Early Career Professionals

Smart Exploration Research Center
Uppsala Sweden
Early Career Professionals (ECPs) are those in the early stages of their academic careers
who's work is connected to the Center and includes students at BSc, MSc and PhD level
as well as post-doctoral researchers. The collaborative work across academia and industry
within the Center enables ECPs to promote their research and development and to expand
their network, leading to valuable advancements in their career.
The Early Career Professionals of the Center are:
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2025-10-22 12:33
Early Career Professionals
infoAnanta Dey
Postdoctoral researcher, Hub 4
Email: ananta.dey@angstrom.uu.se
Project title: Extraction of rare earth elements using lignin and silica-based materials.
Advisor: Tetyana Budnyak
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoAnton Eriksson
Examined BSc student
Project title: "REE Distribution and Mineralogy in the Blötberget Iron Oxide Apatite Deposit: Insights from the Hugget Ore Body.
Concluded June 2025.
Stockholm University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoArianna Koufopoulou
PhD student, Hub 1
Email: arianna.koufopoulou@geo.uu.se
Project title: Crustal-scale seismic footprints of tier-1 critical raw materials.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University -
2026-02-02 13:59
Early Career Professionals
infoChristos Martzoukos
MSc student
Project title: Controls on graphite mineralisation in the Norberg area, central Sweden: implications from P–T pseudosection modelling and RSCM geothermometry.
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoEdgar Alan Martinez-Salines
PhD student, Hub 2
Email: edgar_alan.martinez_salinas@geo.uu.se
Project title: Deciphering geological processes responsible for formation of selected REE and graphite deposits through combined petrological and geophysical approach.
Supervisor: Iwona Klonowska
Uppsala University -
2025-01-29 12:21
Early Career Professionals
infoEman Elfakharany
MSc student
Project title: Upper Crustal structures of the Blötberget mining area, central Sweden: 2D reflection reprocessing of a sparse 3D dataset.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University & SINReM -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoFlorian Velter
PhD student, Hub 1
Project title: From crustal-scale to direct deep-targeting at Viscaria.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoFrida Huononen
Examined BSc student
Project title: The Triphylite Group Minerals from the Bergby-Axmarby LCT-Pegmatite Field, Central Sweden.
Concluded June 2025. Link to access thesis.
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoFélix Van Santvliet
PhD student, Hub 1
Email: felix.van.santvliet@geo.uu.se
Project title: Targeting & characterization of mineral deposits through physical property analysis & reflection seismic methods.
Supervisor: Magdalena Markovic
Uppsala University -
2025-01-23 14:21
Early Career Professionals
infoHedaya Alyousif
PhD student, Hub 3
Email: Hedaya.alyousif@geo.uu.se
Project title: Fingerprinting of critical minerals using data mining.
Supervisor: Bjarne Almqvist
Uppsala University -
2025-02-19 10:42
Early Career Professionals
infoHelge Vinje Birgerheim
PhD student, Hub 2
Email: helge.vinje.birgerheim@gu.se
Project title: Direct dating of Swedish ore deposits.
Supervisor: Thomas Zack
Gothenburg University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoJolanta Putnaitė
PhD student, Hub 1
Email: jolanta.putnaite@geo.uu.se
Project title: Seismic imaging of Ni-Cu-PGE mineralised mafic magmatic systems in Bergslagen, Sweden.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University -
2025-04-29 07:54
Early Career Professionals
infoJoshua Johannesen
Examined BSc student
Project title: Development of a geological model based on borehole- and drill rig data: A pre-study for sustainable drilling at the Epiroc Test Center in Örebro.
Supervisor: Maria Ask
Concluded June 2025. Link to access thesis.
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoJulia Sordyl
Postdoctoral researcher
Email: julia.sordyl@geo.uu.se
Project title: Magnetic properties of REE-minerals.
Advisor: Jaroslaw Majka
Uppsala University -
2025-04-29 07:54
Early Career Professionals
infoKevin Gashi
Examined BSc student
Project title: Development of a geological model based on borehole- and drill rig data: A pre-study for sustainable drilling at the Epiroc Test Center in Örebro.
Supervisor: Maria Ask
Concluded June 2025. Link to access thesis.
Uppsala University -
2025-02-27 12:28
Early Career Professionals, Gender balance panel
infoLaurens Tromp
PhD student, Member of EDI panel, Hub 2
Email: laurens.tromp@geo.su.se
Project title: Stratigraphic and lithological controls on skarn-type REE
mineralisation in Bergslagen, Sweden.
Supervisor: Iain Pitcairn
Stockholm University -
2024-10-29 14:43
Early Career Professionals, Safety panel
infoLea Gyger
PhD student, Member of HSE panel, Hub 1
Email: lea.gyger@geo.uu.se
Project title: Hardrock seismic imaging for mineral exploration using broadband sensors and distributed acoustic sensing.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University -
2024-08-20 16:23
Early Career Professionals
infoLiuqing Yang
Postdoctoral researcher, Hub 3
Email: liuqing.yang@geo.uu.se
Project title: Developing machine-learning algorithms for hardrock seismic applications combined with cutting-edge DAS.
Advisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University -
2025-02-04 08:24
Early Career Professionals
infoLorena Ferrada Sepúlveda
MSc student
Project title: Mapping a Technology Management Strategy for the Smart Exploration Research Center.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Concluded August 2025. Link to access thesis.
Uppsala University & SINReM -
2024-11-12 13:38
Early Career Professionals
infoLéopold Chicoine
MSc student
Project title: An investigation of the Rare Earth Elements in Blötberget.
Concluded September 2025.
Gothenburg University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoMaria Arnover
Examined BSc student
Project title: REE Distribution and Mineralogy in the Blötberget Iron Oxide Apatite Deposit: Insights from the Kalv Ore Body.
Concluded June 2025.
Stockholm University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoMaría Margarita Ariza Acero
Postdoctoral researcher, Hub 2
Email: margarita.ariza_acero@geo.uu.se
Project title: Characterization of experimentally derived phosphate phases enriched in REE.
Advisor: Jaroslaw Majka
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 17:32
Early Career Professionals
infoPablo Petri
PhD student, Hub 2
Email: pablo.petri@geo.uu.se
Project title: The Bergby Li-Cs-Ta-pegmatite field in central Sweden.
Supervisor: Karin Högdahl
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoPhilip Landeman
MSc student
Project title: High-resolution gravity and magnetic delineation of mafic-endowed Ni-Cu-PGE deposits in Bergslagen.
Supervisor: Karin Högdahl
Uppsala University -
2024-08-20 11:57
Early Career Professionals, Safety panel
infoPéter Kelemen
Postdoctoral researcher, Member of HSE panel, Hub 2
Email: Peter.kelemen@gu.se
Projekt: CRITTER – Strengthening the Critical Raw Material Independence of the EU through thermochronology.
Advisor: Thomas Zack
University of Gothenburg -
2024-08-29 09:33
Early Career Professionals, Safety panel
infoRobert Dunst
PhD student, Member of HSE panel, Hub 2
Email: Robert.dunst@geo.su.se
Project title: Mobility of critical metals in the Bergslagen region during hydrothermal alteration related to ore formation.
Supervisor: Iain Pitcairn
Stockholm University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoSamuel Zappalà
Researcher
Email: samuel.zappala@geo.uu.se
Project title: REEs rich carbonatite complex in Alnö area.
Uppsala University -
2025-02-05 10:00
Early Career Professionals
infoSara Rognås
Examined MSc student
Project title: Unravelling Geological Structures Controlling the Groundwater Table in the Blötberget Mine Area.
Supervisor: Magdalena Markovic
Concluded August 2025. Link to access thesis
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 16:09
Early Career Professionals
infoStefanos Sykiotis
Examined MSc student
Project title: Predicting Physical Properties Using Neural Networks: A Case Study from Ludvika Mines – Central Sweden.
Concluded May 2025. Link to access thesis.
Uppsala University -
2024-05-21 17:29
Early Career Professionals
infoViktor Stender
PhD student, Hub 1
Project title: High-resolution seismic imaging for mine tailings characterization and prototype testing.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Uppsala University -
2026-01-30 09:15
Early Career Professionals
infoYaman Abu Jaish
PhD student, Hub 1
Email: yaman.abu_jaish@tg.lth.se
Project title: Integrated multi-scale petrophysical and geophysical characterization of the subsurface for mineral exploration.
Supervisor: Tina Martin
Lund University -
2025-01-07 12:09
Early Career Professionals
infoZbigniew Wilczynski
Examined PhD student
Project title: Active and passive seismic methods for near-surface investigations.
Supervisor: Alireza Malehmir
Concluded September 2025. Link to access thesis.
Uppsala University -
2025-10-22 12:33
Early Career Professionals
infoZinaida Bunina
Postdoctoral researcher, Hub 4
Email: zinaida.bunina@geo.uu.se
Project title: Separation of critical raw materials, including Uranium, from deposits and tailings.
Advisor: Tetyana Budnyak
Uppsala University -
2025-02-14 17:36
Early Career Professionals
infoZixuan Ding
PhD student, Hub 4
Email: zixuan.ding@angstrom.uu.se
Project title: Utilization of Biopolymers for Extracting Rare Earth Elements.
Supervisor: Chao Xu
Uppsala University

