项目介绍

2026年10月14日

PhD student in Geophysics: Enhancing exploration drilling efficiency through integrated analyses rock formation and drilling data

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 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 if 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 SERC, focusing on sustainable and responsible exploration of critical raw materials. The overarching aim of the PhD project is to develop a framework for integrating rock formation and drilling data to improve exploration drilling efficiency, thereby contribute to more sustainable and responsible exploration drilling.

The project combines geoscience and drilling technology, with a focus on diamond core drilling in crystalline rock. The PhD candidate will develop advanced theoretical, technical and practical expertise in the technical and operational challenges of the drilling process, as well as geoscientific methods for subsurface characterization.

The work involves data acquisition in connection with exploration drilling, borehole logging, in-situ testing, drill core analyses, and laboratory testing. Separate and integrated analyses of these datasets will be used to investigate potential relationships between rock formation properties, drilling data, and exploration drilling efficiency. 

The doctoral student  will work in close collaboration with academic and industry research groups contributing to stronger collaboration and knowledge exchange between these communities. The PhD candidate is expected to combine theoretical and practical work, work both independently and collaboratively, spend parts of the project period with industry partners, and participate in field and laboratory work.

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.

We are seeking a candidate with strong interests in exploration drilling in crystalline rocks and methods for subsurface characterisation, both in-situ and in the laboratory. Good oral and written proficiency in English is required.

Additional qualifications

Experience in various types of data acquisition and analysis, such as measurement while drilling (MWD), logging while drilling (LWD), borehole logging, rock stress measurements, drill core logging, and rock mechanic laboratory testing, is considered a merit. Experience in integrating and analysing different types of drilling data, rock formation data, or a combination of these is also considered a merit. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively is considered a merit. Proficiency in spoken and written Swedish is a merit, because communication in Swedish may be required during fieldwork and collaboration with industry partners. 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.

Application

1. A personal letter describing yourself, your research interests, why you wish to pursue doctoral studies, and why you are a suitable candidate for this specific position and project (maximum 2 pages).
2. A curriculum vitae (CV).
3. A verified transcript of records and a brief description of your educational background.
4. A copy of your Master’s degree certificate (or equivalent advanced-level degree certificate).
5. Your degree project/thesis report (finished or in draft form).
6. Names and contact details of two references (including email addresses and telephone numbers).

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 January 2027, 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 November 2026, UFV-PA 2026/3081.

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