Daniel Fortier

Daniel Fortier is a Professor at the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Montreal. He serves as Director of the Geocryolab (Laboratoire de géomorphologie et géotechnique des régions froides) and is affiliated with the Centre d'études nordiques. His research focuses on permafrost dynamics, geomorphology, and climate change impacts in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. He holds a PhD from Université Laval (2005) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Fortier's expertise includes permafrost degradation mechanisms, geotechnical applications for northern infrastructure, and paleoclimatic reconstructions. He has supervised over 20 graduate students, with notable projects on thermo-erosion gullies, cryostratigraphy, and permafrost-vegetation interactions. His work has been recognized with the Prix Roger Brown (2020) for exceptional contributions to permafrost science.

• Key Projects:
  • Multidisciplinary Observatory for Arctic Climate Change (MOACC) - Monitoring extreme events
  • Subsea and terrestrial permafrost studies in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago
  • NSERC Permafrost Partnership Network for Canada
• Grants:
  • NSERC Discovery Grants
  • Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding
  • Collaborative projects with Indigenous communities and utilities

His research spans fieldwork in Nunavik, Yukon, Alaska, and the Canadian High Arctic, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to address climate change challenges in northern ecosystems.