I am an experimental petrologist with a strong background in geology and geochemistry. I received my PhD at the Australian National University in 2012, followed by postdoctoral research and NERC Independent Fellow at the University of Oxford. Since 2018, I am a lecturer in geochemistry at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork. My research focuses on the processes which occur in the deep mantle. I am interested in low-degree mantle melts, mantle metasomatism, diamond inclusions and the oxidation state of the deep mantle. I am also working in the field of trace element geochemistry, in particular focusing on chalcophile elements and their budget in magmas. I am teaching first year GS1001 (field trip to Burren), third year GL3032 (Geochemistry) and GL3006 (Geology for Engineers) and fourth year GL4011 (Economic Geology). I am a Secretary of the European Association of Geochemistry and Associate Editor of American Mineralogist.

I am an experimental petrologist with a strong background in geology and geochemistry. Many geological processes, such as magma genesis, the formation of mineral deposits, or the metamorphism of rocks, cannot be observed directly because they occur deep within the Earth. Although we may have rock samples brought to the surface by geological processes we can use our experiments to confirm, or discredit, the hypothesis that have been made about their formation. Therefore, as an experimental petrologist, I am using lab-based methods. My current research interests revolve around two topics. One of them is how a number of economically and geologically important chemical elements partition themselves between the silicates of the outer parts of the Earth and sulphides, minerals and liquids rich in sulphur. This research covers a wide range of applications. It helps us to shed light on Earth’s and Moon’s bulk compositions, mantle and core geochemistry, generation of basaltic lavas as well as to provide important information for metallurgy, polymetallic ore deposits and platinum group element (PGE) exploration. My second research interest is in the mantle oxidation state, deep carbon cycle and generation of kimberlite melts. In my current project I work on reconstruction of the transition zone composition by comparing natural majorite garnet inclusions in diamonds with the compositions of experimentally crystallised majorites from pyroxenitic rocks of different composition. Additionally, I am using Synchrotron Mossbauer Source in order to uncover the oxidation state of majority garnets and lower mantle inclusions in diamonds

Igneous Petrology Geochemistry