Graduate Opportunities

Interested in numerical modelling of plate tectonic processes? Our research group is looking for graduate students (MSc or PhD) to work on these broad topics:

1. Numerical modelling of Canadian Arctic tectonics

2. Critical mineral exploration and early Earth dynamics

3. Numerical modelling of supercontinent and super volcanoes

4. The role of lithospheric structures on intraplate earthquakes in China

In our group, we conduct research on plate tectonic processes using numerical models and data science techniques. Specifically, we are big on using High Performance Computing as well as python coding to create and analyse data on earthquakes, continental rifting, mountain building, and super-volcanoes.

Our philosophy is to train graduates students up to have technical skills in computational analysis and science communication that are applicable to both academia and industry. The overall goal of the research group is to make graduate students employable by becoming an expert in a (highly employable) transferable skill (e.g., computational simulations) and to be able to effectively communicate to diverse audiences.

For more information and to meet out research group: https://philheron.com/environmental-geophysics-group/

If you would like this information via a short recruitment video: https://youtu.be/2r7DBGrFq-8

If you are interested in these positions, please contact Professor Phil Heron.

A PhD position is available for a project using coralline algal geochemistry to study paleoclimates and sea-ice change in the Arctic. Students with a background in Geoscience, Bioscience or Climate Physics are encouraged to apply.

Contact Professor Jochen Halfar for details ahead of deadline.

Development of molecular markers for the study of carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry

Plants, microbes, and anthropogenic organic sources have distinct molecular fingerprints which can be used to monitor a number of environmental processes throughout the biogeosphere. This project will aim to develop and apply these methods to study: carbon and nitrogen cycling, fluxes of terrestrial carbon into marine systems, and paleoclimatic reconstruction in Arctic Lake sediments.

For more information, please contact Professor Myrna Simpson or visit the Myrna Simpson Group.

A graduate research assistantship is available to pursue research in microorganism– mineral interactions, to evaluate the role of bacterial extracellular polymers to precipitation carbonates and iron minerals in biofilms combining microscopic and spectroscopic methods and field studies. The student will join a research group working on several funded projects focusing on biogeochemistry of phototrophic and heterotrophic bacteria in aquatic systems.

Contact Professor Maria Dittrich for information.

We seek a motivated individual with a background in Paleoceanography, Chemical Oceanography, or Earth SyDepartmente for an exciting PhD position in our research group. Dive into the fascinating realm of carbon and sulfur biogeochemical cycling and its impact on seawater chemistry and carbon dioxide levels!

Our group investigates the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and sulfur and how it affects seawater chemistry through time. We use the Python-based Earth Science Modeling Toolkit to explore, e.g., how changes in the weathering burial fluxes of sulfur affect the marine carbonate system (i.e., atmospheric CO₂, the CCD, etc.). Current projects explore, e.g., how the oxidation of sedimentary pyrite during glacial sea-level lowstands contributes to glacial terminations or how large-scale fluctuations in seawater sulfate concentrations affect organic matter remineralization and nutrient cycling. While knowledge of Python is beneficial, it’s not a requirement.

Our research group is associated with the interdisciplinary Center for Global Change Science. We encourage students to take advantage of the numerous professional development opportunities offered through the University (e.g., leadership training, EDI awareness, outreach opportunities, etc.), as well as to participate in subject-specific international summer schools (e.g., IODP summer school on “Past Global Change Reconstruction and Modeling Techniques”).

Located in Toronto, North America’s fourth largest city (after Los Angeles), you’ll benefit from a diverse and vibrant city, excellent public transport, and a lively cultural scene. Our department is committed to the principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and my research group provides a safe and inclusive working environment, irrespective of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. The advertised position can accommodate various physical disabilities and can be structured to accommodate caregiver obligations. We particularly invite students from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to black and indigenous applicants, and the University of Toronto provides various bursaries to support equity on campus. Read more about Equity on Campus.

The position is fully funded for four years, including medical coverage and benefits, with a starting date of September 1, 2024. Apply by consulting the departmental application requirements, and contact the PI (include a CV, GPA, and unofficial transcripts) well before the application deadline (January 1, 2024). Examples of recent research projects in our group can be found on Professor Wortmann's faculty profile.

Landscapes are shaped by lithologic contrasts, tectonic uplift, and the erosive forces of rivers, glaciers, and landslides. In addition to the timely opportunity listed below, I am looking for PhD students to investigate this tectonic geomorphology and landscape evolution in general, and am open to project ideas that involve fieldwork, GIS, and cosmogenic nuclide dating. For more information, please contact Professor Lindsay Schoenbohm or visit Professor Schoenbohm's website. 

PhD opportunity in tectonics/tectonic geomorphology

We are looking for a PhD student for an NSF and NSERC funded project investigating the tectonic evolution of the Puna Plateau, Argentina and the potential influence of lithospheric foundering on tectonic deformation. The student will undertake field-focused research involving geologic mapping, structural analyses, measured stratigraphic sections, and geochronology as part of a larger, multi-disciplinary project to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Puna Plateau. The position is at the University of Toronto Department of Earth Sciences and will be co-advised by Lindsay Schoenbohm (UTM) and Alex Tye (Utah Tech University). The student will also interact closely with project co-PIs and collaborators Marissa Tremblay (Purdue), Joyce Sim and Mitchell McMillan (Georgia Tech), and Patricio Payrola (Universidad Nacional de Salta). Interested candidates should contact Lindsay Schoenbohm (lindsay.schoenbohm@utoronto.ca) to discuss the project.

The Earthquake Physics Lab at the University of Toronto Mississauga has opportunities available for motivated graduate students interested in earthquake triggering mechanisms, fluid-fault interactions, repeating earthquakes, and earthquake swarm sequences. For mor information, please contact Professor Semechah Lui or visit the lab's website.

Graduate research opportunities are available in the area of computational seismology with applications to full-waveform inversions of continental-scale and regional scale tectonic structures, as well as microseismic and induced earthquake source characterizations. Contact Professor Qinya Liu.

Looking for motivated graduate students to work on environmental geophysics projects related to cryosphere (e.g., permafrost dynamics, lake ice properties, and snow hydrology) and groundwater processes using a combination of non-invasive field geophysical methods, geophysical modeling, remote sensing, and laboratory measurements. For more information, please contact Professor Rodrigo Rangel.

Studies of the origin, residence times and geochemical signatures of deep crustal fluids and the subsurface microbial communities that are sustained by water-rock reactions in the deep Earth.

Contact Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar.

Visit the Sherwood Lollar Research group for the most up-to-date information about their current research.

Studies of hydrocarbon contaminants in groundwater using field, laboratory, and modelling applications of compound specific (carbon and hydrogen) isotope analysis (CSIA)

Contact Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar.

Visit the Sherwood Lollar Research group for the most up-to-date information about their current research.

Two Masters graduate student positions are available for 2026-2027.

Evaluating rainfall-runoff response thresholds across contrasting urban environments

Thresholds in precipitation–runoff relationships have been observed extensively for natural catchments across contrasting environments. Knowledge gaps remain about thresholds between meteorological factors that quantify volumes or depths of water (e.g., total event rainfall) and metrics capturing hydrologic response magnitude (e.g., runoff ratio) for urban watersheds. This graduate research opportunity will focus on investigating hydrologic thresholds of contrasted urban watersheds with variable geology, climate, engineering design standards, and stormwater policy. The graduate student will analyze globally available watershed physiographic data, hydrometeorological data, and available water resources engineering data for several watersheds across contrasting urban environments. This project aims to advance our collective understanding of nonlinear hydrologic behavior for urban watersheds.

Estimating urban watershed summer nutrient loads using generalized additive models

Characterization of water storage-discharge and concentration-discharge relationships is important to accurately predict nutrient loading from streams. This is important as excess phosphorus and nitrogen promote algae growth causing eutrophication. While agriculture is primarily viewed as the largest contributor of phosphorus and nitrogen, urban sources from stormwater runoff, wastewater, lawn fertilizer, and pet waste still contribute to downstream loading. This field-based graduate research opportunity will leverage existing discharge and stormwater sampling infrastructure in the Black Creek research catchment to sample a suite of parameters during events and inter-event periods to preform hydrometric and chemical characterization of water samples. This research will then explore the use of linear and generalized additive models (GAMs) for estimating nutrient loads during the summer season. Outcomes of this work include prediction of high-frequency stream nutrient fluxes which are required for informing broader nutrient management strategies for heavily urbanized watersheds.

For more information contact Professor Sarah Ariano.

Do you have a Marine Geology/Oceanography/Paleoceanography background, an interest in data science/modeling? Are you looking for MSc or a PhD project? I mainly use python based models to understand how changes in the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and sulfur affect ocean chemistry. My group tackles questions like, how do glacial/interglacial sea-level changes affect marine productivity? How does climate change affect oxygen availability in the ocean? See Professor Wortmann's faculty profile for recent papers and recorded talks. My research team is a small, welcoming group committed to the principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. All positions are fully funded.

Graduate student opportunities are available to investigate past hydroclimate and environmental changes in the Canadian Arctic and/or Pacific Northwest through the geochemical analysis of Plio-Pleistocene speleothems. Applicants should have prior research experience and a degree in Earth Science, Physical Geography, Environmental Science, Chemistry or related discipline. Contact Professor Kathleen Wendt.

One graduate student position is available for research on paleoecology of temperate or boreal/sub-arctic peatlands using microfossil indicators and reconstructions of carbon fluxes over the Holocene and Pleistocene Epochs. Applicants should have a degree in Earth Science, Physical Geography, Environmental Science, Ecology or related discipline and applicable research experience. Contact Professor Sarah Finkelstein.

Projects are available for motivated graduate students to work on mineralogical and geochemical projects related to martian meteorites, rare achondrites and carbonaceous chondrite projects. Carbonaceous chondrite projects are preparing for the OSIRIS-REx mission to return material from Bennu. Contact Professor Kim Tait.

The long-term goal of the Bergquist research program is to use Hg isotopes in improve our understanding of the Hg biogeochemical cycle and to develop Hg isotopes as a proxy of past environmental changes. Mercury is a globally distributed metal that bioaccumulates in aquatic food webs leading to dangerous exposure to humans and wildlife. Mercury is often emitted the atmosphere in its reduced form, gaseous elemental Hg (GEM), by both primary natural (e.g. volcanic, hydrothermal) and anthropogenic sources (e.g. artisanal small scale gold mining, coal burning) and by secondary re-emissions from the ocean and soils. GEM is relatively stable and has a long residence time (~0.5 to 1 yr), which allows it to be distributed globally. Despite decades of research, many knowledge gaps hinder our understanding of both the modern and past Hg cycle and make it challenging to predict how changes in emissions and climate will affect the Hg cycle along with limiting our ability to utilize Hg and Hg isotopes as proxies of past environmental change. For example a recent assessment of GEM exchange to and from terrestrial surfaces highlighted that very large uncertainties still exist over the controls and fluxes of GEM especially in forested ecosystems to the point that hinders our ability to determine whether some ecosystems are net sources or sinks of Hg. Another area that is heatly debated is the relative contribution of different sources of Hg to the atmosphere such as coal combustion and artisanal and small scale gold mining at local, regional and global scales.

While mercury isotopic fingerprinting is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for tracking sources of mercury, its application to atmospheric source tracking is hampered by the difficulty to collect sufficient amounts of mercury from air for reliable isotopic quantification and/or by the possibility of imposing inconsistent levels of fractionation during sampling. Recently, a new highly precise passive air sampler for GEM concentrations was developed (McLagan et al., 2016). This low-cost sampler can collect GEM from air for periods of at least one year, and can collect sufficient mercury for isotopic analysis even at typical background concentrations. The U of Toronto Trace Metal and Metal Isotope Laboratory is seeking a PhD to lay the groundwork for confidently applying the passive Hg sampling technique for atmospheric source identification.

1. Perform a number of laboratory and field experiments to confirm the extent and reproducibility of the mercury isotope composition and potential fractionation occurring during passive sampling.
2. Conduct a reconnaissance of the spatial and temporal variability of the isotopic signature of mercury in the atmosphere.
3. Deploy the passive sampler along transects of increasing distance from known sources of gaseous mercury to establish the extent to which a source’s possible unique isotopic fingerprint fades into the regional background signal by dilution.

For more information, please contact Professors Bridget Bergquist and Barbara Sherwood Lollar.