Research Groups

Learn about Research Groups in EOAS—projects, team members, opportunities, and more!

  • Geochemistry

Principal Investigator:

Matthijs A. Smit

UBC AGILE is a research team dedicated to investigating the dynamics and evolution of the lithosphere through the chronology, petrology and geochemistry of metamorphosed rocks.
  • Oceanography

Principal Investigator:

Philippe Tortell

Our research focuses on understanding the biological, chemical and physical factors regulating oceanic primary productivity and the concentration of climate active gases including carbon dioxide (CO2), dimethylsulfide (DMS), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The Tortell Biogeochemistry group has made significant contributions to the development and implementation of new measurement techniques based on sea-going mass spectrometry, optical measurements and tracer-based rate incubation experiments.

  • Mineral Deposits

Principal Investigator:

Maya Kopylova

The Diamond Exploration Lab carries out petrological and mineralogical studies of kimberlites, mantle xenoliths and diamonds to uncover the structure, thermal regime and processes in the diamondiferous upper mantle. The Lab also studies petrology and volcanology of Canadian kimberlites and other primary diamondiferous rocks.
  • Geological Engineering

Principal Investigator:

Scott McDougall

We develop geohazard risk analysis tools and techniques that help practitioners answer key questions about geohazard occurrences, consequences and management.

 

  • Geophysics

Principal Investigator:

Mark Jellinek

Prof Jellinek's group researches a broad range of topics, from the microphysics of chemical scavenging inside volcanic clouds, to large Earth systems problems linking climate cycles to changing landscapes and melting ice sheets. All our research has a linking theme of geophysical fluid dynamics - whether from the slow flowing ice sheets in glaciers, swirling seawater carrying particulates from deep-sea mining operations, or interaction of superheated gasses released from volcanic vents. 

  • Hydrogeology

Principal Investigator:

Ali Ameli

We explore how water and solutes move within watersheds. We develop quantitative tools to advance the knowledge of sources, pathways, and residence time of water and solutes.
  • Oceanography

Principal Investigator:

Curtis Suttle

Research in the Suttle laboratory is primarily focussed on viruses and their role in the environment. The work ranges from the characterization of viruses isolated from the environment to quatifiying the role of viruses in microbial mortality and nutrient cycling. The techniques employed range from nucleic-acid sequencing to oceanographic sampling. Some current projects are examining viruses and their roles in the oceans, high Arctic, deep mines, aeolian dust, lakes and migratory-bird ponds.

  • Mineral Deposits

Principal Investigator:

Shaun Barker

Our research focuses on regional to deposit scale controls on base and precious metal deposits particularly copper and gold, improving ore body knowledge, and method development. Innovation is in our DNA – from new analytical technology to new geoscientific data, we are at the cutting edge of mineral deposit research.

  • Oceanography

Principal Investigator:

Rich Pawlowicz

People in the Ocean Dynamics Laboratory are interested in understanding how the oceans work. Heat goes in (and out), fresh water and different chemicals are added (and subtracted), and resulting changes in density create pressure gradients that drive currents - which are in turn modified by the tidal effects of the moon, the spin of the earth, and friction against the solid boundaries.  We make ocean measurements and use math to interpret and understand these measurements in terms of fundamental fluid dynamical laws.

  • Geochemistry

Principal Investigator:

Dominique Weis

The Pacific Centre for Isotopic and Geochemical Research (PCIGR) is a shared research platform that is dedicated to excellence and innovation in geochemistry, providing analytical services to the research community.
  • Planetary Science

Principal Investigator:

Catherine Johnson

Prof Johnson runs a small group that focus on comparative planetary geophysics: the magnetic fields of Mercury, Mars, Earth and the Moon; lithospheric structure on, and interior evolution of, Venus; lunar and martian seismicity and interior structure. 

  • Climate Science

Principal Investigator:

Anais Orsi

  • Hydrogeology

Principal Investigator:

Mark Johnson

Our group engages in basic and applied ecohydrology research in agricultural, forested, wetland and urban systems. UBCEcohydrology is home to the CFI-funded Integrated Watershed Analysis Laboratory (IWAL).
  • Atmospheric Science

Principal Investigator:

Roland Stull

The Weather Forecast Research Team (WFRT) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) studies weather-related and other natural disasters, with an ultimate goal of enhancing the Canadian economy and saving lives. The major tool of the WFRT is a massively-parallel 552-core high-performance computer (HPC), which is used to solve fluid-flow equations describing weather as affect renewable energy, forest fires, climate and other natural phenomena.