Laurence Hamel found her passion for geology, and the rewards of rigorous research, during her undergraduate degree at uOttawa.
In summer 2021, she worked as a geological assistant with Snowline Gold in the Yukon. One summer turned into several, earning her a series of promotions that ultimately led to the role of exploration geologist. Her field experience would become the foundation of her undergraduate honours thesis, completed under the supervision of Professor Ingrid Kjarsgaard.
Laurence’s thirst for knowledge didn’t stop there. In 2025, she completed her master’s in earth sciences at uOttawa. That research would go on to achieve national acclaim.
Award-winning MSc research
During her master’s, Laurence travelled to Evia, Greece, to investigate how gold became concentrated in the Earth’s crust. With guidance from Professor David Schneider and Dr. Taylor Ducharme, she spent her days mapping rock structures and carefully collecting rock samples.
“It was like a big treasure hunt through this Greek island,” she says.
Back at uOttawa, Laurence used advanced geochemical and microscopic techniques to analyze the samples. The results challenge the long-held belief that the area’s gold deposits came from molten magma. Instead, her research suggests the gold is associated with a major fault system in the Earth’s crust. It became concentrated when the crust stretched after mountain-building as it interacted with surrounding rocks.
By providing a better understanding of how gold forms in this type of environment, Laurence’s research could help geologists predict where to find similar gold deposits.
“You know what you’re doing is important, but it’s hard to realize the scale of it,” she says.
Laurence has now published her thesis findings in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. She was also the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Barr–Jamieson–Carr Best MSc Thesis Award from the Geological Association of Canada’s Canadian Tectonics Group.
“Explore research outside of what’s immediately familiar. It may be a steep learning curve, but in the end, your knowledge will definitely be an asset in the industry.”
Laurence Hamel
— Earth Sciences MSc alumna
Selkirk Copper Mines: Guided by Indigenous values
No stranger to the mining industry, Laurence has continued working in the Yukon since completing her master’s. In May 2025, she joined Selkirk Copper Mines as a project geologist. She manages diamond drilling programs and helps expand scientific understanding of the mineral deposit.
Located within the Selkirk First Nation’s territory in the Yukon, Selkirk Copper Mines is believed to be the first established mine in Canadian history to come under the control of a majority Indigenous-owned company. Due to its unique ownership, Selkirk Copper Mines is rooted in Indigenous principles that find strength in connections between the land and its people. The company seeks to develop business partnerships that promote economic growth and employment opportunities while also safeguarding the environment.
“I’m really proud to be working for them,” says Laurence.
Turning challenges into opportunities
When asked what advice she’d give master’s students pursuing industry careers, Laurence emphasizes the importance of choosing a thesis that addresses real-world challenges, particularly in high-demand areas like structural geology.
She encourages students to step outside their comfort zones: “Explore research outside of what’s immediately familiar. It may be a steep learning curve, but in the end, your knowledge will definitely be an asset in the industry.”