Assistant Professor Dr. Wenbo Zheng's Research Group at the School of Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Canada, is recruiting 3-4 PhD students in Geotechnical Engineering/Resource Geomechanics. 招生研究课题: Numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing (and induced microseismicity) in shale. Coupled computational fluid dynamics-discrete element modeling and its application in liquefaction flow slides. Monitoring and modeling of seepage, deformation, and stability of large tailings dams. 招生计划: Positions: 3-4 fully funded PhD positions. Program Duration: 4 years. Start Date: Ideal start dates are September 2025 or January 2026. Funding: Successful candidates will receive full scholarships covering tuition fees and living expenses. Opportunities: Collaboration with industry and international academic partners. 招生要求: A Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Geological Engineering, Mining Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Mechanics, or a related field, with a GPA of 80/100 or above. Passion for research and innovative problem-solving. Strong teamwork and collaboration skills. English proficiency meeting UNBC's requirements, with strong written and oral communication skills. How to Apply: Interested candidates should email the following documents to wenbo.zheng@unbc.ca: English CV Research experience and interests Representative publications GPA and academic transcripts English test scores (if applicable) 关于Dr. Wenbo Zheng: Dr. Zheng’s research focuses on geomechanics applicable to geological resource and geohazard problems, including proppant breakage and embedment in shale gas fracturing, slope stability/landslides in mining, and tunneling projects. His work integrates advanced lab characterization techniques, field monitoring data, and computational geomechanics to model and predict the behavior of geotechnical materials and their engineering applications. Publications: Over 50 papers in leading geotechnical journals. Awards: Best Academic Presentation at the inaugural Geomechanics for Geoenergy and Georesources international conference (Australia). Funding: Principal investigator for six Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grants, one Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) instrumentation grant, Mitacs projects, and more. Supervision Record: Supervised 18 PhD/Master's students and 10 undergraduates in the past few years, with students receiving scholarships (e.g., Geosciences BC Scholarship) and publishing in journals like Computers and Geotechnics and Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering. Graduates have pursued professional roles or further studies. Professional Roles: Member of committees under the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) and Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE). Chair of the CSCE Northern British Columbia Section. Reviewer for NSERC, Mitacs, and over 30 international geotechnical journals. 关于UNBC: UNBC is a small, public research university consistently ranked in the top three undergraduate universities in Canada by Maclean's Magazine. The university excels in natural resources and the environment, engineering, health and human development, business, and community studies. Located in Prince George, British Columbia, a transportation hub surrounded by major infrastructure, mining, and shale gas projects, the city offers abundant professional opportunities. It is also a gateway to stunning natural landscapes, provincial and national parks, and outdoor activities year-round.
