy tackling complex problems that layer physical geography, computer science, and technology. Through my experiences in the Polar Remote Sensing Group, I have gained skills in Arctic field work, data modelling, and ground-based measurements.
Key focuses: Mutli-frequency SAR, polynya, machine learning, feature detection.
Christina Kuzma-Wells (2026-Present)
Honours Student
My undergraduate honours thesis focuses on the long-term pattern analysis of sea ice melt ponds in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago using high-resolution optical imagery (Sentinel-1 and RADARSAT-1/2). Additionally, my research incorporates both quantitative and qualitative aspects, with data driven technical analysis and contextual interviews. As an undergrad who is new to research the Polar Remote Sensing Group has shown and continues to show great support.
Key focuses: CAA, sea ice melt ponds, mixed-methods, pattern analysis, imagery mosaic, pixel classification.
Alumni
Ben Smith (BSc.), Undergraduate Researcher (2025-26), SURA recipient
Kingson Campbell, Undergraduate Researcher (2025), GURA recipient
Claire Driedger (BSc.), Undergraduate Researcher (2024-25), SURA recipient