(From left to right) Marian Holness (vice-president of the European Geosciences Union), Renelle Dubosq and Peter van der Beek (president of the European Geosciences Union) standing together on stage. Renelle Dubosq is holding a crystal-shaped trophy, and Peter van der Beek is holding a framed certificate dedicated to Renelle for the Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Early Career Scientists.
From northern Ontario to the forefront of nanogeology, Renelle Dubosq’s journey is a story of curiosity, mentorship and groundbreaking science. Discover how a uOttawa alumna is uncovering the hidden processes that shape our planet from deep within its rocks.

When Renelle Dubosq left her hometown of Kapuskasing, Ontario, to begin her undergraduate studies at uOttawa, she had little idea her path would lead to international recognition as a trailblazer in the field of nanogeology. A proud uOttawa alumna, Renelle completed her honours BSc in geology, followed by a master’s and PhD in earth sciences. “At first, I thought I’d go into mining, like many people in my hometown,” she recalls. “But I just kept getting pulled back into research. I found it so rewarding and intellectually challenging.”

What kept her coming back was more than curiosity — it was mentorship. Professor David Schneider, her supervisor at uOttawa, played a pivotal role. He consistently encouraged her to pursue research that sparked her curiosity. “Even when it was outside his area of expertise, he made sure I connected with the right collaborators,” she says. That open support eventually led her to Germany’s prestigious Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, where she conducted an NSERC-funded postdoctoral research fellowship as the only geologist in a materials science institute.

Renelle also credits her other mentors, including professors Anna Rogowitz (University of Innsbruck), Bernhard Grasemann (University of Vienna) and Baptiste Gault (Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials), for shaping her path and believing in her potential. Her contributions to science have been nothing short of extraordinary. She has earned multiple high-level awards, including the inaugural 2019 Mitacs Award for Outstanding Innovation — Indigenous, the 2021 Governor General’s Gold Academic Medal for the best PhD thesis in science and engineering at uOttawa, the Geological Association of Canada’s 2022 Jack Henderson Prize for Best PhD Thesis and, most recently, the European Geosciences Union’s 2025 Arne Richter Award for Outstanding Early Career Scientists. “That one really surprised me,” she admits. “As a Canadian, I felt truly honoured to be recognized by my peers among some of the world’s top structural geologists.”

Renelle’s research is at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary science. Her work investigates nanoscale physical and chemical processes in minerals — how atomic structures control massive geological phenomena like earthquakes or mineral deposit formation. “All large-scale tectonic phenomena are governed by processes that occur at the small scale,” she explains. “We can find small defects in minerals that inhibit ductile deformation. This, for example, helps explain why rocks break instead of flowing and bending in the lower crust, leading to deep earthquakes.”

Now an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus, she’s building her own research lab with the ambition of creating a national hub for nanogeology. “We’re setting up a centre for nanoscale analysis equipped with cutting-edge imaging tools, and I’m really excited about new collaborations with materials scientists, especially in adapting their techniques to geological problems.”

As a passionate educator, she views mentoring and teaching as central to her role. “Some of the students I’ve taught really challenge me in the best way. They push me to keep learning,” she says. One moment that left a lasting impression was when a student she had helped during her postdoctoral fellowship left her a handwritten letter of gratitude. “I didn’t realize I was being a mentor. I just saw someone struggling and tried to help,” she says. “That stuck with me.”

When asked what advice she has for students looking to follow a similar path, Renelle is clear: “Find a mentor. Build your support system. Get out of your comfort zone, and keep pushing through the setbacks. It’s not always easy, but the rewards are worth it.”

With her brilliance and her commitment to both research and mentorship, Professor Dubosq will continue to break new ground and inspire others to do the same.

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