For Latham Hamlin, a career in mining began with curiosity, a willingness to keep learning, and a decision that changed the course of his professional life.
After studying at the University of Saskatchewan and completing an internship at Allan Potash Mine, Hamlin expected to move directly into industry. Instead, he chose to continue his education through graduate studies, diving deeper into the world of rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering. That decision not only expanded his technical knowledge but also introduced him to the IMII network and research community. Hamlin now works with BHP as the Principal Rock Mechanics Engineer at Jansen Mine.
During his graduate studies, IMII helped support Hamlin’s research through industry-sponsored funding partnerships. The support provided access to specialized instrumentation, resources, and collaboration opportunities that allowed his research to move beyond theory and into real-world application.
His research focused on stress measurement in potash mines, examining how mining at greater depths affects stress responses within pillars and surrounding rock. The work addressed complex geotechnical questions that continue to be important to Saskatchewan’s mining industry today. IMII’s collaborative approach gave him access to experts and data from across the sector.
“Through IMII, I could talk to people all across the industry,” he explained. Rather than being limited to a single operation or company, he was able to collaborate with professionals from multiple organizations, helping him build both technical knowledge and industry relationships early in his career.
The transition from graduate student to mining professional happened naturally.
The research experience and industry connections developed through IMII helped lead Hamlin to his first full-time position in potash mining at Rocanville. What makes his story particularly unique is that his involvement with IMII did not end after graduation. Instead, it evolved.
As an industry professional, he became involved on the company side of IMII-supported projects, helping guide and support research initiatives while working with graduate students pursuing many of the same questions he had explored earlier in his career.
“That graduate studies experience led me into my first full-time job in potash, and then I was able to get involved with IMII on the company side, supporting projects and working with the students continuing that research,” he said.
One of the things Hamlin values most about IMII is its commitment to practical, industry-focused research.
While academic research plays an important role in advancing knowledge, he believes IMII excels at connecting researchers with industry partners to ensure projects address real operational challenges and deliver meaningful outcomes.
“Not everything on paper works in the mine,” he noted. “The practical side is important.”
That focus on applicability helps ensure research investments create value for both industry and future researchers. It is also one of the reasons Hamlin has remained engaged with IMII throughout multiple stages of his career.
Today, Hamlin continues to participate in IMII-supported initiatives, including a project exploring how artificial intelligence can be used to analyze geotechnical data and create tools that help engineers make more informed decisions.
While AI may be a very different field from the rock mechanics research that launched his career, he sees it as another example of IMII bringing together industry, researchers, and emerging technologies to solve practical mining challenges.
When asked what advice he would give to students and early-career professionals considering mining, Hamlin’s answer is simple: get into the field and stay open to learning opportunities.
He encourages young professionals to seek hands-on experience, spend time on site, and embrace opportunities to continue their education when the time is right. His own decision to pursue graduate studies was one he never expected to make, yet it became one of the most important steps in his career.
“Don’t be afraid to go to grad school,” he said. “Eventually you hit a point where you realize there’s more to learn.”
From graduate student researcher to industry professional and project collaborator, Hamlin’s story highlights the role that IMII plays in connecting talent, research, and industry needs.
His journey demonstrates how investing in applied research can create lasting impacts, not only for mining operations and innovation projects, but for the people whose careers are shaped by those opportunities.
IMII’s office is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. Treaty 6 encompasses the lands of the Cree, Dakota, Nakota, Saulteaux (SO-TOE) and the Homeland of the Métis Nation. We pay our respect to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our enduring relationship with one another and recognize the importance of reconciliation in building a shared future.
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