Earth and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Award

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at 海角社区app University, Halifax, Canada, invites applications for the Earth and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Award. Two competitive awards are available for students who enroll in the Ph.D. program by September 2025. The award provides financial support to outstanding Canadian and international students with a demonstrated record of academic success in their undergraduate and early graduate studies. Successful applicants will be awarded a funding package, which covers tuition, fees, and a minimum stipend of $25,000/year. The award is guaranteed for two years, then subject to renewal for the 3rd and 4th years based on student performance.

The minimum qualifications for the award are the successful completion of a B.Sc. degree (M.Sc. preferred) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 (鈥淎鈥 equivalent) and meeting the University language requirements (for international applicants):/faculty/gradstudies/apply-graduate-studies/admission-requirements.html

Prospective supervisors and research topics for the 2025 competition are listed below:

Dr. J. Gosse: Innovation in cosmogenic isotopes with meteoric and in-situ 10Be, 26Al, 36Cl and/or in-situ 14C. /faculty/science/earth-environmental-sciences/about/research-facilities/terrestrial-cosmogenic-nuclide-facility.html

Dr. D. Grujic: Strength in transition: Unravelling lithospheric coupling and fault mechanics across the brittle鈥揹uctile divide. /faculty/science/earth-environmental-sciences/faculty-staff/faculty/grujic_d.html

Dr. A. Normandeau (Adjunct: Geological Survey of Canada): Marine geological hazards, marine sedimentology, submarine canyon processes.

Dr. A. Plourde (Adjunct: Geological Survey of Canada) and Dr. M. Nedimovic: Earthquake seismology focused on ocean-bottom seismometer data from Baffin Bay, eastern Canadian Arctic.

Dr. O. Sherwood: Organic geochemistry of 鈥淏lue Carbon鈥 marine sinking particles sediments. /faculty/science/earth-environmental-sciences/faculty-staff/faculty/sherwood_o.html

Dr. G. Wach: Sedimentological characterization of reservoir and seal/caprock formations in basins of interest for the purpose of determining suitability for geostorage to be used alongside carbon capture. /sites/sustainable-energy.html

Dr. M. Zhang: Development of machine learning-based methods to monitor volcanic eruptions and tectonic earthquakes.

How to apply: Applicants should first discuss their interests with one of the potential supervisors listed above. If invited to apply, applicants should send an application package consisting of 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) academic transcripts, 4) one page research proposal, and 5) certificate of English language proficiency (for international ESL students) to Graduate Coordinator Dr. Owen Sherwood (owen.sherwood@dal.ca) by May 15, 2025


The Department has a long history of demonstrated excellence in Earth and Environmental Science research and teaching, with a current emphasis on听biogeochemistry, climate change and paleoclimatology, geophysics including seismology, high and low temperature geochemistry, stable and radioactive isotope geochemistry and geochronology, Arctic change and geology, mineral deposits, petroleum and renewable energy systems, numerical and analogue modeling, and GIS/remote sensing. It hosts various听analytical and experimental facilities including the newly鈥恊stablished National Seismic Imaging Facility, Stable Isotope Biogeochemistry Lab, Cosmic Ray Isotopes Sciences at 海角社区app (CRISDal) Lab, and Experimental High Pressure Geological Research Lab. The main campus is situated in Halifax 鈥 a city known for its youthful spirit, rich history, and scenic waterfront.