Graduate Students

My graduate students work on a wide variety of research projects within the field of rock mechanics applied to mining and the earth sciences. Prospective graduate students should consult the Department web site for details about admission standards and how to apply. An M.A.Sc. program generally takes 2 years to complete, and a Ph.D. program takes 4 years. All graduate students are required to take advanced courses to complement their studies. Through their graduate studies, interaction with other students and faculty, and with our broad range of industrial contacts, Queen’s Mining graduates are well–placed for careers in the mining industry and service organizations.

Since I am no longer a full time professor (effective January 2020), new graduate students will be accepted only on a very limited basis.

Current graduate students:

Name Degree Topic Years
Ricardo Quevedo Ph.D. Machine learning analysis of pillar collapses, Chuquicamata underground mine. 2023-
Paulina Schachter M.A.Sc. Application of machine learning to prediction of hangups at the El Teniente Mine (part-time). 2021-

Previous graduate students:

Name Degree Topic Years
Ricardo Quevedo M.A.Sc. Machine learning analysis of cave mine pillar collapses. 2021-2023
Weizhang Liang Ph.D Prediction of rockbursting in tunnels.(Visiting scholar from Central South University, China, for 18 month period) 2019-2021
Lindsay Moreau-Verlaan Ph.D. Drift destressing in deep mines. (Part-time, now withdrawn). 2012-2020
Andrew McDonald Ph.D. Geological controls of strainbursting in deep mine drifts. 2016-2019
Yousef Abolfazlzadeh Ph.D. Stress field mapping using seismic stress inversion. 2013-2017
Anna Perry M.A.Sc. Determining the mechanisms of subsidence at a dewatered Carlin Trend underground mine using numerical modeling methods. 2015-2017
Jessa Vatcher Ph.D. Listening to the story of the rock mass:Development of a methodology to understand the large-scale rock mass behaviour, with application to the Kiirunavaara Mine, Sweden. 2012-2017
Kris Gringas-Little M.A.Sc. Monitoring of the effects of destressing trials in deep high stress drifts. 2013-2017
Connor McAnuff M.A.Sc. Stress change monitoring using LiDAR-based deformation monitoring. 2014-2016
Kimberlee Falkenstein M.A.Sc. Stress changes following a large rockburst using seismic stress inversion. 2013-2015
Jason Mah Ph.D. Characterization of rock masses using 3D laser scanning. 2009-2012
Javier Vallejos Ph.D. Development of re-entry protocols in seismically active mines. 2005-2010
Alan Baird Ph.D. Crustal Stresses and Seismicity in Intraplate Settings: Relationship to Geology and Driving Forces. 2005-2010
Laura Olson M.Sc. Determination of RQD from core using laser scanning. 2010-2013
Jessa Vatcher M.A.Sc. Development of classification systems for assessing fault stability. 2009-2012
Lawrence Wamboldt M.Sc. Development of a new method of moment tensor analysis for analysis of mining-induced seismicity. 2009-2012
Paige Snelling M.Sc. Relationship between the structural system and mining-induced seismicity in Creighton Deep. 2007-2009
Kathy Kalenchuk M.Sc. Geomechanical assessment of dilution potential for sublevel caving at Ekati Diamond Mine – case study and generalized approach. 2004-2007
Sean Greggersen M.A.Sc. Assessment of destress blasting in the 1290 Orebody of Creighton Deep. 2003-2006
Jason Bucci M.A.Sc. Mining beneath an existing open pit at Inco’s 175 orebody. 2000-2003