Jobs in EOAS

We are seeking a research associate in the field of stratigraphy, sediment provenance, and structural geology in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Science. The position will join a team working on the nature and timing of collisional and post-collisional tectonic events in the Canadian cordillera. The project will include extensive field work involving stratigraphic and structural analyses It will also involve sample preparation, sample analysis, and data analysis, as well as publication and presentation at international science conferences. The selected candidate will collaborate with faculty members and students at UBC and other institutions, and will mentor undergraduate and graduate student projects.

We seek a researcher with demonstrated experience integrating structural and tectonic data with stratigraphic and provenance data in order to develop tectonic interpretations. This individual should have exceptional communication and organizational skills, and a strong record in teaching and mentoring students. Because the geologic setting in western Canada is closely related to ongoing mining activities, we seek a candidate with mining experience who can interact with and communicate mining-relevant interpretations to local exploration and mining operators. 

The following are all required: 

• A PhD with a specialization in structural geology and tectonics and familiarity with sediment provenance and stratigraphy
• A minimum of 6 months of field experience
• A minimum of 2 years of laboratory sample preparation, data acquisition, and data analysis experience
• A minimum of 2 years (4 semesters) of teaching experience
• A minimum of 5 years of mining experience
• An established publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• An established record of presentations at international geoscience conferences
• The ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; strong inter-personal skills and the ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner.

The following are all strongly desired: a specialization in determining the timing of collisional events; familiarity with quantitative sediment provenance methods; and experience in teaching undergraduate students.

The candidate will work creatively with minimal supervision, will make independent decisions, will have wide latitude in task scheduling to deliver technical reports meeting firm deadlines, and discuss design progress, results, changes, and suggestions with project supervisors.

The position requires the ability to write and present technical materials and reports, and also high-level skills in reviewing and quality-controlling field and experimental data. Successful candidates must be able to compile literature data and analyze field and experimental data with a high level of proficiency.

This position is for a one-year term, the expected pay range for this position is $68,000 to $70,000 per annum. Candidates can submit their application here: https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacultyjobs/job/Research-Associate_JR21264-1  . Deadline of submission of applications is on July 18, 2025 (11:59 pm PST).

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. 

term: 2 years with the possibility to extend
preferred start: on or before Sept 1, 2025
salary: $70,000 CAD
location: UBC Vancouver campus
supervisor: Dr. Lindsey Heagy (lheagy@eoas.ubc.ca)
 

Description
Applications are invited for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in applied and environmental geophysics. The main project will focus on the use of electromagnetic data for detecting and classifying unexploded ordnance (UXO). Specifically, this project will look at combining physics-based and machine learning approaches to develop an automated way to identify regions with a high density of metallic objects where traditional classification methods fail. This project builds upon our previous work in which we developed a workflow for the classification of UXOs based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and is a collaborative project with our industry partners at Black Tusk Geophysics. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will have opportunities to collaborate with other researchers at UBC-GIF, working on a range of applications, including mineral exploration, carbon capture and storage, and environmental studies. Our group actively contributes to open-source software (SimPEG) and open educational resources (GeoSci.xyz). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to use and contribute to these projects and engage with other efforts to promote open science. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been under-represented or discouraged. We particularly encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

About UBC-GIF
The University of British Columbia Geophysical Inversion Facility ( UBC-GIF ) is an academic research unit within the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) at UBC. Our research is methods-oriented and focuses on advancing numerical modelling, inversions, and machine learning for applied and environmental geophysics. We engage with industry collaborators in mineral exploration and with environmental firms. Our mission is to advance quantitative methods for using geophysical data to help solve problems that are important to society. We do this by: (a) developing methods in numerical simulations, inversions, and machine learning to extract insights from geophysical data, (b) advancing quantitative methods and tools that facilitate the integration of data, (c) maintaining and disseminating open-source software, and (d) training highly qualified geoscientists.

Requirements

• Motivated to use geophysical data for solving applied problems
• PhD in geophysics, physics, mathematics, computer science or related quantitative
  field
• Proficiency with programming. Python preferred
• Experience with numerical modelling
• Familiarity with inverse theory
• Experience with machine learning
• Familiarity with electromagnetic methods desired
• Capacity to lead projects with collaborators

Additional details
A description of benefits is available here:
https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc/faculty-titles-ranks-and-descriptions/postdoctoral-fellows

Application process

Please email Dr. Heagy (lheagy@eoas.ubc.ca) using the subject: UBC-GIF postdoc
application and provide:

• a current curriculum vitae
• a short (1 page or less) description of research interests
• one recent publication
• names and contact information for 2 references (no letters necessary)

Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled.