Curriculum Vitae

          Nationality: Australian (hold UK Certificate for Right of Abode)

Current position

                          Postdoctoral Research Associate (NERC) (Oct 2004 – Nov2007)

Education

     1995            BSc (Hons, 1^st Class) Geology & Geophysics,  University of Sydney (Australia)

     2000            PhD (Geology),   University of Sydney (Australia)

Employment History

     2005            (July-August) Consultant Scientist to Geological Survey of Denmark & Greenland

     2001-2004    Royal Society of Edinburgh/SEELLD Postdoctoral Research Fellow

     2001            (Jan-Sept) Finance Editor (Equities Research): ReValue Research, Sydney

     1995-2000    Casual demonstrator (1^st year geology, 1^st-3^rd year petrology, structural geology, field mapping)

     1996                        (Mar-Jun) Exploration Geologist, RTZ-CRA Exploration (now Rio Tinto), western Victoria

     1994-95        (Dec-Feb) Student geologist, CRA Exploration, central-western NSW

Research Interests

My research interests are driven by the need for integrated studies to solve geological problems. 

  These interests include studying:

     • use of accessory minerals as tracers of geological processes;

     • rates of geological processes, from mineral reactions and fluid flow to orogenesis;

     • processes that affect the minerals we use to date geological events;

  Central to this approach involves considering the full lithological, structural and mineralogical context of rocks. For more information, see my Current Research page.

PhD Supervision

     • Natasha Lee (University of Edinburgh) -

     The metamorphic evolution of ancient continental crust: Characterising the P-T-t history of Archaean rocks from Inner Ameralik Fjord, southern West Greenland.

     Commenced September 2004.

     • Richard Taylor (University of Edinburgh) -

     Experimental distribution of trace elements between zircon, garnet and melt, with applications (Kerala Khondalite Belt, India).

     Commenced February 2005 (unofficial supervisor as associated PDRA).

Research Funding Awarded

     2003        NERC New Investigators Competition (£24,816; NER/M/S/2003/00064)

          Project title: Recrystallisation and alteration of zircon during high-grade metamorphism.

     2002        University of Edinburgh Small Grants Trust (£500)

          Project title: Geological evolution of the Outer Hebrides, NW Scotland.

     2001        RSE/SEELLD Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (plus funding of £6000/year).

          Project title: What starts the clock ticking? Understanding the rates of mountain building.

Reviewing duties

     Precambrian Research, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, Journal of Petrology, American Mineralogist, Canadian Mineralogist, Geological Society of London Special publications, Polar Geoscience, Scottish Journal of Geology.

Editorial duties

     Co-editor of “Zircon” edition of Elements, the magazine of the combined Mineralogical and Geochemical societies (due for publication early 2007).

Committees & Working Groups

• Member of the MetPetDB working group, established to develop a worldwide database of metamorphic information, ranging from mineral and whole rock chemistry, to isotope, trace element and age data. (Coordinated by Frank Spear, Renslauer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York)

Practical Experience

     Field Mapping

          Southern West Greenland (2004, 2005)

          South Harris, Outer Hebrides (2002)

          Kemp Land coast, east Antarctica (1996-97, 1997-98, 1999-2000^* Austral summers), ^*Field leader

          Fiordland, New Zealand (1999);

          Musgrave Block, central Australia (1995, BSc Honours thesis project)

     Instrumental

          • Electron microprobe: major and trace element analysis, X-ray intensity mapping, U-Th-Pb chemical dating

          (Cameca Camebax, SX50 and SX100 instruments, Jeol Superprobe)

          • Scanning Electron Microscope: Secondary Electron, Backscattered Electron and Cathodoluminescence imaging (Philips XL30)

          • Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (Cameca ims4f Ion Microprobe): trace and rare earth element analysis

          • Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (Cameca ims1270 Ion Microprobe): U-Th -Pb isotope analysis

          • Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP II): U-Th -Pb isotope analysis

Teaching Experience

     Lecturing

   University of Edinburgh (2001 – present)

          • Geological Evolution of Kemp & MacRobertson Lands, East Antarctic Shield: guest lecture as part of Geology 4 “Evolution of Antarctica” coursework option

          • Introduction to the thermodynamic modelling computer programme THERMOCALC, as part of Geology 4 “Advanced geochemistry and thermodynamics” coursework option.

          • Casual lecturing – Geology 1: Volcanic processes, Deformation processes.

   University of Sydney (1996-2000)

          • Casual lecturing – Geology 3: Metamorphic petrology

          • Introduction to the identification of metamorphic rocks (Geology 1).

          • Earth Science service course for 1^st year Education Faculty students – taught tutorials and practicals, covering fundamental concepts in the earth and planetary sciences.

  Demonstrating

   University of Sydney (1996-2000)

          • Optical mineralogy (2^nd Year Geology)

          • Metamorphic Petrology (2^nd & 3^rd Year Geology)

          • Igneous Petrology (2^nd Year Geology)

          • Interpretation of aerial photographs (3^rd Year Geology)

          • Igneous Petrology (2^nd Year Geology)

          • 1^st Year Geology: introductory concepts in earth science, identifcation of minerals and rocks, lab-based mapping exercises

          • Engineering Geology (1^st & 2^nd Year civil engineers): identifcation of minerals and rocks, solcing geotechnical engineering problems.

  Field Trips

   University of Edinburgh (2001 – present)

          • 3^rd Year level geology:

      Kinlochleven (Scotland) structural mapping – covering general geological obsevational and field mapping skills, identification and interpretation of geological structures.

      Assynt/Ullapool (Scotland) mapping Excursion – covering identification and mapping of lithological and structural features in rock types ranging from unconsolidated glacial sediments, consolidated shelf sediments, metamorphic rocks of the Moine Group and Lewisian Gneiss Complex.

          • 2^nd Year level geology:

      Arran(Scotland) exursion – introduction to field geology.

   University of Sydney (1996-2000)

          • 3^rd Year level geology:

      Broken Hill / Olary Inlier (central Australia) – mapping of lithological, structural and metamorphic features in a Proterozoic amphibolite facies terrain that is onlapped by Proterozoic glacial sediments.

      NSW South Coast (Australia) – structural analysis of complexly deformed igneous and sedimentary rocks.

      Mudgee (central NSW, Australia) – mapping of sedimentary, volcanic and volcaniclastic sediments.

          • 2^nd Year level geology:

     Yass (eastern NSW) – introduction to field mapping in unmetamorphosed sedimentary, volcanic and plutonic rocks.

Postgraduate & Undergraduate Academic awards

   1999          Edgeworth David Travelling Scholarship

   1998          George Harris Scholarship – Postgraduate Award

                         Edgeworth David Travelling Scholarship

     1996           Deas Thomson Scholarship - most proficient in 4^th Yr

                Elliston Medal – top of 4^th Yr class.

     1995           Earth Resources Foundation Scholarship - 4^th Yr Geology

         Geological Society of Australia Prize - best 3^rd Yr student entering 4^th Yr

                         Sheila Mitchell Swain Memorial Prize - best 3^rd Yr field report

         Quodling Testimonial Prize - best 3^rd Yr in Crystallography and Petrology

                         Leo A. Cotton Prize for best 3^rd Yr in Exploration Geophysics

                         Deas Thomson Scholarship in Mineralogy - best 3^rd Yr results proceeding to 4^th Yr

                         Brunton Prize - outstanding student in the field of Geology

                         AusIMM Bursary Prize - results achieved in 3^rd Yr

                   Best paper presented at the AusIMM student forum

     1994          Earth Resources Foundation Scholarship - 3^rd Yr Geology

                        Olga Marion Brown Prize - field work in Geology

     1993          Earth Resources Foundation (University of Sydney) Scholarship - 2^nd Yr Geology