The Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan invites
applications for a funded, full-time PhD studentship. The start date would be May 2027,
Sep 2027 or Jan 2028.

About the Position:
The project focuses on the sedimentary deposits enriched in rare earth elements
(REE) in Saskatchewan. The student will investigate how the REE are associated
with the deposits and develop geochronological methods to understand their
diagenetic and enrichment history. This research will contribute to our
understanding of critical mineral formations in Canada. The skills gained through
this project will be applicable to a variety of sedimentary deposits.
The student will be based full-time on the Saskatoon campus of the University of
Saskatchewan in Canada. The PhD student will be supervised by Dr. Man-Yin Tsang
(https://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/MTsang) in the Department of Geological
Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan.

Required qualifications:
• Research-based Master’s degree in a related discipline, such as
Geoscience, Mineralogy, Chemistry, or Physics.
• Strong academic performance (GPA ≥ 80%).
• Conducting lab experiments with care and attention to detail.
• Comfortable with mathematical calculations.
• Proficient in written and verbal communication in English.
• An international student would need to secure a student visa prior to the
start date.
Preferred qualifications:
• Research experience relevant to REE speciation, clay
mineralogy, mineral irradiation, electron spin resonance, or
synchrotron analysis.

How to Apply:
More information about this studentship and how to apply here!

Suitable candidates will be contacted for further information. Review of applications will
begin in Nov 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The PhD student will receive
a stipend but will be responsible for tuition and student fees. More information about the Geological Sciences PhD program can be found here: https://grad.usask.ca/programs/geological-sciences.php

The University of Saskatchewan is one of Canada’s 15 leading research
intensive universities, USask provides a highly collaborative research
environment with some of the best facilities and analytical tools in Canada,
including a synchrotron facility (the Canadian Light Source). The Department of
Geological Sciences is recognized internationally for excellence in research and
training. Our faculty, students, and staff explore physical, chemical, and
biological processes that have shaped our planet over the last 4.6 billion years.

The Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan invites
applications for a funded, research-based MSc studentship. The start date would be May 2027.

About the Position:
The project applies geochemical and mineralogical approaches to investigate
Canadian coastal environments affected by mining activities. The student will
conduct fieldwork to collect sediment and water samples (summer 2027), analyze
the sample composition of the samples in laboratories, and potentially conduct
experiments to examine the changes in environmental chemistry over time in
marine settings. Based on the results, the student will interpret and report the
findings to characterize the environmental conditions at the contaminated sites.
This research will contribute to our understanding of the long-term environmental
impact of the critical mineral supply chain in Canada.

The student will be based full-time on the Saskatoon campus of the University of
Saskatchewan. The MSc student will be supervised by Dr. Man-Yin Tsang
(https://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/MTsang) in the Department of Geological
Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan.

Required qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in a Geoscience or a related discipline, such as Chemistry.
• Strong academic performance (GPA ≥ 80%).
• Ability to conduct wet-chemistry lab work involving concentrated acids and to follow operating procedures and safety protocols.
• Proficient in written and verbal communication in English.
• An international student would need to secure a student visa prior to the start date.
Preferred qualifications:
• Hands-on experience in analytical (geo)chemistry and/or fieldwork collecting porewater samples.

How to Apply:
See the full job posting and how to apply here!

Suitable candidates will be contacted in Nov/Dec 2026 for further information. The MSc
student will receive a stipend but will be responsible for tuition and student fees.
More information about the Geological Sciences MSc program can be found here:
https://grad.usask.ca/programs/geological-sciences.php

The University of Saskatchewan is one of Canada’s 15 leading research intensive universities, USask provides a highly collaborative research environment with some of the best facilities and analytical tools in Canada, including a synchrotron facility (the Canadian Light Source). The Department of Geological Sciences is recognized internationally for excellence in research and training. Our faculty, students, and staff explore physical, chemical, and biological processes that have shaped our planet over the last 4.6 billion years.

Centre for Hydrology

July 29, 2026

Register now for Geography 827: Principles of Hydrology, offered as an intensive field school at the Barrier Lake Field Station, Kananaskis Centre, Alberta!

Learn more about the course and view the schedule here: Principles of Hydrology 2026

Alberta has been facing a surge of heavy rainfall and rapidly rising river levels, leading to localized flooding, campground closures, and growing concerns across several communities.

June 1

Some streets are flooding in Canmore, but it’s nothing like 2013: experts

CTV News

While water is spilling onto streets in downtown Canmore, experts say the mountain town isn’t expecting flooding similar to what it saw in 2013. John Pomeroy, a University of Saskatchewan professor and director of Global Water Futures Observatories, is based in Canmore, and he and his team monitor water levels year-round.

High river levels across Alberta

CBC Listen

We get the latest on river flows after a hot week was followed by a rainy weekend.

Heavy rainfall pummels Calgary as river levels rise in Alberta

CBC News

Calgarians are being warned about heavy rainfall and flooded roadways amid an Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) rainfall warning.

River flooding causes campground closure in Bow Valley

Rocky Mountain Outlook

As heavy rain continues to pound the region, the Three Sisters Campground at Dead Man’s Flats in Bow Valley Provincial Park closed Sunday afternoon (May 31), while sections of Bow River Campground east of Canmore were cordoned off as water poured over the banks.

Erin Matthews
USask News
October 23, 2025

From glacial pools to man-made reservoirs, Canada is home to more lakes than any other country in the world. These bodies of water are crucial to communities, providing year-round recreation, fishing, hydroelectric energy, and more.

Read Here

The United Nations World Water Development Report on Mountains and glaciers: Water towers

Session 2: Cooperation and participation for preserving mountains and glaciers: Focus on Europe and North America

September 17, 2025
15:00 – 16:30 CET

Register Here

John Smol, Sapna Sharma and Steven Cooke
The Globe and Mail
August 27, 2025

Canada is blessed with over nine million lakes, leading to the perception that we have endless freshwater resources. However, Canadian lakes – like lakes around the world – are under increasing environmental threats from multiple stressors, such as pollution, land-cover changes and invasive species, among other factors, many of which are now amplified due to climate change and extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and droughts.

Read Here

The Current
with Matt Galloway
CBC Listen
August 25, 2025

Across Canada, 71 per cent of the country is abnormally dry or experiencing moderate to severe drought, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. That includes places like Sunnyside, Newfoundland and Labrador, where the taps ran dry earlier this month. And in Nova Scotia, Farmer Amy Hill in Nova Scotia shares how the dry conditions are straining her farm. John Pomeroy, Director of the Global Water Futures program at the University of Saskatchewan, explains what’s driving these conditions and what Canada must do to prepare for a hotter, drier future.

Listen Here

Paula Duhatschek
CBC News
August 21, 2025

Region the ‘anomaly’ in otherwise dry summer, says Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Read Here

CKOM News
August 18, 2025

It has been a record season for wildfires in Saskatchewan, and while the smoke has a direct impact on people’s health, it is also affecting long term water security in the province.

Dr. John Pomeroy, director of the Centre for Hydrology at University of Saskatchewan (U of S) was a guest on The Evan Bray Show on Monday and described the impact on glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, which feed the South Saskatchewan River from which the province draws most of its water.

Read Here

Listen Here
(11:00 segment)