My name is Perry Godse, and I am a PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton University specializing in cold regions engineering, with a focus on permafrost, ice, and climate-sensitive infrastructure. My path into northern research began through hands-on experience in winter construction and undergraduate work terms involving river ice booms and tower foundations in permafrost terrain. These early experiences sparked a long-term interest in how ice, soil, and water interact under extreme cold-climate conditions.
Professionally, I have worked in municipal linear infrastructure, ice road design, and environmental engineering, gaining exposure to the practical constraints of design, construction, operations, and climate resilience. I completed a Master’s degree in hydraulics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, focused on river meander erosion mechanics. I have also contributed to Rideau Canal ice bearing capacity analyses and conference publications during my early PhD work.
My current research within the NSERC CREATE-LEAP and PermaRail initiatives investigates permafrost thaw hazards along the Hudson Bay Railway. Using thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) using hydrodynamic approaches, I study the coupled numerical modelling of peat-fen transitions that drive thaw-induced instability in linear infrastructure. Through CREATE-LEAP, I aim to strengthen my interdisciplinary skills in modeling, fieldwork, and knowledge mobilization, positioning myself at the interface of research and practice to address emerging cold-region hazards under a changing climate.
