M.Sc., Ph.D., and Postdoctoral Researcher Positions in Slope Geohazards - Queen's University
In July 2027, Queen’s University will establish an Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada Program focused on Slope Geohazard Management for Infrastructure and Mining in a Changing Climate under the direction of incoming Chairholder Dr. Gabriel Walton.
To support this ambitious new research program, Dr. Walton is recruiting up to 10 graduate students (Master's and Ph.D.) and up to 3 postdoctoral fellows to contribute to the program’s research mission starting in Fall 2027 (postdoctoral fellows can start as early as April 2027). Members of equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply.
Official job postings: https://www.queensu.ca/geol/about/employment
How to Apply:
Preliminary expressions of interest should be submitted to g.walton@queensu.ca with the subject line “Eddie Goldenberg Program Application” by no later than November 15, 2026 (please see official job postings for details on required materials).
Example Projects (some Masters-level projects may have the opportunity to expand to Ph.D.-level scope):
Masters Level:
• Developing a Framework for Slope Monitoring Using Photographic and Point Cloud Techniques
• Improving Automated Point Cloud Registration
• Improving Approaches for Rockfall Detection from Photographic Monitoring
• Evaluating the Influence of Rockfall Fragmentation Characteristics on Runout and Implications for Slope Design
• Evaluation of Rockfall Trends for a Large Natural Slope at a Hydropower Site, Quebec
• Slope Instability Mechanisms at Pink Mountain, BC
• Evaluating the Influence of Rockmass Quality and Heterogeneity-Influenced Damage Zones on Rockfall Hazard (co-supervisor – Dr. Renato Maciotta, University of Alberta)
• Preliminary Canada-Wide Slope Hazard Characterization
Ph.D. Level:
• Development of Approaches for Geotechnical Applications of Hyperspectral Data in Open-Pit Mining
• Development of a Framework to Evaluate the Contribution of Permafrost Thaw to Progressive Instability of Rock Slopes (co-supervisor – Dr. Stephan Gruber, Carleton University)
• Centrifuge Scale-Modelling of Fractured Rock Slope Instability Under Permafrost Degradation (co-supervisor – Dr. Greg Siemens, RMC)
• Quantitative Assessment of Debris Flow Hazard in British Columbia (co-supervisor – Dr. Scott McDougall, UBC)
Postdoctoral Level:
• Advancing Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Modeling Approaches for Fractured Permafrost Rockmasses (co-supervisor – Dr. Mehdi Pouragha, Carleton University)
• Development of a Canada-Wide Photographic Slope Monitoring Network
• Development of Approaches for Incipient Rockfall Detection Using Remote Sensing
• Evaluation of Electromagnetic Methods for Permafrost Mapping and Assessment (in partnership with Pioneer Exploration, Ottawa, Canada)
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