Geoscience Job Board

The Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan invites applications for a funded, research-based MSc studentship. The start date would be May 2027.

About the Position:

The project applies geochemical and mineralogical approaches to investigate Canadian coastal environments affected by mining activities. The student will conduct fieldwork to collect sediment and water samples (summer 2027), analyze the sample composition of the samples in laboratories, and potentially conduct experiments to examine the changes in environmental chemistry over time in marine settings. Based on the results, the student will interpret and report the findings to characterize the environmental conditions at the contaminated sites.

This research will contribute to our understanding of the long-term environmental impact of the critical mineral supply chain in Canada.

The student will be based full-time on the Saskatoon campus of the University of Saskatchewan. The MSc student will be supervised by Dr. Man-Yin Tsang (https://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/MTsang) in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a Geoscience or a related discipline, such as Chemistry.
• Strong academic performance (GPA ≥ 80%).
• Ability to conduct wet-chemistry lab work involving concentrated acids and to follow operating procedures and safety protocols.
• Proficient in written and verbal communication in English.
• An international student would need to secure a student visa prior to the start date.

Preferred qualifications:

• Hands-on experience in analytical(geo)chemistry and/or fieldwork collecting porewater samples.

How to Apply:

Please email with the subject ‘MSc Coastal Mining’ to Dr. Man-Yin Tsang at

my.tsang”at”usask.ca

Your email should include:

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Transcripts (online screen captures are okay at this stage)
3. The intake questionnaire at the end of this document
4. A writing example, such as your research thesis or a report written for an upper-year science course

Suitable candidates will be contacted in Nov/Dec 2026 for further information. The MSc student will receive a stipend but will be responsible for tuition and student fees. More information about the Geological Sciences MSc program can be found here: https://grad.usask.ca/programs/geological-sciences.php

The University of Saskatchewan is one of Canada's 15 leading research-intensive universities, USask provides a highly collaborative research environment with some of the best facilities and analytical tools in Canada, including a synchrotron facility (the Canadian Light Source). The Department of Geological Sciences is recognized internationally for excellence in research and training. Our faculty, students, and staff explore physical, chemical, and biological processes that have shaped our planet over the last 4.6billion years.