Career Profiles

My mother was a geophysicist!

I did a thesis based Masters that was fully inspired by Dr. Kim Welford and her projects!

I also did two summer internships at Nalcor and Exxon that were extremely helpful in solidifying my decision to go into Geophysics.

I interpret a lot of seismic data, do well log correlation and analysis. Work closely with geologists to discover oil/gas prospects.

Teamwork is a huge part of my job. I need the geologists expertise to do my job properly.

I have been able to find and drill my own gas prospects and seeing them produce has been an amazing experience.

Hard work will never go unnoticed. Even if it feels like no one sees the work you put in, someone knows and values you for it.

Growing up in Newfoundland fostered my interest in geology. The region’s rugged coastlines and ancient rock formations prompted a curiosity about Earth’s history and the processes that shape its landscapes. This early exposure inspired me to pursue geology as a career.

My interest in economic geology was significantly shaped by Dr. Steve Piercey, whose teaching introduced me to the field. He helped me gain an appreciation for how geological processes influence the formation and distribution of mineral resources, as well as their broader economic importance. His guidance helped refine my academic interests and inspired me to further pursue geology with a focus on resource exploration. I don’t think I ever did tell him how much of an influence he had on my career, but taking his Economic Geology course inspired me to eventually go back and do my masters degree (Laurentian University) a year later after graduating from my undergrad.

My average day as an underground beat geologist begins with reviewing the mine plan, production areas, and any outstanding mapping priorities. Before heading underground, I coordinate with operations and ensure all safety protocols and ground conditions are understood. Once underground, I conduct face and back mapping - logging lithology, mineralization, and structures. I measure structural orientations (e.g., veins, faults, foliation) and assess ground conditions relevant to both geology and safety.

While core concepts and methods can be taught, critical thinking in geology is a skill that cannot be developed through coursework alone, as it depends on interpreting complex and often incomplete data rather than applying fixed answers.

I had the opportunity to work in Finland in a pegmatite field. I worked with some friends I had met on previous contracts and we got to experience that together. I also made new friends/colleagues who have helped shape my career into what it is today.

If you enjoy math and science, it’s worth considering a career that builds on those strengths. Fields like geology and engineering rely on problem-solving, analytical thinking, and curiosity about how the world works. Being strong in these subjects can open the door to hands-on careers where you can explore, discover, and contribute to real-world challenges.

I always really enjoyed looking at rocks and collecting rock samples on the beach.

In high school, I excelled at physics and chemistry and enjoyed math, so I decided to pursue an undergraduate in STEM

My uncle was a geologist and when he explained what he did it sounded really cool, so when I realized I wasn’t enjoying engineering I decided to take an introductory earth sciences course and really enjoyed it. When I learned about the field of geophysics, that further sold me because physics was my favourite of the sciences but pure physics lacked the real-world applications and interesting problem solving that I wanted!

I completed a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences. I did write an honours thesis, but my grades we just shy of me receiving an honours distinction. You needed an overall average of 75 and mine was 74.4!

I was inspired by one of my instructors named Dr. Alison Malcolm. She was very approachable and when I told her about my interest in geophysics, she offered me a summer student position. Her mentorship helped to build my confidence and the research was very interesting and taught me new skills like coding.

I decided to ultimately pursue a Masters education in Political Science because I had a strong interest in public policy and wanted to be apply it to science-policy integration.

As a Senior Economist/Policy Advisor, one of my responsibilities is to conduct economic analyst on the mining sector for the Atlantic Provinces. I track and report on major project developments to my senior management. I track commodity markets for minerals that are important for mineral shipments and economic development; for example I closely track iron ore and nickel markets given their importance to the Newfoundland and Labrador mining sector.

I also engage with mining companies, researchers, and innovation hubs that are working in the mining / critical minerals space to connect them with funding resources.

I also share expertise about federal priorities for the sector, as well as information about Canada’s positioning in the global mining sector, including recent advocacy by Canada to establish a G7 “Buyers Club” for critical minerals.

Communication skills are paramount. Working in the field of policy, being able to write about complex technical topics in a concise and accessible way is very important. I am often briefing senior government officials who may not have deep expertise in the mining sector, so being able to communicate the challenges in opportunities in a way that is accessible for varying levels of scientific literacy - while also not oversimplifying the material - is a skill that I developed over time. Particularly when you’re interested in a subject like I am in mining, it’s difficult not to include extraneous details that I find interesting but my senior management may overly care about!

I got to design a new funding stream for critical minerals projects under the Strategic Innovation Fund - a program under my home department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. I then led the review of the first project that was funded under the stream - a $222 million investment into Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (announced in 2022).

If you are interested in science or engineering, math is a common thread in those disciplines. So focus on developing your math skills, particularly once you reach high school and beyond. Math can be scary, but the easiest way to excel is through practice!

No matter what route you choose, being an effective communicator will get you far! So taking English/literature seriously will help you to develop your reading, comprehension and writing skills. Also take any Opportunity to practice presenting / public speaking to build your confidence. Those skills will serve you in all fields.

I’ve always been naturally curious and drawn to science, especially lab work and the process of asking questions and searching for answers. That curiosity played a big role in shaping my path.

Growing up in Greece, a highly seismically active country, also had a strong influence on me. I vividly remember experiencing an earthquake as a child. While it was a powerful event, what stayed with me most was a sense of fascination and a desire to understand what had just happened and why.

That combination of curiosity and early exposure to natural phenomena led me toward geoscience, and eventually to geophysics, where I could explore the Earth in a deeper and more analytical way.

During my post-secondary education, I completed a B.Sc. in Geology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by an M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics through the IDEA LEAGUE Joint Master’s program, and a Ph.D. in Geophysics at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Throughout my studies, I was especially drawn to courses that combined physics, mathematics, and Earth sciences, as they allowed me to approach geological problems in a more quantitative and analytical way. This is what ultimately led me to specialize in geophysics.

One of the most defining moments during my undergraduate degree was taking a seismology course with a professor who had a truly engaging way of teaching. I felt an immediate connection with both the subject and the way it was presented. Sometimes, all it takes is the right chemistry with a teacher to make a subject click, and that experience made me not only understand seismology better but become genuinely fascinated by it. We also had the opportunity to visit a seismological station, which made the learning experience even more tangible and exciting. My graduate studies further shaped my career path.

During my M.Sc. and Ph.D., I was actively involved in research, working on real-world problems and developing new methodologies. This experience strengthened my technical skills and confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in geoscience research and development. I also had the opportunity to collaborate with researchers and industry professionals, which gave me valuable insight into how academic knowledge is applied in practice.

As a geophysicist working in research and development, my day-to-day work is quite dynamic and involves a mix of science, problem-solving, and collaboration.

A big part of my role is research, where I develop new methods and improve existing techniques for processing and interpreting geophysical data. This often includes coding, testing algorithms, and analyzing results to ensure they are both accurate and practical.

I also work closely with commercial geoscientists and sometimes directly with clients to understand their needs and the challenges they face in real projects. These conversations help guide the direction of our work and ensure that what we develop is useful in practice.

Another important part of my day is contributing to the development and improvement of our in-house software, turning research ideas into tools that others can use. Overall, my role sits at the intersection of science, technology, and real-world application, which makes it both challenging and rewarding.

Some of the most important skills in geoscience go beyond what can be taught in a classroom. For me, curiosity has always been a big driver. I’ve always enjoyed asking questions and trying to understand how things work. Growing up in Greece and experiencing earthquakes at a young age made me even more curious about the Earth and what happens beneath the surface. That same curiosity still motivates me in my work today. Problem-solving and critical thinking are also essential.

In research and development, things don’t always work as expected, and you often have to find creative ways to overcome challenges or improve a method. Communication is another key skill that I use every day. In my role, I often need to translate complex geophysical concepts into something practical for colleagues or clients, which really highlights how important it is to communicate clearly.

Finally, adaptability and teamwork are very important. I regularly collaborate with people from different backgrounds and each project can bring new challenges. Being able to adapt and work well with others makes a big difference. These are skills that develop over time through experience and curiosity, and they are just as important as the technical knowledge you gain through your education.

One of the coolest experiences I’ve had was during my internship at Deltares (Utrecht, the Netherlands) as part of my M.Sc. thesis. My project focused on studying the properties of the ground to help protect the delta areas in the Netherlands. I got to go out into the field with colleagues to collect data, and then return to the office to process it and use the techniques I was developing.

It was amazing to see the full cycle of a project, from collecting the data to turning it into useful information. That experience really showed me the power of combining fieldwork, experiments, and analysis, and it remains one of the most exciting moments in my geophysics journey.

High School Earth Science Class

I actually started my university career studying Engineering where after 3 years in the program I wasn’t enjoying the culture where after reflecting on how much I enjoyed Earth Science in high school, I decided to give the Earth Science department at MUN a chance. I instantly loved the culture, challenge, and outdoor aspect.

After completing my BSc in Applied Geophysics I decided to continue my education and move to England to complete my MSC in Petroleum Reservoir Geoscience. During my entire Geoscience education I never had a job which reflected what I was studying where my first Geoscience position was for PanGeo Subsea. This was a St. John’s company where I was their first Geoscientist in Europe.

Honestly, everyday is different where one day I could be on a boat in the middle of the North Sea, surveying a wind farm in Taiwan, presenting at a conference in the UK, or processing data ranging from Lithological Mapping to UXO detection here in Newfoundland.

The passion to learn and strong work ethics

Surveying and interpreting the data to be used in a major court battle in Australia where thanks to my work our clients won the battle where our interpretation of the geophysical data disproved everything the opponent

Never turn down the opportunity to learn and be trained in something new

My father was a geologist, so in a way he inspired me, but also my high school earth science and physics teachers. I mainly enjoyed physics, math, and earth science in high school, so I combined them and chose geophysics.

Once I started taking a couple of earth science courses, I was really motivated by how passionate my professors were. You could tell that each one of them truly enjoyed what they did and loved sharing it with others. The field school and the friendships (camaraderie) you build with other students went a long way in keeping me interested in the subjects.

During field school, I really enjoyed taking observations and measurements from places like forests or the seaside and turning them into maps, watching how an image of the environment slowly comes together. A physics professor once told me, "Once you have a physics degree, you see the world in a whole new way." That’s true for physics, but even more so for earth science—especially if you like spending time outside.

had multiple opportunities to work in labs doing a variety of things, and I enjoyed all of it. I liked figuring things out (even when it was challenging), using different pieces of technology I didn’t know existed, and once again seeing the passion my supervisors have, which really helps keep students interested and engaged.

I work offshore, all over the world, doing imaging of the shallow seabed and the layers just below it using sonar. These projects are often related to buried offshore infrastructure such as cables and pipelines. We use our system to image the infrastructure in the seabed and figure out where it is located.

Our system is usually deployed on an underwater remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, which is launched from a survey vessel and brought to depths between 10 and 100 meters (sometimes deeper in other cases). It then moves along the path of the asset, measuring and tracking its position.

I’m not sure about skills that “can’t be taught,” but there are definitely skills that come with lots of practice over time. Every scientist needs good communication skills—not only to talk with their colleagues, but also to explain their work in a simple way so others can understand it.

A career in geoscience often involves working away from home, sometimes in remote places, with people you may not know. Living like this requires good people skills, especially being able to understand others and get along with them for weeks at a time.

Maybe not one particular project, but the travel I do to get to these projects is quite interesting. For example, I’ve gone hiking in Norway, walked through old European cities, and visited food markets in Taiwan, which makes the time away from home more enjoyable.

Try to find out what you enjoy and what a future job might look like over the next few years, but don’t worry too much about it right now. Have fun! You’ll be old before you know it.

I took an Earth systems course during high school and it seemed like an interesting topic. I knew I wanted to do some type of applied science degree at university and my high school teacher at the time sort of inspired me to pursue it. My sister also started a geology degree so that was also part of my influence!

I did an honours undergraduate degree with a major in Earth Sciences and minor in Mathematics. This was quickly followed by a Masters degree in Geophysics where I was working with seismic and potential field data.

I always found the idea of imaging the subsurface interesting so I knew geophysics would be super cool to learn!

I work for a global geoscience software company that major mining, oil and gas and environmental companies use on a daily basis. My role is largely customer based helping other geoscientists solve real world problems with our geoscience software.

I also contribute to testing our software and create technical content on workflows to optimize our customers workflows.

Many skills can help you thrive in this field! The first few that come to mind are critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. Geoscientists deal with complex problems that are not often straightforward and require these skills to help discover natural resources and solve other challenges.

Part of my role is to help train customers to use our geoscience software. I had an opportunity to travel to Denver, Colorado to help train our customers from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USCAE)! It was an in person training held over 4 days. The training involved using our software to help detect unexplored ordnances (UXO). Training the USACE is critical as these undetected UXO can be very dangerous!

Becoming a geoscientist is such a rewarding and cool job! There are many opportunities out there and they can let you to explore the world traveling to different countries.

The world needs more geoscientists to discover new natural resources and solve environmental challenges. You will play an important role in exploring the Earth's unknown potential!

I first became interested in Geology during high school. My favorite subjects were Earth Systems and Physics. When I got to university I dove straight into Geology. That's when I learned there was a stream of Geology called Geophysics that merged my two favorite subjects. After that, I was hooked.

I completed a BSc in Geophysics (Honours). Worked for a few years then completed a masters in Geophysics.

I was mainly interested in potential fields (gravity & magnetics).

I found that working for a few years after completing my B.Sc. then returning for a M.Sc. helped because I had a lot of the field experience required to plan and execute field work for my thesis.

I'm in a bit of a hybrid role right now. I work in a gold mine in Newfoundland. I oversee a handful of Geologists and Techs with a few main goals: determining precisely where the ore is, determine the grade (quality), ensure it's properly removed, and transported to it's proper location. Part of that involves generating Geological models and field validations to ensure the model matches reality.

Active listening, building relationships, time management, taking initiative, handling change and uncertainty, critical thinking, coaching and mentoring, the list goes on.

I've only ever worked on the Valentine Gold Project but have visited several other mine sites. The coolest things are seeing gold both raw and poured bars on a regular basis. It never gets old. And just seeing the enormity of mining projects and some of the massive equipment being used.

Follow your interests. Geology offers a wide range of paths, with so many different places you can end up. The more you explore what you enjoy, the more you’ll discover what you’re good at. Let your curiosity guide you, you’ll naturally find the right fit, and your passion will grow along the way.