PhD position in Active Tectonics and Earthquake Hazards

We are seeking a highly motivated graduate student to join an exciting research program investigating active fault systems and earthquake hazards in the Canadian Cordillera of Yukon and British Columbia, Canada. While the position is primarily intended for a PhD student, exceptional MSc applicants will also be considered, particularly those interested in transferring into the PhD program. The earliest anticipated start date is January 2027, with May or September 2027 start dates also available.

This is a collaborative project between the University of Victoria and the Yukon Geological Survey. The successful applicant will be based at UVic’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, but will work closely with researchers at the Yukon Geological Survey and may spend part of each year—particularly during field seasons—working from the Survey's offices in Whitehorse. The student will also have opportunities to interact and collaborate with researchers at the Geological Survey of Canada through our ongoing partnerships with their Pacific branch, also in Victoria.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop a research project focused on one or more of the following themes:

— Geomorphic analysis and/or paleoseismic trenching of major active fault systems, including the Tintina Fault (Watson Lake or Dawson City regions, Yukon), the Eastern Denali Fault (Kluane region, Yukon), the Southern Rocky Mountain Trench Fault (East Kootenay region, British Columbia), or any new scarps or surface ruptures discovered during the course of the project.

— Deterministic or probabilistic seismic hazard and risk analysis for selected fault systems, with a particular emphasis on understanding the influence of local ground conditions on earthquake hazards affecting Yukon communities.

— Geophysical investigations across active faults to characterize fault geometry, image subsurface structures, and quantify present-day seismicity and strain rates.

This project offers a unique combination of remote fieldwork, cutting-edge geoscience, and opportunities to contribute to improving earthquake hazard assessments in northern Canada. We welcome applicants with interests or experience in one or more of the following areas:

— Remote sensing and geospatial analysis

— Remote fieldwork in northern environments

— Surficial geology, geomorphology, and Quaternary geochronology

— Earthquake geology and paleoseismology

— Community outreach and collaboration with First Nations

The project will provide opportunities to work in spectacular northern landscapes while addressing fundamental questions about active tectonics and producing research with direct societal relevance. Students will be encouraged to develop interdisciplinary skills through field investigations, laboratory analyses, geophysical methods, and hazard modelling, while engaging with local communities and First Nations.

Background on the broader research program can be found in the recent publications by our group on active faulting and seismic hazard in Yukon and BC, which provide context for many of the proposed research directions:

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2025JB032339

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL116050

https://seismica.library.mcgill.ca/article/view/1186

https://data.geology.gov.yk.ca/publication/95940

If you're interested in this opportunity, we'd be happy to hear from you. We especially encourage prospective applicants to contact us before submitting a formal application, as it gives us a chance to answer questions and determine whether the project is a good fit for your interests and experience. Please contact the prospective supervisors, Dr. Edwin Nissen (Show email) and Dr. Theron Finley (Show email). Formal applications to the graduate program are submitted through the University of Victoria Faculty of Graduate Studies website: https://www.uvic.ca/graduate/index.php. Applications will close on 1st October 2026, but we encourage you to apply early.