Title: Integrating paleogeography-tectonics, geochemistry and thermochronology to develop vectors towards ore: Redstone Copper Belt, NWT.
Start-Date: May/08
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: K.Hickey
Description: The primary goal of this project is to improve our understanding of the controls on sedimentary Cu mineralization and develop better far-field tracers of the mineralization to aid the detection of deposits in the subsurface. The project will focus on the Redstone copper belt in the eastern Mackenzie Mountains of the NWT, Canada. The research will proceed on regional and prospect scales and will seek to define the basin architecture and tectonic / sedimentological framework for sediment-hosted Cu deposits. It will also examine mineralogical, geochemical, and thermal expressions of the hydrothermal flow to help develop vectors toward ore. The result of the project will provide a better understanding of sediment-hosted Cu systems, and provide data to help regional exploration in sedimentary copper belts.
Link to more info: http://www.mdru.ubc.ca/home/research/hickey/Redstone_PhD_Ad_Ken.pdf

Title: Diamond-friendly metasomatism in eclogites
Start-Date: Jan/09
Degree Program: MSc
Supervisor: M.Kopylova
Description: Many diamondiferous cratonic eclogites worldwide are metasomatised and recrystallized. We would like to explore what the nature of this metasomatising agent is and if it can make diamond. The project will be based on a suite of diamondiferous eclogites of the Jericho kimberlite (N Slave).

Title: Diamonds in Archean conglomerates of Eastern Canada
Start-Date: Jan/09
Degree Program: MSc or PhD
Supervisor: M.Kopylova
Description: The project investigates the origin of diamonds in sedimentary 2.7 Ga conglomerates of the Superior craton. It is relatively uncommon to find diamonds in consolidated sedimentary rocks. What was the primary volcanic rock that transported diamonds from the mantle? Are diamonds similar to diamonds found in Archean calc-alkaline lamprophyres in this area? These and other questions will be solved through studies of diamond morphology, infrared spectroscopy and mineral inclusions in diamonds.
Link to more info: http://www.dianor.com/leadbetter_en.html

Title: Mineralogy of diamond-forming fluids
Start-Date: Jan/09
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: M.Kopylova
Description: Very rare fibrous diamonds trap natural diamond-forming fluids in tiny (<0.5 microns) fluid inclusions. Recently developed crystallographic techniques enable rare glimpses into deep-seated fluid environment that crystallized diamonds. The project investigates minerals found as inclusions in fibrous diamonds by crystallographic and geochemical methods. The research will be conducted in collaboration with the Bayreuth University (Germany).
Link to more info: http://www.bgi.uni-bayreuth.de/

Title: Metallogenic evolution of convergent margin arcs
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: MSc
Supervisor: R.Tosdal
Description: Establishing the geologic framework, igneous evolution, and the evolution of mineral deposits is crucial to understanding the fertility and prospectivity of convergent margin arc. Two project opportunities for Spanish speaking students are currently available in Peru. One project seeks to unravel the sequence and timing of volcanic, intrusive and hydrothermal events at a giant porphyry Cu-Au deposit. The second project will examine the igneous fertility of granitoids associated with porphyry Cu deposits.
Link to more info: http://www.mdru.ubc.ca

Title: Footprints of hydrothermal systems
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: MSc or PhD
Supervisor: R.Tosdal
Description: Porphyry and peripheral base metal and precious metal deposits represent a small part of larger thermally driven hydrothermal system. The effect of this circulation can extend kilometers beyond the focus of maximum fluid flow and metal deposition and largely depend upon the host rock compositions (carbonate versus siliciclastic) and the hydrodynamics of fluid flow. Projects currently under development seek to understand the geochemical dispersion halos around the porphyry and related deposit, the scale of alteration footprints, as a means to explore in covered and undeveloped terranes. Project locations will be in cordillera of North and South America.
Link to more info: http://www.mdru.ubc.ca

Title: Structural evolution of epithermal and porphyry deposits
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: R.Tosdal
Description: Structure and tectonics play a crucial role in the formation and preservation of epithermal deposits. A Ph.D. level project is available in Chile to a Spanish-speaking student that will undertake a comprehensive structural analysis of an emerging low-sulfidation epithermal district with the goals of understanding the geologic framework of formation as well as the preservation and dismembering of the deposit.
Link to more info: http://www.mdru.ubc.ca

Title: Larval Tracking using a 3-D Numerical Model of the Strait of Georgia
Start-Date: Jan/10
Degree Program: MSc or PhD
Supervisor: S.Allen
Description: In collaboration with J. Dower of U. Victoria and D. Masson of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. Will use an existing implementation of the numerical model ROMS to model larval fish and decapod dispersion and advection in the Strait of Georgia.

Title: Physical Modelling of Tidal Resonance over Canyons
Start-Date: Sep/09
Degree Program: M.Sc.
Supervisor: S.Allen
Description: Using a rotating table to physically model dynamics around submarine canyons such as the Gully on the East Coast of Canada. Collaboration with field oceanographers. Skills needed: mathematics to partial differential equations, mechanics (second year physics), a fluid dynamics course or an electricity and magnetism course.

Title: Suspended Particulate Trace Metals in the Arctic Ocean
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: MSc
Supervisor: K.Orians
Description: As part of the International GEOTRACES program, we will be investigating the distribution and cycling of trace elements and their isotopes in the Arctic Ocean. Field work will be carried out in August/September 2009.

Title: Dissolved Trace Metals in the Arctic Ocean
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: K.Orians
Description: As part of the International GEOTRACES program, we will be investigating the distribution and cycling of trace elements and their isotopes in the Arctic Ocean. Field work will be carried out in August/September 2009.

Title: Trace Metals in Seawater - Speciation and Coastal Processes
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: K.Orians
Description: My research interests are focused on the processes which control the chemical speciation of trace metals in seawater, and their distributions in the oceans. I am open to ideas related to this general area.

Title: Biophysical coupling in fjord systems
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: MSc or PhD
Supervisor: R.Pawlowicz
Description: As part of a larger project to understand why salmon have
disappeared from a region of the BC coast we want to study
the physical circulation and its control on nutrient
fluxes and primary productivity in a fjord system.

Title: Nonlinear internal wave interactions
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: MSc or PhD
Supervisor: R.Pawlowicz
Description: Internal waves occur at density interfaces within the water column
and can often be very large (amplitude of many meters). When large waves
hit each other a variety of interesting things can happen, but this is difficult
to see because its under water. However, around here you can often "see" them by the
way they cause light and dark patches on the surface, and (using cameras
and time-lapse) you can see what is going on over the whole wavefront.
This project will continue studies in generation, propagation, interaction,
and dissipation of internal waves. Can require and or all of math, fieldwork, and
hardware development.

Link to more info: http://www.eos.ubc.ca/~rich/knight

Title: Effects of climate change on NE Pacific phytoplankton
Start-Date: Jan/09
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: P.Tortell
Description: Data collected from a 50 year time-series program in the NE Pacific Ocean have revealed significant changes to the physical and chemical properties of surface waters in this region. Surface temperature has increased, salinity has decreased, and these two effects act to increase stratification and limit vertical nutrient supplies. There has also been a significant increase in surface water CO2 concentrations, mirroring the increase seen in atmospheric CO2 derived from anthropogenic emissions.

The effects of these changes on phytoplankton are thus far unknown. This project will address how increased water temperatures and CO2 concentrations affect phytoplankton physiology and productivity. Manipulative field experiments will be conducted in the coastal and offshore NE Pacific to examine phytoplankton responses to these key climate change variables.

Title: Trace gas distributions in the Arctic Ocean
Start-Date: Sep/08
Degree Program: PhD
Supervisor: P.Tortell
Description: This project examines the effects of sea ice melt on the surface distributions of several climatologically important trace gases including methane, nitrous oxide, dimethylsulfide and carbon dioxide. Measurements will be made at sea using an underway membrane inlet mass spectrometer. In addition, several methods will be used to assess surface ocean net and gross primary productivity..
Link to more info: http://csolas.dal.ca/