Doctoral student in Engineering Geology with a focus on mineral exploration - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the workplace

At the Division of Engineering Geology (tg.lth.se), we work with education and research focused on methods for assessing properties of geological materials, minerals, groundwater and civil engineering constructions as well as characterization and monitoring of their structural health. We develop and use geophysical and nondestructive testing methods and also sampling and measurements at the ground, in water and in boreholes. The division has comprehensive equipment and experience from field investigations, chiefly with non-destructive testing, various geophysical methods, core-drilling and sampling (the national research infrastructure Riksriggen) and hydraulic testing. An important part of our activities is signal processing and methods for interpretation of measured data, among others inverse numerical modelling for assessment of material properties and integrated interpretation of different types of data. 

We are in total about 20 colleagues at the division situated in the V-house, LTH. Approximately half of the employees are senior researchers and teachers, and the others are doctoral students, technicians and administrators. The research and development activities are mainly financed by grants from the major Swedish research councils and foundations associated with building and civil engineering technology as well as environmental and energy issues.

The position is based at the Engineering Geology Division, but there will be a close collaboration with the members within the Smart Exploration Research Center, SERC (smartexploration.se). This center brings together a multidisciplinary team from geology, geophysics, socioeconomics, nanotechnology, and IT, based mainly at Uppsala University. The team is further supported by experts from Gothenburg, Lund, and Stockholm Universities, three mining companies, and five solution providers. Together, they aim to develop innovative solutions for the exploration of critical and strategic minerals and metals.

Being a doctoral student 

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. 

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se. 

Subject and project description

For more than a century, mining has generated large volumes of tailings that were traditionally regarded as waste. Today, these deposits are increasingly recognized as valuable secondary resources, particularly as the demand for critical raw materials such as rare earth elements (REE) continues to grow. Unlocking this potential requires innovative, non-invasive methods to characterize the mineralogical content and to assess the resource volume.

The geophysical method of Induced Polarization (IP) has a long history in mining geophysics, dating back to the 1950s, when it was first applied to detect disseminated sulphide ores. Since then, IP has proven to be a powerful tool for mineral exploration, yet its potential for characterizing mine tailings and linking geophysical signatures directly to specific mineral phases is still underexplored.

This PhD will address this gap, providing new insights that can help assess the economic potential of tailings while supporting sustainable resource use and the circular economy.

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences.

Your PhD project will apply different geophysical methods but with a focus on Direct Current Induced Polarization (DCIP), to investigate mine tailing sites. The aim is to establish links between IP parameters and mineralogical properties, with special attention to REE-bearing phases. To support this, advanced data analysis and AI approaches should be used to identify and quantify patterns between geophysical signals and mineralogical information. Beyond developing a better understanding of the geophysical–mineralogical relationship, the project will also address the challenge of scaling up results to estimate the volume and spatial distribution of recoverable resources.

You will work in an interdisciplinary environment that brings together geophysics, mineralogy, and resource management, in collaboration with academic, industrial, and survey partners within the Smart Exploration Research Center. The project contributes directly to advancing sustainable mining practices and the circular economy by transforming legacy tailings from waste into opportunity.

The work duties include:

• Geophysical data acquisition: Plan and conduct field campaigns at mine tailing sites using Induced Polarization (IP) and complementary geophysical methods (e.g., SP, GPR, EM).
• Laboratory investigations: Perform controlled IP and petrophysical measurements on tailings samples to study mineralogical signatures, including REE-bearing phases.
• Data processing and analysis: Process and interpret field and lab geophysical data
• Mineralogical characterization: Collaborate with mineralogists at other Swedish universities to compare geophysical parameters with chemical and mineralogical analyses (e.g., XRD, SEM, geochemistry).
• AI and machine learning applications: Develop and apply AI methods to identify patterns and relationships between geophysical parameters and mineralogical properties.
• Upscaling and modelling: Integrate lab and field results to estimate the volume and spatial distribution of recoverable resources in tailing sites.
• Scientific dissemination: Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at international conferences.
• Collaboration and networking: Work closely with academic, industrial, and survey partners, contributing to an interdisciplinary research environment.
• The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, a maximum of 20% of working hours).

Qualifications 

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or 
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or 
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Engineering Geology if the applicant has: 

• At least 45 second-cycle credits of relevance to the field of the third cycle programme.

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required: 

• Very good knowledge of English, spoken and written 
• Very good knowledge of geophysics
• Good knowledge of geology, geochemistry and/or mineralogy
• A good understanding of petrophysics and statistics
• Experiences in geophysical/petrophysical field and/or laboratory work
• Familiarity with AI and machine learning techniques
• Very good collaborations skills are a necessity to interact with the other participants in the research teams as well as the industry partners and society.
• Good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems
• Very good written and oral communication skills

Other qualifications 

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications: 

• Practical skills in database management and data organization
• Programming skills
• Driving license

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. 

More about working at Lund University on lu.se.

About the employment 

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting as soon as possible. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages. 

How to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include: 

• CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. 
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project. 
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)

We welcome your application.