The Mineral Deposit Research Unit, hosted in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia is seeking two postdoctoral researchers to work on a NSERC Alliance funded program titled “Unlocking Canada’s sedimentary rock-hosted critical metal potential”.

A number of critical metals listed in Canada’s critical mineral strategy, including zinc, gallium, germanium, indium, uranium and cobalt are enriched in sedimentary rocks. The western Cordillera of Canada and Alaska contain several basins that contain sedimentary rocks of varying age from the Upper Paleoproterozoic to Late Cretaceous. These basins also contain significant deposits of Pb, Zn and Ag, alongside various critical metal byproducts including known Ga, Ge and In, as well as potentially Co and other critical metals.

We are seeking two postdoctoral researchers to work with several faculty and students in partnership with Fireweed Minerals, Teck Resources and the geological surveys of British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

One postdoctoral researcher will focus on understanding the basin environment into which sediment-hosted critical mineral deposits in the Selwyn Basin are hosted, with a particular focus on developing a detailed basin subsidence history, and would suit an individual with a background in sedimentology and basin studies. The other postdoctoral researcher will focus on understanding the mineralogy and geochemistry of sediment-hosted critical mineral deposits to understand what controls metal endowment and distribution at varying scales.

We highly value any of the following skills and knowledge for these positions:
Field experience and expertise in sedimentary rocks and/or mineral deposits Interest and/or expertise in sedimentary rocks and sedimentary basins Expertise in geochronology and/or radiogenic isotope geochemistry Experience in collection and interpretation of detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology data Expertise in mineralogy and mineral chemistry including use of scanning electron microscopy and laser ablation ICPMS

The salary range for these positions located in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences is expected to be $75,000 to $90,000 per annum, depending upon experience. The positions are three (3) years in length with a start date of September 2024 (or earlier).

Candidates can submit their application here: https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacultyjobs/details/Postdoctoral-Fellowship-on-Critical-Metals-in-Canada-sedimentary-rocks-2_JR16977

For more information about MDRU-Mineral Deposit Research Unit, please visit: http://www.mdru.ubc.ca/ and the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences visit http://www.eoas.ubc.ca

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.

Postdoctoral Fellowships on Critical Metals in Canada sedimentary rocks