McGill Students

Spend 90 days in the Caribbean working on a research project focused on climate change adaptation and resilient communities. 


The application for Summer 2025 is now open!

Deadline to apply: December 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM

Please review this webpage carefully and submit your application here if you are interested in applying. You will need to download this personal statement template and fill it out as part of your application submission.

Contact the student affairs team with any questions: studentaffairsghp.med [at] mcgill.ca


Who can apply: 

  • Senior undergraduate (3rd or 4th year) and graduate-level McGill students  

  • Canadian citizens and permanent residents

  • Students from all disciplines

  • 35 years old or less at the time of application

  • Available to travel to Trinidad for 90 days between May 1, 2025 and August 17, 2025

  • Available to attend a mandatory training event from August 19-21, 2025 in Montreal

2025 projects are based at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.

What do Queen Elizabeth Scholars do? 

  • Work on a research internship project in either Barbados or Trinidad.

  • Develop a joint work plan along with their supervisor outlining the activities and contributions for their internship.

  • Participate in biweekly check-ins with all other McGill-UWI Queen Elizabeth Scholars in the cohort.

  • Attend a seminar and discussion series on key issues related to climate resilient communities.

  • Post about your experience on social media using the #QEScholars hashtag.

  • Engage in community engagement activities, leadership training, and research sharing activities between May and November. 

What do you get? 

  • A stipend of up to $8,000 CAD to put towards travel costs and living expenses. 

  • A summer in the Caribbean. 

  • Participation documented on the McGill Co-Curricular Record (CCR)

  • Academic credit towards your degree, if applicable.

Summer 2025 Projects

Co-Creating Solutions: Participatory Models for Climate Resilient Agriculture in the Caribbean

Supervisor: Dr. Jeanelle Joseph

Faculty: Food and Agriculture

Department: Agricultural Economics and Extension

Location: UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago

Project Description

Caribbean agriculture faces growing threats from climate change, including erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, intensified hurricanes, and rising temperatures. This research intends to explore participatory models for fostering climate-resilient agricultural systems, while emphasizing the importance of collaboration, local knowledge, and community-driven solutions. By directly involving farmers and rural stakeholders in designing and implementing adaptation strategies, these approaches aim to create sustainable and context-specific solutions that enhance food security and livelihoods. 

This study will examine successful initiatives in the region, such as community-led diversification of climate-resilient crops, participatory soil and water conservation practices, and co-designed agroforestry systems that integrate traditional farming techniques with modern innovations. The role of farmer cooperatives, extension services, and regional organizations in facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building would also be investigated. 

This study also intends to addresses key challenges, including limited access to financing, unequal land ownership, and the marginalization of small-scale farmers, while highlighting strategies to overcome these obstacles. The findings should demonstrate that participatory models can enhance agricultural productivity, reduce vulnerability to climate shocks, and empower communities by fostering a sense of ownership and strengthening resilience. 

This research will emphasize the transformative potential of participatory approaches in Caribbean agriculture. By placing farmers at the center of adaptation efforts, it will strive to build a future where the region’s agricultural systems are more resilient to climate impacts, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and food security for generations to come. 

Project Team

The Project Team would comprise of a multidisciplinary group of professionals and stakeholders, inclusive of agricultural extension specialists, community development specialists and climate scientists within the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, more specifically, from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension and the Caribbean Agricultural Extension Providers’ Network. 

Technical Skills

  1. Technical writing: Ability to produce clear, concise, and well-organized research papers, reports, and other academic documents. 

  1. Literature review expertise: Ability to systematically search for, evaluate, and synthesize academic articles, reports, and case studies related to climate adaptation, agriculture, and participatory approaches. 

  1. Qualitative research methods: Experience in conducting interviews and focus groups. 

  1. Qualitative data analysis: Ability to code and synthesize thematic data from reviewed materials using software like NVivo or MAXQDA. 

  1. Data synthesis: Ability to integrate and synthesize findings from diverse sources, such as journal articles, government reports, and NGO publications. 

  1. Outreach and education: Designing workshops and training materials for farmers and communities. 

  1. Survey design and implementation skills: To gather insights from farmers and stakeholders. 

Additional Project Information

Dr. Jeanelle Joseph is a Lecturer of Agricultural Extension and Education at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine Campus), as well as the academic coordinator for the newly implemented Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Resilient Agricultural Extension for Community Development. Her research and focus predominately revolves around capacity building and development within the agricultural sector. She has participated in and facilitated multiple stakeholder capacity-building trainings and assessments, focused on the division of labour, access to and control over resources, participation in agricultural decision- making, and the impact of current agricultural policies and programs on both men and women. Dr. Joseph is also the Co-Chair of the executive committee of the Caribbean Agricultural Extension Providers’ Network (CAEPNet). CAEPNet is a network of regional and international agricultural extension service providers and experts focused on knowledge management, professionalization, advocacy, and capacity development of extension services within the region. 

Influence of sesquioxides on water release patterns of tropical soils in climate-sensitive environments

Supervisor: Dr. Mark Wuddivira

Faculty: Food and Agriculture

Department: Dean's Office

Location: UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago

Project Description

Climate change is significantly altering the water release patterns of tropical soils, leading to reduced plant-available water and lowering their productive capacity. Coupled with shifting precipitation patterns, increased evapotranspiration, drought, flooding and water scarcity, these changes pose a serious threat to food security and contribute to land degradation. Tropical soils, which support both cultivated and native plants, are a crucial part of the ecosystem. Their sustainable management and preservation are therefore of growing concern for vulnerable communities, policymakers and land managers. 

Water release in soils is influenced by hygroscopic water content, which can offer insights into the mineral composition of the soil. Specifically, understanding how minerology and sesquioxides impact water retention and availability, nutrient availability, and drainage is essential for improving agricultural practices and ecosystem functioning. Such knowledge can help reduce soil erosion, enhance overall soil health and strengthen community resilience to climate change impact. 

This study investigates the water release patterns of some  oxic soils in the predominantly young soils of Caribbean small islands, focusing on the interactions between soil, water, and plants in a rapidly changing environment. The research examines key soil physico-chemical properties, various methods of quantifying soil moisture, and the effects of human activity on water movement within the soil, these factors directly influence plant growth, agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. 

By investigating these processes, this research aims to provide critical insights for better soil and water management strategies. The findings will help inform sustainable agricultural practices, improve irrigation management, and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on tropical soils, supporting long-term food security and environmental sustainability. 

Project Team

The student will be working as part of a collaborative team, consisting of both fellow students and experienced researchers, to investigate the water release patterns in oxic tropical soils. While the project will involve independent work, particularly in conducting experiments, analyzing data, and reviewing relevant literature, the student will also engage in regular discussions and brainstorming sessions with team members. This collaborative approach will foster the exchange of ideas and ensure a multidisciplinary perspective, enhancing the depth of the research. 

The team will include faculty members, scientists, and graduate students who bring diverse expertise in areas such as soil physics, environmental science, and agriculture. The student will have the opportunity to work closely with these researchers, learning from their experience and contributing to the overall research goals. The project will also provide opportunities for the student to develop essential skills in data analysis, fieldwork, and laboratory techniques, while working in a supportive environment that encourages learning and professional growth. 

While the student will have the responsibility of managing their own tasks and project components, they will receive guidance from team members throughout the process. The collaborative nature of the project ensures that the student will not only benefit from working with a skilled team but will also have the autonomy to drive their own research objectives. This balance of independence and collaboration is designed to offer a rich and rewarding research experience, while contributing to the success of the broader project. 

Technical Skills

The ideal student for this project should possess a range of technical skills to effectively contribute to the research. Key skills and experiences include: 

Laboratory Skills: Basic lab experience is essential, particularly in soil analysis and handling. Familiarity with soil sampling techniques, moisture content measurement, and the use of laboratory instruments would be beneficial. Experience with soil chemical and physical property analysis is also an asset. 

Data Analysis and Software: Proficiency in data analysis software, such as R, Python, or SPSS, is crucial for processing and interpreting experimental data. The student should be comfortable handling large datasets and performing statistical analyses. Familiarity with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software would also be an advantage for spatial data analysis, particularly when examining soil characteristics across different locations. 

Research Methods: Experience with experimental design and research methodologies is desirable. The student should have the ability to follow established protocols for soil testing, manage field and laboratory experiments, and ensure data accuracy. Knowledge of moisture retention curves and soil water movement methods will be beneficial. 

Strong Writing and Communication Skills: The student should possess solid writing skills for drafting research reports, analyzing findings, and contributing to scientific papers or presentations. Clear communication is important for collaborating with the project team and sharing results effectively. 

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: The ability to troubleshoot experimental challenges, interpret complex results, and think critically about the data is key to success in this project. 

Psychological responses to climate awareness

Supervisor: Dr. Sandeep B Maharaj

Faculty: Medical Sciences

School of Pharmacy

Location: UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago

Project Description

The project will conduct research on psychological responses to climate awareness and the corresponding mental health impacts in young people in Australia, the Caribbean, the Philippines and the UK, East Africa and co-design, implement and evaluate relevant non-clinical interventions that enable individuals and groups to better cope with and act on the climate crisis.  

Research questions: 

1. What are young people’s mental health challenges as a result of climate change across cultures, geographies (the Philippines, Australia, the Caribbean, East Africa and the UK), and exposure to climate hazards, including the impacts on psychological function, daily lives, climate agency, and the extent that their emotional responses are adaptive or maladaptive? 

2. What existing and new interventions can support young people’s mental health in response to climate change and further their climate agency?

The student over the period would be tasked with:

  • Analysing the survey data.  

  • Analysing the survey, group discussion and ethnographic data for the Resilience.

  • Strategise how the findings from the mapping of the literature, the group discussions and surveys with young people from the Caribbean, the Philippines and Australia and the evaluation of the Resilience Project can inform the design of interventions to support young people in the Caribbean, the Philippines and Australia with climate change-related mental health.  

  • Co-design/amend, pilot and evaluate the relevant interventions. 

Project Team

Core Team: This study is led by Imperial College London as part of a global coalition. The core team (referred to in this document as ‘project team’) consists of:  

  • Dr Emma Lawrance, Dr John Jamir Benzon Aruta, Dr Ans Vercammen, Prof Fiona Charlson, Dr Dr. Sandep Maharaj, Britt Wray, Dr Daniella Watson : Imperial College London, UK; De La Salle University, Philippines; Curtin University, Australia; University of Queensland, Australia; The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus; Stanford University, United States 

  • Steering Group of Collaborators: The project will be overseen by an Advisory Board of global experts across climate change, mental health, and their intersection.  

  • Young Person’s Advisory Group: Each country will have one (or two) young people, who will be part of the Steering Group. They will lead on connecting with young people in communities in their countries, and contribute to young person-focussed project outputs/speaking opportunities etc. The Young Person’s Advisory Group will support the naming of the project, the aims of the project and the methods used. For the evaluation of the Resilience Project, a separate Young Person’s Advisory group, known as the Board of Youth, will be formed with 5-7 young people internationally. 

Technical Skills

A student with a background in psychology and good written and statistical analysis skills would be beneficial. 

Additional Project Information

Dr. Sandeep Bhupendra Maharaj is a pharmacist and has done his graduate studies in Business Management (MBA and DBA). He serves as a Senior Lecturer and Director of the School of Pharmacy and Director of the Entrepreneurship and Business Transformation Office for the Faculty at The UWI, St. Augustine. Dr Maharaj is the Planetary Health Alliance’s Emeritus Global Outreach Fellow now based at the Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University.  The Principal Investigator for the Caribbean Climate Cares Project, a member of the Core Team of the Imperial College-led Project Connecting Climate Minds, and the Project Manager of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Coordinating Committee of Connecting Climate Minds He has also been appointed to the leadership committee for Clinicians for Planetary Health and Co-Coordinator for COP2 for Latin America and the Caribbean. Most recently he has been appointed the CEO of the Caribbean Sepsis and AMR Alliance an arm of the Global Sepsis Alliance.  

In the realm of community service, Dr. Maharaj previously served as the Deputy Chairman of the Eastern Regional Health Authority, Ministry of Health Trinidad and Tobago, and Chairman of the National Health Services Company Limited. He continues to serve as a member of the Council for Professions Allied to Medicine.   

  1. Seon Q, Greaves N, Campbell M, Anderson S, Henry P, Augustus E, Cummings E, Kendall L, Wheeler E, Vercammen A, Lawrance E. Exploratory empirical model of combined effects of COVID-19 and climate change on youth mental health. Nature Mental Health. 2024 Feb;2(2):218-27. 

  1. Seon Q, Maharaj S, Dookeeram D, Ali K, Seemungal T. Leveraging research, community and collaboration towards robust COVID-19 mental health response in the Caribbean. The Lancet Regional Health–Americas. 2023 Mar 1;19.  

  1. Vercammen A, Yatirajula SK, Daniel M, Maharaj S, Campbell MH, Greaves N, Guinto R, Aruta JJ, Peñamante CA, Wray B, Lawrance EL. Investigating the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change in Youth: Design and Implementation of the International Changing Worlds Study. Challenges. 2023 Aug 5;14(3):34. 

  1. Lawrance, E.L., Massazza, A., Pantelidou, I. et al. Connecting Climate Minds: a shared vision for the climate change and mental health field. Nat. Mental Health 2, 121–125 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00196-9

Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Perceptions, Intentions, and Drivers

Supervisor: Dr. Pricilla Bahaw

Faculty: Food and Agriculture

Department: Agricultural Economics and Extension

Location: UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago

Project Description

Entrepreneurs in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique disadvantages due to the region's economic vulnerabilities. To overcome these challenges, pursuing sustainable entrepreneurship instead of conventional entrepreneurship may offer a promising solution. This is because customers are increasingly inclined towards companies that prioritize environmental and social value, and stakeholders recognize the importance of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). While there is ample literature on conventional entrepreneurial intentions in the Caribbean islands, there is a lack of research on sustainable entrepreneurship intentions. To bridge this gap, this study aims to explore sustainable entrepreneurial intentions among entrepreneurs in Caribbean SIDS. It does so by extending the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to incorporate the influence of contextual disadvantages specific to SIDS. These disadvantages include small size, insularity and remoteness, and susceptibility to natural disasters, as measured by the SIDS vulnerability index variables. The hypothesis of this study posits that external barriers associated with SIDS contextual disadvantages affect the perceived behavioral control component of the theory of planned behavior, thereby impacting sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. To conduct this research, a cross-sectional quantitative research design with an explanatory focus will be employed. Data collection will take place between September 2024 and January 2025 through online surveys using structured questionnaires. Two target samples will be considered: 385 business owners/managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and 370 higher educational institute (HEI) students who have completed or are enrolled in at least one entrepreneurship course. There is a qualitative follow-up to this study where in-depth interviews will be conducted with sustainable entrepreneurs to ascertain their lived experiences examining the drivers, challenges, and outcomes of sustainable entrepreneurship. The findings of this research are expected to provide a valuable theoretical foundation for further research on sustainability-driven entrepreneurial intentions in SIDS. Additionally, the practical implications of this study aim to inform policymakers and entrepreneurship educators in their efforts to promote sustainable entrepreneurship activity, resilience, and economic advancement in the region. 

During their internship, the student will play a crucial role in supporting the research process. I will guide them through the standard duties associated with reviewing literature, such as using search engines, identifying journal papers, reading, and producing a comprehensive literature review on the topic. If they possess statistical skills, I can oversee them in exporting the data, running tests, and interpreting results. Additionally, they will assist in drafting sections of the research findings and preparing presentations that articulate the implications of the study for policymakers and educators. 

This internship will provide the student with practical research experience, enhancing their skills in literature review, quantitative data analysis, and academic writing. I will facilitate opportunities for the student to co-present work with me publicly should any event arise during the internship period. Furthermore, if possible, there is also a qualitative component of this study. While the student does not need any skills in this area, should there be any opportunities to meet with a few Caribbean sustainable entrepreneurs for face-to-face interviews, I can give the student a chance to meet with them and observe/assist with this component so they can gain exposure to other forms of data collection methods. Their involvement will not only contribute to the project's success but also enrich their academic and professional development, making this a transformative experience. 

Project Team

The student will be working alongside the principal investigator, Dr. Priscilla Bahaw.

Technical Skills

Literature Review Skills: The student should have strong skills in reviewing literature and identifying research gaps, with an emphasis on grounding their study in relevant scholarship. 

Quantitative Data Analysis: Experience in quantitative data analysis will be an asset, particularly with conducting Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using tools such as AMOS, Smart PLS, SPSS, or other similar software to test relationships effectively. 

Interpretation of results is also favorable 

Additional Project Information

Dr Priscilla Bahaw currently serves as a lecturer in Entrepreneurship in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. Over the course of her career, she has successfully guided and nurtured entrepreneurship students in universities and colleges across the Caribbean, UK, USA, and Australia. Dr. Bahaw is not only an accomplished educator but also an active member of esteemed organisations such as USASBE (United States of America Small Business Association), GEN (Global Entrepreneurship Network), GPPE (Global Poverty Prevention through Entrepreneurship), and the SEEDS committee, which focuses on Social Entrepreneurship for Economic Development.  

With a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship and Commercial Studies, Dr. Bahaw has a strong research focus on using entrepreneurship as a tool for sustainable development and economic development, particularly in marginalised populations.  Dr. Bahaw's expertise extends beyond academia as she collaborates with various ministries on entrepreneurship development initiatives and is a proud business owner herself.  Combining her academic acumen with her real-world experience, Dr. Bahaw aims to conduct impactful research to guide those in public policy and education.

Understanding Agroecological Systems in Small Island Developing States of the Caribbean

Supervisor: Dr. Arlette Saint Ville

Faculty: Food and Agriculture

Department: Geography

Location: UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago

Project Description

Food system researchers have recognized that smallholder farming is foundational to food security in LDCs, serves as a catalyst for nature-based solutions and is key to enhance use of agroecological practices with notable benefits to sustainability. Less is known about how agroecological practices support resilience and challenges faced in designing, setting up and sustaining agroecological systems on small farms in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The summer project connects to this research gap by focusing on two main objectives. The first involves desk research on building sustainable agroecological systems in the Caribbean to produce an in-depth literature review on activities and benefits associated with the design of resilient agroecology for smallholder farmers in SIDS of the Caribbean. The second involves collecting data and conducting preliminary data analysis on the operation of an agroecology living lab (LL) which will meet online and involve smallholder farmers, field workers, farm managers, researchers, soil scientists, agriculturalists, nutritionists, food scientists, retailers in two settings of the Caribbean. It is expected that this exploratory qualitative case study will provide an in-depth analysis of the technical problems and data gaps involved in the design, implementation of resilient agroecological systems in the Caribbean.

Project Team

The work to be conducted will be primarily desk-based and involve use of peer and grey literature conducted in the Caribbean on agroecological systems. Additionally the student will participate as an independent observer and conduct analysis on qualitative data generated from an agroecology LL which will involve primary data collection (online interviews, online focused group discussions) collected by the student and other qualitative data previously collected (minutes, reports) made available to the student. The student will be supervised by Senior Lecturer Dr Arlette Saint Ville and work with an existing NIHR project specifically on the sites in the Caribbean setting. Their work will mostly be independent, online and office-based.

Technical Skills

The student will need to have some experience with GIS since this tool would be helpful in mapping of the farms in the two Caribbean settings, identifying any spatial issues related to setting up of the farms and conducting spatial analysis. Experience with collection of qualitative research especially online observation, focused group discussions, interviews and assessment of meeting minutes would be invaluable. 

Additional Project Information

This summer project is a component of the Global CFaH is a project that seeks to improve household health and food security by promoting agroecological community-based food production in three island locations (Caribbean, South Pacific, Philippines) with nine research partners. Please see the project website for more information: https://communityfoodplanetaryhealth.org/our-projects/global-cfah

Dr. Arlette Saint Ville is a co-investigator on the Global CFaH and in the Caribbean the project is working in two islands: Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). The project is led by the co-PIs, including Dr. Maddy Murphy from the George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre based at The UWI Cave Hill. 

Website: https://uwischolar.sta.uwi.edu/scholar/3698c50a-fb5e-32e2-9649-ba34be4dd5ea

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=lCIjF84AAAAJ&hl=en

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arlette-Ville

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