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

PhD Student in Geophysics: Enhancing Exploration Drilling Efficiency Through Integrated Analyses of 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 in Geophysics 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.

The PhD project will be conducted 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 in field work.

Duties

The PhD candidate will conduct research within the Smart Exploration Research Centre (SERC) for sustainable and responsible exploration of critical raw materials. The focus of the PhD project is to develop a framework for integrating rock formation and drilling data to improve exploration drilling efficiency, thereby supporting more sustainable and responsible exploration drilling.

During the project, the candidate will develop an advanced expertise in diamond-core drilling in crystalline rocks, including associated technical and operational challenges, as well as geomechanical methods for subsurface characterization and exploration.

Major components of the project will include data acquisition and analysis related to exploration drilling and subsurface characterization. This encompasses rock stress measurements, laboratory testing in rock mechanics, mechanical testing of aggregates, and various methods of drill core logging.

The PhD candidate will work in closely with both academic and industry research teams and act as a bridge between these communities.

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.

Good oral and written proficiency in English and Swedish is required. The strong academia-industry character of the project implies that the candidate should be interested in combining theoretical and practical work and be available to spend part of the project period at industry partner offices. The project also includes field and laboratory work, and the candidate should be prepared to spend time conducting data collection, both independently and in collaboration with other project partners. We are seeking a candidate with strong interests in exploration drilling in crystalline rocks and techniques for subsurface characterisation, both in-situ and in the laboratory.

Additional qualifications

Experience in various types of data acquisition and analysis such as measurement while drilling (MWD), logging while drilling (LWD), rock stress measurements, and rock mechanic laboratory testing is considered a merit. A driving license is a merit, as it may be required for fieldwork.

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 September 2026 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 June 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1636.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden's most exciting workplaces.

The position may be subject to security vetting. If security vetting is conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Type of employment – Temporary position

Employment expires – 2030-09-14

Contract type – Full time

First day of employment – 2026-09-15, or as agreed

Salary – Fixed salary

Number of positions – 1

Full-time equivalent – 100

City – Uppsala

County – Uppsala län

Country – Sweden

Reference number – UFV-PA 2026/1636

Contact – Maria Ask, 018-4713509, maria.ask@geo.uu.se

Published – 13.May.2026

Last application date – 03.Jun.2026