Background

Educational History and Qualifications

September 2009 - present, PhD Student
School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Research title - Landscape evolution, volcanism, and sediment flux along the active Andean Margin

September 2007 - September 2008, MSc Environmental Geochemistry – with Merit
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
Dissertation title: Sulphur cycling during mass extinction intervals: The Triassic-Jurassic boundary

September 2004 – June 2007, BSc Geological Sciences – First class
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
Independent mapping project (dissertation): A geological overview and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Candanchu area, Spanish Pyrenees

2001 - 2003, Alevels in Biology, Physics, Psychology, Art and General Studies
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham

Academic Awards and Funding

• September 2009 - Derek & Maureen Moss Scholarship
• September 2009 - NERC CASE Studentship (University of Edinburgh)
• September 2007 - NERC Advanced-Course Studentship (University of Leeds)
• June 2007 - The Versey Prize for the highest overall Geological Sciences BSc degree score (University of Leeds)

Conferences and Courses Attended

• 'Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group, Annual Meeting' Glasgow, 4 - 6th January 2010
• 'Fluids in the Earth' Short Course, Università di Napoli "Federico II", Italy, 9 - 13th November 2009
  Led by: R.J. Bodnar, L.V. Danyushevsky and J.D. Webster
  
• ‘Earth Sciences in Service of Society’, 200th Anniversary Conference of the Geological Society, London, 10 – 12th September 2007
• Scientific Expeditions Leadership Course, Sheffield, 27 – 28th October 2007

Employment History

September 2009 - Present, Postgraduate Demonstrator School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
I am currently helping to teach an undergraduate course in 'Sedimentology and Stratigraphy'.

October 2008 – April 2009, Research Assistant, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
Working under the direction of Professor Simon Bottrell and Dr Robert Newton, my main responsibilities were to prepare and analyse samples on a gas source mass spectrometer, for a variety of projects and to database and help interpret the results. This included analysing the carbon isotopes of a set of Paleoproterozoic shales and conducting sulphate-oxygen isotope analysis on a suite of samples spanning the Late Guadalupian extinction boundary. My other responsibilities included participating in fieldwork/sample collection, assisting in laboratory organisation and management, writing risk and COSHH assessments, and training/supervising students and other lab users.

August 2008 – September 2008, GBASE Voluntary Field Worker, British Geological Survey
My primary role was to assist in the systematic collection of geochemical samples (soil and water) from the Greater London area.

June 2007 – September 2007, Technical Assistant, GETECH plc
My primary responsibility was to use GIS based techniques to collate and map geological data, geophysical data and interpretations onto maps for use in petroleum exploration studies. I was also involved in developing a drill core database for the South Atlantic, editing and preparing final reports, conducting literature reviews and searches, and dealing with general enquiries and administration.

May – June 2007, Postgraduate Demonstrator, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
My role was to aid and supervise undergraduate geologists on a two week fieldtrip to Scotland, this included marking work and giving feedback to the students.

Other Employment/Positions of Responsibility

• June 2009, Conservation Volunteer, Conservation Volunteers Australia (Melbourne)
• September 2007 - September 2008, MSc Geochemistry/Environmental Geochemistry Student Representative, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
• April – September 2004, Camp Counsellor, Camp Louemma, New Jersey, USA

Additional Skills

• Basic conversational French and Spanish
• Practical IT skills including a good level of confidence using Windows, Microsoft Office, Endnote and graphics packages such as Coral Draw, Paintshop Pro and AcrGIS. I also have experience using a number of geological software packages including Georef, Geochemists Workbench, and the modelling programme STELLA.