项目介绍

2026年5月14日

Are you interested in working with sustainable and responsible exploration drilling of critical raw materials, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD position in Geophysics at Uppsala University. 

The Department of Earth Sciences is Sweden’s most comprehensive academic environment for research and education in geoscience. It offers a broad range of expertise that can contribute to solving important societal issues.

Earth is a dynamic and constantly changing planet. To understand how this planet works, our researchers seek answers in the field, through laboratory experiments and advanced models. Our research and education cover a wide range of disciplines, including rocks and minerals, weather and climate, the evolution of life, natural disasters, wind power and energy, environmental and water engineering, and sustainable development.

Our research combines natural sciences and technology with social sciences and is often interdisciplinary. More than 300 people from over 30 countries work at the department, both in Uppsala and at Campus Gotland. 

Our six research divisions: 

• Geophysics • Air, Water and Landscape Science • Mineralogy, Petrology and Tectonics  

 • Natural Resources and Sustainable Development • Palaeobiology • Wind Energy

For more information see: www.uu.se/earthsciences

Geophysics is about “looking into” and understanding the Earth’s structure, its history and processes-based on measurements of the Earth’s physical properties. In geophysics we use quantitative physical methods to investigate the Earth and its environment. In addition, physical property measurements, rock mechanical field testing, scientific drilling and numerical modelling are employed to investigate the subsurface structures and processes. The Geophysics program currently runs several national and international projects and has a wealth of world-class infrastructures. It also leads the Smart Exploration Research Center (SERC) (www.smartexploration.se). SERC is funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, with members from four Swedish universities, three mining companies, four technology companies, and one development company. The PhD project will be conducted in close collaboration with Epiroc, Nordic Iron and Lund University.

In this PhD project, you will be enrolled as a PhD student at Uppsala University in close collaboration with Epiroc Rock Drills AB in Örebro. You will mainly be placed at Uppsala University, Uppsala. During shorter periods, you will also be placed at Epiroc Rock Drills AB in Örebro and participate in field work. Access to certain technology or data associated with industry partners within the project may be subject to applicable export control legislation and will be managed in accordance with current regulations. 

Duties 

The PhD candidate will conduct research within the Smart Exploration Research Centre (SERC) for sustainable and responsible exploration of critical raw materials. The focus of the PhD project is to develop a framework for integrating rock formation and drilling data to improve exploration drilling efficiency, thereby supporting more sustainable and responsible exploration drilling. 

During the project, the candidate will develop an advanced expertise in diamond-core drilling in crystalline rocks, including associated technical and operational challenges, as well as geomechanical methods for subsurface characterization and exploration.

Major components of the project will include data acquisition and analysis related to exploration drilling and subsurface characterization. This encompasses rock stress measurements, laboratory testing in rock mechanics, mechanical testing of aggregates, and various methods of drill core logging.

The PhD candidate will work in closely with both academic and industry research teams and act as a bridge between these communities.

Requirements 

To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must: 

– hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in geophysics, geology, rock mechanics, drilling technology, physics, earth sciences or a similar field, or 

– have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or 

– have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

Good oral and written proficiency in English and Swedish is required. The strong academia-industry character of the project implies that the candidate should be interested in combining theoretical and practical work and be available to spend part of the project period at industry partner offices. The project also includes field and laboratory work, and the candidate should be prepared to spend time conducting data collection, both independently and in collaboration with other project partners. We are seeking a candidate with strong interests in exploration drilling in crystalline rocks and techniques for subsurface characterisation, both in-situ and in the laboratory. 

Additional qualifications 

Experience in various types of data acquisition and analysis such as measurement while drilling (MWD), logging while drilling (LWD), rock stress measurements, and rock mechanic laboratory testing is considered a merit. A driving license is a merit, as it may be required for fieldwork.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University’s rules and guidelines. A PhD position is full-time for four years. Teaching or administrative duties at the department corresponding to a maximum of 20 per cent may occur by agreement. The employment is extended to a corresponding extent.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 15 September 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Assoc. Prof. Maria Ask, phone: +46 18 471 3509, e-mail: maria.ask@geo.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 3 June 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1636 .

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University
https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/

The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system.