Elevating safety and innovation
Applied and engineering geology research at Waterloo addresses critical challenges at the intersection of geoscience, engineering, and environmental sustainability. Our research integrates field investigations, laboratory experimentation, and advanced numerical modelling to understand geological processes and support resilient infrastructure, sustainable resource development, and environmental protection.
Key areas include geotechnical and engineering geology, hydrogeology, geological hazards, subsurface characterization, contaminant transport, carbon capture and geological storage, geothermal energy, hydrogen storage and groundwater–surface water interactions.
Meet our researchers
Chris Houser, Professor
Dean, Faculty of Science
Dr. Chris Houser is a coastal and aeolian geomorphologist. His research focuses on the response and recovery of coastal barriers to extreme storms, coastal erosion in the Great Lakes, the physical and social dimensions of beach safety, and the use of analytical reasoning, semantic modelling, and graph theory for landscape interpretation. His Coastal Research Group also manages the COASTIE citizen science science program in partnership with Parks Canada to monitor shoreline change in park managed areas across Canada.
Yuri Leonenko, Associate Professor
Dr. Yuri Leonenko has over 20 years of experience in climate control technologies, his research focuses on innovative greenhouse gas mitigation strategies to address the global climate crisis. One of the areas of his research involves refining carbon sequestration methods to increase their efficiency and ensure the long-term containment of CO₂ following geological injection.
Martin Ross, Associate Professor
Dr. Martin Ross aims to understand the Earth’s recent past; more specifically, the glaciations of the Quaternary Period, which encompasses the last 2.6 million years of Earth’s history. Reconstructing past glaciations helps scientists better understand how glaciers have modified the surface of the Earth and its shallow subsurface. This knowledge can be applied to a wide range of problems including mineral exploration under glacial sediment cover, natural hazards, and water resources in glaciated watersheds.
Colby Steelman, Assistant Professor
Dr. Colby Steelman focuses on groundwater flow systems, specifically the hydrogeophysical characterization and monitoring of groundwater process dynamics and their importance in regional flow systems. He explores surface and airborne geophysical techniques that support regional-scale groundwater resource characterizations, and how these styles of data can be integrated into conventional groundwater monitoring strategies; assesses impacts of legacy oil and gas wells; and examines geologic and hydrogeologic controls on permafrost distribution.
Want to study or partner with us?
Helping to shape and encourage the next generations of scientists is at the core of what we do. Prospective graduate students interested in studying with one of our faculty are welcome to reach out to them directly. You can also check out current student research opportunities in Earth.
Research is made better through strong collaboration. If you’re an industry leader looking to partner with us, we would love to hear from you.