Faculty Position In Economic Geology & Merc Director
Laurentian University
Laurentian University, Canada’s Mining University, is home to the Harquail School of Earth Sciences (HES.laurentian.ca) and the Mineral Exploration Research Center (MERC.laurentian.ca), the lead organization for the Metal Earth Project. The Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) was founded in 1996 and was formally approved by the Laurentian University (LU) Senate in January 1998. It exists as a semi-autonomous research center within the Harquail School of Earth Sciences.
The successful applicant will have access to a wide range of analytical equipment (https://hes.laurentian.ca/research/analytical-facilities), including a LA-ICP-MS facility, µXRF, LIBS, fluid inclusion lab, X-ray diffractometers, SEM-EDS, Raman microscope, and complete sample preparation facilities. Additional facilities are available in the Perdue Central Analytical Facility and the Geoscience Laboratories of the Ontario Geological Survey, which are both located on the university campus.
Laurentian University, located on Atikameksheng Anishnawbek territory in Sudbury, Ontario, serves over 8000 students and is one of two bilingual universities in the province of Ontario. Committed to its bilingual, tri cultural mandate, Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. Laurentian’s beautiful, forested campus is surrounded by fresh-water lakes, conservation lands and hundreds of kilometres of cross-country and hiking trails while situated in the geographic centre of Greater Sudbury, northern Ontario’s major urban centre (population 170,000). Laurentian University has close and productive ties to Science North, SNOLAB, Health Sciences North and multiple post-secondary institutions.
Homepage: https://laurentian.ca
The Harquail School of Earth Sciences at Laurentian University invites applications for a tenured Professor position in Economic Geology with an initial 5-year appointment (renewable), as Director of the Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) to start as early as July 1st, 2026.
Applicants for this position will have achieved international prominence in mineral exploration or ore systems research, will have demonstrated leadership in managing large, multidisciplinary, collaborative geoscience projects, and will have a strong understanding of the system and mechanics of publicly funded research within and outside Canada.
We seek an innovative individual that will provide leadership for national and international research programs that target ore systems through the integration of multiscale geoscience (tectonic, structural, geophysical, mineralogical, geochemical, isotopic, surficial) data, and that will contribute to the growth of our programs. Teaching responsibilities will primarily be at the graduate level and will relate to ore deposit geology and processes. This will be a tenured position at the Associate or Full Professor level.
The successful candidate will have the following essential qualifications:
● A PhD degree in Earth Sciences or related field. Candidates must have completed a PhD degree by the start date of the appointment.
● Evidence of high-quality research and scholarship with the potential to work with colleagues and industry, secure independent funding, and build internal and external collaborations.
● Raise awareness of the importance of mineral exploration research for regional and national economic development and train geoscientists in mineral exploration research techniques.
● A commitment to promoting a diverse, inclusive and vibrant academic and work environment.
In addition to active engagement and participation in teaching and research, the successful candidate will be expected to make contributions through service to the School, Faculty, University, and broader community.
Laurentian University, Canada’s Mining University, is home to the Harquail School of Earth Sciences (HES.laurentian.ca) and the Mineral Exploration Research Center (MERC.laurentian.ca), the lead organization for the Metal Earth Project. The Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) was founded in 1996 and was formally approved by the Laurentian University (LU) Senate in January 1998. It exists as a semi-autonomous research center within the Harquail School of Earth Sciences.
The successful applicant will have access to a wide range of analytical equipment (https://hes.laurentian.ca/research/analytical-facilities), including a LA-ICP-MS facility, µXRF, LIBS, fluid inclusion lab, X-ray diffractometers, SEM-EDS, Raman microscope, and complete sample preparation facilities. Additional facilities are available in the Perdue Central Analytical Facility and the Geoscience Laboratories of the Ontario Geological Survey, which are both located on the university campus.
Laurentian University, located on Atikameksheng Anishnawbek territory in Sudbury, Ontario, serves over 8000 students and is one of two bilingual universities in the province of Ontario. Committed to its bilingual, tri cultural mandate, Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. Laurentian’s beautiful, forested campus is surrounded by fresh-water lakes, conservation lands and hundreds of kilometres of cross-country and hiking trails while situated in the geographic centre of Greater Sudbury, northern Ontario’s major urban centre (population 170,000). Laurentian University has close and productive ties to Science North, SNOLAB, Health Sciences North and multiple post-secondary institutions.
Application Requirements
A complete application package should be sent as a single PDF file to the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic (pvpa@laurentian.ca) with the following subject line: Application for Faculty Position in Economic Geology
A complete application includes the following:
● A cover letter (including one of the two statements about citizenship/resident status specified below)
● An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae
● A summary of current research or mineral exploration achievements
● A summary of the applicants view on collaborative applied research directions in Economic Geology
● The names and contact information for three academic or industry references
Applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference sent to the email address above. Review of applications will begin on January 1st, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.