Ciara Donegan

My name is Ciara and I am a masters student at University College Dublin and Justus Liebig University, as part of a joint degree program between the two universities. I was supervised by Stephanie Coulombe and Daniel Fortier for my SEDNA internship at the University of Montreal during the start of 2026.

Through this project, I have gotten to analyze permafrost core samples in the lab, previously collected from Grise Fiord in the far north of Canada. Understanding the conditions of permafrost in the area is important for the town’s residents, since thawing permafrost can impact the landscape, water quality, and other important aspects for life in the permafrost zone. I got to gain experience in the lab analyzing the physical properties of permafrost samples, such as their mass and volume, ice content, and grain size distribution. I also was able to help out with a project that other members of the lab were working on, analyzing the pH and electrical conductivity of sediment samples, something that will have an impact on the quality of nearby water sources as the permafrost thaws.

My previous background in research has all been computer-based, working with climate model outputs or meteorological observations, so this experience working in the lab and literally getting my hands dirty has been very valuable. I’m interested in the various interactions between the Earth, atmosphere, oceans, and environment, and working with coastal permafrost has been a great opportunity to see a place where those different “spheres” merge. I’ve also enjoyed the chance to live in Quebec and try to dust off my knowledge of French, even if I’m still very rusty!