6 Mitacs Globalink (GRI) research projects for Summer 2027.
1. Assessment of Hydrogeochemical Controls on Subsurface Energy Storage and Utilization
This project addresses two pressing global challenges, climate change and sustainable energy, by advancing understanding of how fluids interact with rocks in the subsurface. The work focuses on developing pathways to convert carbon dioxide into stable mineral phases through rock-fluid reactions, improving the efficiency of underground hydrogen storage systems, and supporting critical mineral initiatives through enhanced understanding of reactive transport and mineral transformation processes. These efforts move beyond conceptual studies and are grounded in real-world applications supported by advanced experimental and computational tools.
Our approach integrates high-resolution 3D imaging and computational modeling to investigate complex subsurface systems. For carbon mineralization, we examine reaction processes within rock pore networks to identify conditions that maximize mineral trapping and long-term stability. In parallel, we combine laboratory observations with numerical simulations to evaluate how injected hydrogen interacts with rock minerals and resident fluids, with particular attention to gas trapping and recovery efficiency during storage cycles. In the context of critical minerals, we analyze hydrogeochemical feedbacks that influence mineral dissolution, precipitation, and overall resource recovery under varying temperature and pressure conditions.
As part of this work, the research leverages advanced imaging techniques that reveal pore-scale structures, computational models that simulate fluid flow and reactive transport, and data-driven methods that help interpret complex datasets. The significance of this research lies in its direct contribution to scalable carbon management strategies, the development of reliable clean energy storage systems, and improved efficiency in critical mineral recovery. What distinguishes this project is its integration of multiple disciplines, combining geology, geochemistry, computational modelling, and data science to address interconnected challenges in energy and environmental sustainability.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Our research integrates hydrogeology, geochemistry, and computational modeling to address challenges in sustainable energy and environmental management. Focus areas include developing strategies for CO2 mineralization in reactive subsurface rocks, leveraging pore-scale modeling and machine learning to optimize reactivity and storage efficiency; investigating multiphase fluid dynamics in porous media to enhance underground hydrogen storage and minimize trapped gas during withdrawal; and advancing critical mineral projects through the assessment of hydrogeochemical feedbacks that control mineral recovery, reactivity, and process efficiency. These areas combine multi-scale experiments, advanced characterization, and numerical simulations to develop scalable solutions for climate resilience and resource sustainability.
Student roles:
These students will play integral roles in investigating fluid-rock interactions through a combination of advanced 3D imaging characterization and reactive transport modelling, with specific responsibilities tailored to their interests. Both students will begin by conducting a thorough literature review to understand current methodologies and identify knowledge gaps in subsurface hydrogeochemical processes.
Depending on their interests, one or both students may focus more on experimental and imaging-based work, using micro-CT, SEM, and FIB-SEM data to characterize rock pore structures and mineral distributions, or on computational work involving the development and implementation of reactive transport models to simulate fluid-rock interactions under a range of conditions. Opportunities also exist to integrate both approaches by linking imaging-derived properties with modeling inputs.
Throughout the research process, the students will participate in designing laboratory-informed and computational workflows, executing simulations where applicable, and analyzing datasets to interpret geochemical reaction patterns and fluid transport behavior. They will collaborate closely with research team members to interpret findings, troubleshoot technical challenges, and refine experimental or modeling approaches. Regular participation in group discussions and research meetings will be essential for sharing progress and receiving feedback.
The students will synthesize their work through clear communication of results, contributing to presentations and technical reports that convey key findings. This role requires engagement with interdisciplinary methods, whether experimental, computational, or a combination of both. Through this experience, the students will develop skills in integrating imaging data with reactive transport simulations, or in advancing either approach independently, to better understand pore-scale processes and their larger-scale implications. Problem-solving and critical thinking will be central to bridging observations with model predictions and advancing the project’s objectives.
Skills required:
Don’t worry if this sounds intimidating. Whether you are more comfortable with hands-on lab work or prefer computational approaches, are curious about climate science, or enjoy coding, there is a place for you here. This opportunity is well suited for students interested in environmental science, geology, engineering, or computer science. Strong communication skills, both written and oral, along with critical thinking and problem-solving abilities for analysis and pattern recognition, are advantageous. You will work alongside graduate students and postdoctoral researchers on meaningful projects that contribute to real-world environmental solutions.
2. Experimental investigation on effects of surface roughness and projectile shape on rockfalls
The project will consist of a series of laboratory experiments where rocks of different shapes will be dropped onto a 1m-scale slope with different sized aggregate. Students will capture video of the rock projectile trajectories and use manual labelling or computer vision to digitise these trajectories. Students will then develop a method to quantify the degree of dispersion at different roughness and shapes.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research interests include rockfall hazard analysis, radar and photogrammetry using ground and drone-based imaging, permafrost, erosion, micro-earthquake monitoring and fracture imaging in rocks at the field scale of mining, civil, and energy applications, as well as using laboratory-scaled models. The goal is to develop data-driven approaches to understand and more accurately predict the onset of failure modes in rock mechanics problems such as permafrost degredation, rock bursts, slope stability and fluid-induced fault slip.
Student roles:
Student will design, conduct, and analyse their own experiments.
Skills required:
1) Basic understanding of geology and its effect on rock shape and terrain.
2) Comfortable working hands-on in a wet lab with minimal supervision
3) Competent with MATLAB/Python or similar to process and visualise results.
3. Integrated Analysis of Landslide Risk and Strategic Human Resettlement in a Geologically Sensitive Region to Enhance Community Resilience to Natural Hazards
This research project aims to develop a data-driven strategy for minimizing landslide risk in a geologically sensitive region by integrating geological, climatic, and anthropogenic factors. The core objective is to investigate the relationship between underlying geology, rainfall intensity, historical landslide occurrences, and patterns of human settlement over the past 50 years.
First, a geological map of the region will be analyzed to identify the distribution of a known weak geological formation susceptible to landslides. Simultaneously, 50 years of rainfall data will be evaluated to determine trends in rainfall intensity and duration—key contributors to slope failure in this area. A comprehensive landslide inventory spanning the same time frame will be assembled, enabling spatial and temporal correlation with both geological features and rainfall patterns.
Next, historical data on human settlements will be studied to trace the expansion and relocation of communities over time. This will help assess whether changes in settlement patterns have influenced, or been influenced by, landslide occurrences.
By synthesizing the relationships among geology, climate, landslides, and human settlement patterns, the project will generate predictive insights. The final deliverable will be a strategic human resettlement map that identifies safer zones underlain by more stable geology, providing clear recommendations for relocating at-risk populations. This future-focused map will serve as a decision-support tool for urban planners and policymakers to reduce landslide risk and enhance community resilience in the face of increasing climate variability.
This study aims to strengthen community resilience against natural hazards by providing science-based strategies to reduce exposure and safeguard lives in vulnerable regions.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Sustainable and Resilient Civil Infrastructure
Student roles:
The student's role will primarily focus on one or more of the following tasks: literature review, ArcGIS analysis, data analysis, mapping, critical thinking & framework development. The student will need to write a report of their research findings as a minimum and depending on the outcome of the research findings, the student will be encouraged to contribute to a conference/journal paper.
Skills required:
The student will require one or more of the following skills/background: ArcGIS, geological mapping, data analysis, mapping tools, soil mechanics/geotechnical engineering
4. Intégration de données géophysiques pour l'acquisition de connaissance sur les eaux souterraines sur la Côte-Nord du Québec, Canada
Le projet MITAC proposé s'intègre dans le cadre du Programme d'acquisition de connaissance sur les eaux souterraines (PACES) de la Moyenne Côte-Nord (MCN), qui vise à mieux définir les enjeux liés à la quantité disponible et à la qualité des eaux souterraines dans la région. La MCN est une région administrative du Québec située sur la rive Nord du Saint-Laurent entre les villes de Baie-Comeau et Natashquan. Plusieurs enjeux sont déjà définis en lien avec les eaux souterraines : remontées d'eaux salées provenant du Fleuve Saint-Laurent; problèmes d'approvisionnement; présence élevée de fer; liens entre aquifère et tourbières. Le projet MITACS proposé consistera à intégrer les mesures géophysiques afin de définir les grands contextes hydro-stratigraphiques de la région. Le projet MITACS consistera à acquérir, traiter, interpréter, et intégrer des données géophysiques variées pour compléter nos connaissances sur les contextes géologiques et hydrogéologiques dans la région de la Moyenne Côte-Nord au Québec (Canada).
Les levés prévus à l'été 2027 compléteront les données disponibles (forages et levés géophysiques acquis à l'été 2026) et intégrera des levés électromagnétiques dans le domaine transitoire (TEM) en mode tracté (appareil tTEM), dont l'interprétation sera essentielle pour la réalisation du projet et du PACES. Le PACES s'étirant sur une région faisant plus de 600km le long du Fleuve Saint-Laurent, il existe encore de nombreuses zones peu documentées. Les données tTEM seront essentielles car elles permettront de couvrir un maximum de territoire, tout en ayant la résolution spatiale et verticale nécessaires à la caractérisation des eaux souterraines de formation géologique du Quaternaire.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Je me spécialise dans l'intégration des données géophysiques provenant de plusieurs méthodes (géoradar, méthodes sismiques, méthodes électriques et électromagnétiques) pour mieux caractériser les contextes hydrogéologiques, les sites affectés par l'humain, et les aspects géotechniques.
Je possède aussi une expertise en géostatistiques et des connaissances en apprentissage automatique afin d'optimiser les traitements et interprétations des données.
Student roles:
La personne stagiaire MITACS participera à toutes les phases du levé géophysique; la planification, l'acquisition, le traitement et l'interprétation.
La personne étudiante aura à planifier une campagne géophysique selon les connaissances acquises sur le terrain d'étude, en considérant les données (forages et géophysiques) déjà disponibles. La personne étudiante devra ainsi comprendre et interpréter les données géophysiques disponibles, les intégrer dans un outil numérique de visualisation en 3D (Leapfrog), et s'en servir pour préparer la campagne géophysique 2027.
La personne étudiante sera ensuite appelée à participer à la campagne d'acquisition des données géophysiques, et devra être disponible pour travailler sur des périodes prolongées sur le terrain. Plusieurs séjours de 1 à 2 semaines sont à prévoir au courant de l'été.
La personne stagiaire sera ensuite appelée à traiter et faire l'interprétation préliminaire les données, dans le contexte hydrostratigraphique de la MCN.
Skills required:
Expérience et intérêts en géophysique : Avoir au minimum suivi un cours de baccalauréat en géophysique, incluant des laboratoires pratiques. La connaissance des méthodes électromagnétiques transitoires est un atout.
Expérience et intérêts en hydrogéologie et environnement : Avoir au minimum suivi un cours de baccalauréat en hydrogéologie.
Une expérience de travail en géophysique appliquée à l'hydrogéologie serait un atout.
Facilité avec les outils numériques, intérêts pour la programmation numérique (python).
Autonome, motivé(e) et débrouillard(e) : la personne stagiaire sera appelée à travailler sur le terrain en petit groupe.
5. Numerical Simulation of Subsurface Fluid Injection Processes
Many energy applications involve injecting fluids into deep underground formations, including geothermal energy, wastewater disposal, and CO2 storage. These processes require careful engineering design and extensive modelling, as injecting large volumes of fluid into pore spaces can significantly alter stress conditions, potentially leading to induced seismicity (e.g., earthquakes) and damage to wellbores. Monitoring data are available to track these behaviours, but reliable and practical numerical models are essential.
Our group specializes in developing coupled flow-geomechanical simulation models and applying machine learning techniques to predict reservoir responses, integrate diverse data types, and inform engineering design. These reservoirs present many intriguing and challenging aspects, making the problem both practical and complex. We work closely with industrial sponsors in this area. For further information, please refer to my research website (https://sites.ualberta.ca/~juliana2/) and the consortium website (https://c-daps.ca/).
Project Goals:
Develop numerical simulations of fluid-injection processes (e.g., salt water disposal)
Analyze flow and stress/strain responses
Verify model responses with field data and other previous studies in the literature
Student activities and timeline:
Week 2: literature review + software training
Week 3+: Model construction, code documentation
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: 1. Modelling of subsurface flow-geomechanics processes
2. AI and machine learning applications in geo-energy applications
3. Multiscale data integration and inverse problems
4. Applications: sustainable hydrocarbons extraction, geothermal reservoirs, CO2 geological storage, subsurface waste disposal
I am currently supervising over 10 graduate students in my group. They are all involved in numerical modelling of flow processes in subsurface systems. They come from a variety of backgrounds, including engineering, computer science, geology, and physics.
Student roles:
They will be working with another graduate student and me. There is no traditional "lab" work involved, but the student will develop numerical code in this project.
Skills required:
1. Students will need to conduct a literature review and learn how to construct models using commercial simulation packages or open-source codes
2. Programming (or scripting) skills are required.
3. Previous knowledge about fluid flow and mechanical processes is very helpful.
6. Stability of open pit mines in foliated rock masses
The anisotropic nature of metamorphic rocks in open-pit iron ore mines, resulting from pronounced foliation, presents significant challenges for slope stability assessment and design. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of rock strength anisotropy, which is often insufficiently characterized and may lead to safety risks and operational inefficiencies.
This project, developed through a collaboration between the Vale Geotechnical Laboratory (LGV) and Polytechnique Montréal (PM), aims to improve the understanding of strength anisotropy in metamorphic rocks through advanced laboratory testing and numerical modeling. The research will investigate the influence of mineralogical composition and morphological characteristics on the anisotropic mechanical behavior of rocks. In addition, the project seeks to develop new constitutive models, or adapt existing ones, capable of accurately representing anisotropic materials.
The study will employ the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for numerical simulations, calibrated using experimental data to reproduce the mechanical behavior of foliated rocks. The main objectives include: (i) conducting an extensive laboratory testing campaign to characterize anisotropic behavior; (ii) developing grain-based numerical approaches to simulate rock mineralogy and fabric; (iii) formulating constitutive models for anisotropic metamorphic rocks; and (iv) evaluating the influence of strength anisotropy on slope stability in open-pit mines.
The expected outcomes include advanced numerical and constitutive models incorporating mineralogical and structural features, contributing to safer and more efficient mining operations. The project also aims to strengthen long-term collaboration between the participating institutions and to train highly qualified graduate students for future leadership roles in the mining industry. The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and conference presentations, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in rock mechanics and mining geotechnics.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Rock mechanics and rock engineering
Student roles:
The work may involve experimental studies on rock strength, numerical modeling for the analysis of rock mass mechanical behavior, and slope stability assessment.
Skills required:
Degree in Geological, Civil, or Mining Engineering (completed or in progress);
Minimum of one undergraduate course in Rock Mechanics;
Interest in scientific research;
Motivation for numerical and experimental work.