PhD student in Integrated Geophysical Modelling and Interpretation

Selection process number
2026-RSN-EA-GEMS-683750

Location
St. John's(Newfoundland and Labrador),Ottawa(Ontario)

Employment tenure
This Research Affiliate Program (RAP) Bursary at the PhD level will start on September 1, 2027, and end on December 31, 2031.

Salary
Scholarship of approximately $30,000 (year
1), $32,700 (year
2) and $35,700 (year
3) divided into 3 equal installments each year.

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Students enrolled or able to enroll in in a PhD program at the Memorial University of Newfoundland with specialization in Geophysics, or other relevant specialization. Proof will be required before the start date.

To be considered for RAP opportunities, students must be:
1. Recognized as having full-time student status by the post-secondary academic institution at which they are presently enrolled OR be a part-time student who is recognized by their academic institution as a having a disability;
2. The minimum age to work in the province or territory where the job is located; AND
3. Enrolled in an academic program that requires research as part of their curriculum.

Duties
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in electromagnetic geophysics, numerical modelling, inversion, and geological interpretation.

Candidates with quantitative or computational background who wish to develop expertise in MT methods are also encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will undertake research in the following areas:
1. Analysis and characterization of regional Magntotelluric (MT) data. The student will carry out comprehensive analysis of the data from the Rusty Lake and Lynn Lake region to identify regional electrical and structural trends.

The objective will be to develop an understanding of the MT dataset prior to three-dimensional inversion and to identify features that may have geological or tectonic significance.
2. Three-dimensional MT inversion using established methods. The candidate will use the state-of-the-art techniques to numerically model the earth using MT data.
3. Three-dimensional inversion using a new algorithm. A major component of the PhD will involve application and further use of an in-house three-dimensional MT modelling and inversion algorithm developed at the Geological Survey of Canada.
4. Integrated geological and geophysical interpretation. The resulting 3-D electrical resistivity models will be interpreted jointly with reprocessed Lithoprobe seismic data, geological mapping, and other available geophysical and geoscientific datasets.

This component of the project will involve close collaboration with the Manitoba Geological Survey to incorporate regional geological knowledge into the interpretation and to investigate relationships between electrical resistivity structure, seismic architecture, lithology, tectonic boundaries, and mineral systems in the Rusty Lake and Lynn Lake belts.

Work environment
At Natural Resources Canada, a Federal government job means developing leadership skills, fostering teamwork, and supporting creativity and innovation. Canada's governments depend on geoscience to inform policy, manage the country's landmass and develop its natural resources responsibly. The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) is the national organization for geoscientific information and research. Since 1842 the Geological Survey of Canada has produced cutting-edge, authoritative geoscience to support mineral exploration, climate change research, marine and coastal resilience, and natural hazards mapping.

Our work supports decision-making in the mining and energy sectors, as well as national sovereignty, hazards risk management and more. The GSC is proud to create a workplace that supports an accessible, equitable, inclusive, and diverse workforce at the ready to tackle current and future science challenges. The GSC provides a stimulating work environment with a passionate team and promotes work-life balance.

Intent of the process
The intention is to staff one student position for the completion of a PhD degree in Geophysics at Memorial University of Newfoundland. The student will be supervised by Dr. Colin Farquharson at Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s), Dr. Seyed Masoud Ansari and Dr. Benjamin Lee at the…