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Head of Department

Andrew Gorman in Antarctica.Professor Andrew R Gorman

BSc(Calgary) PhD(British Columbia)

  • Geophysics
  • Controlled-source seismology
  • Marine seismology
  • Gas hydrates

Louise Schumacher 2022 thumb 1xLouise Schumacher

(NZDipBus; DipCeramicArts; GradDipTchg)

Client Services Administrator (Shared Services)

  • Administration
  • Enquiries

Email geology@otago.ac.nz
Tel  +64 3 479 7519

Teaching staff

Marco Brenna smDr Marco Brenna

BSc(W Aust) PhD(Massey)

  • Igneous petrology and geochemistry
  • Volcanology
  • Magma ascent dynamics

Sophie Briggs thumbDr Sophie Briggs

BSc(Hons)(Otago) PhD(UCSB)

  • 100 level teaching
  • Petrology (igneous and metamorphic)
  • Geochemistry
  • Geochronology
  • Tectonics
  • Geological field methods

Doug MacKenzie 2022 thumb 1xDr Doug MacKenzie

BSc(Toronto) MSc PhD(Otago) MAusIMM CP(GEO)

  • Economic geology
  • Orogenic gold deposits
  • Structure and fluid flow in metamorphic belts
  • Geological field methods

Chris Moy imageAssociate Professor Christopher Moy

BSc(Union College, Schenectady) MSc(Syracuse) PhD(Stanford)

  • Paleoclimatology
  • Sedimentology
  • Geochemistry

Dave Prior smProfessor David J Prior

BSc(Wales) PhD(Leeds)

  • Grain Boundary Sliding (GBS) and Earth Rheology
  • The Alpine Fault Zone, South Island, New Zealand
  • Ice microstructure and mechanics

Christina Riesselman smDr Christina Riesselman

BA (Nebraska-Lincoln) PhD (Stanford)

  • Cenozoic paleoceanography and paleoclimate
  • Antarctic climate evolution
  • Micropaleontology (diatoms)
  • Geochemical proxies of paleoenvironmental change

James Scott smProfessor James Scott

PhD(Otago)

  • Meteorites, solar nebula and planetary geology
  • Earth's mantle composition, history, melting
  • Metamorphism, mineralisation and fluid flow
  • Subduction zones and element redistribution
  • Environmental geochemistry
  • Zealandia's tectonics

Claudine Stirling image smallProfessor Claudine Stirling

PhD(ANU), BSc(Hons)(Well)

  • Isotope Geochemistry
  • Biogeochemical cycles of trace metals
  • Paleoceanography and paleoclimatology
  • Environmental Geochemistry

Mark Stirling 2019 thumbProfessor Mark W Stirling

BSc MSc(Otago) PhD(Nevada)
Chair of Earthquake Science

  • Multidisciplinary seismic hazard modelling
  • Seismotectonics
  • Earthquake statistics
  • Tectonic geomorphology

James White smProfessor James D L White

BA BSc(TCU) MSc(Missouri) PhD(UCSB)

  • Subaqueous and subglacial eruptions
  • Explosive basaltic eruptions
  • Shallow intrusions
  • Volcaniclastic sedimentology

Research staff

Catherine BeltranDr Catherine Beltran

MSc PhD(UPMC Sorbonne Universite) Organic Geochemistry Research Facility

  • Paleoceanography and paleoclimates
  • Sedimentology
  • Organic geochemistry

Email catherine.beltran@otago.ac.nz
Google Scholar Catherine Beltran

Rebecca McLeod 2022 imageDr Rebecca McLeod

PhD(Otago)Senior Research Fellow

Email rebecca.mcleod@otago.ac.nz

Christian Ohneiser smDr Christian Ohneiser

MSc PhD(Otago)

  • Paleomagnetism
  • Paleoclimate/ocean reconstructions
  • Antarctic climate evolution

Marshall Palmer 2021 imageDr Marshall Palmer

BSc(Hons) PhD(Otago)Assistant Research Fellow
Geochemical assessment of element mobility between ultramafic and quartzofeldspathic rocks along the Livingstone Fault

  • Scheelite isotope and trace element geochemistry
  • LA-ICPMS
  • Mineral deposits
  • metamorphic petrology

Email marshall.palmer@otago.ac.nz

Malcolm Reid image smallDr Malcolm Reid

Scientific Officer, Centre for Trace Element Analysis

Emailmreid@chemistry.otago.ac.nz

Jeffrey Robinson imageDr Jeffrey Robinson

PhD (Otago)

Assistant Research Fellow

  • Paleontology
  • Archivist of Geology Museum Fossil Collections

Email jeff.robinson@otago.ac.nz

Postdoctoral Fellows

Matt Druce image smallDr Matthew Druce

PhD(Otago)

  • Isotope geochemistry
  • Paleoceanography and paleoclimatology
  • Trace metal biogeochemical cycles

Email matt.druce@otago.ac.nz

Jack Williams image 2021Dr Jack Williams

PhD(Otago)

  • Seismotectonics
  • Seismic hazard modelling
  • Structural geology

Email jack.williams@otago.ac.nz
Google Scholar Jack N Williams
ORCID orcid.org/0000-0001-6669-308X

Dr Jie WuJie Wu image

PhD(Auckland)

  • Igneous petrology
  • Geochemistry

Email jie.wu@otago.ac.nz
Google Scholar Jie Wu

Emeritus Professors and honorary staff

Alan Cooper smEmeritus Professor Alan F Cooper

BSc(Sheff) PhD(Otago)

  • Metamorphic mineralogy and petrology of the Haast Schists
  • Petrogenesis of carbonatites and the NZ lamprophyre dyke swarms
  • Alpine Fault structure and activity
  • Antarctica

Dave Craw smEmeritus Professor Dave Craw

BSc PhD(Otago) MSc(Calgary) FRSNZ

  • Economic geology
  • Structure and mineralization in the Haast Schists
  • Fluid flow in orogenic belts

Daphne LeeHonorary Professor Daphne E Lee

BSc PhD(Otago)

  • Cenozoic paleobotany and paleoclimate
  • Invertebrate paleontology (brachiopods)
  • Cenozoic stratigraphy
  • Earth science education

Candace Martin smHonorary Senior Lecturer Candace E Martin

BS(N Carolina) MPhil PhD(Yale)

  • Environmental geology
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • Radiogenic isotope and trace element geochemistry

Felix MarxHonorary Senior Lecturer Felix G Marx

MSci(Bristol) PhD(Otago)

  • Paleontology
  • Marine mammal biology and evolution
  • Baleen whales

Google Scholar Felix G. Marx
ORCID orcid.org/0000-0002-1029-4001

Nick MortimerHonorary Research Professor Nick Mortimer

BSc, ARSM(Imperial College) PhD(Stanford) FRSNZ
Principal Scientist, GNS Science, Dunedin

  • Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary petrology
  • Tectonics and stratigraphy
  • Regional geology of Zealandia and Gondwana
  • Scientific writing, graphics and editing

Rick Sibson smProfessor Emeritus Richard H Sibson

BSc(Auck) MSc PhD DIC(Lond) FRS FGS FRSNZ

  • Structural analysis of the 2010–2012 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence
  • Seismotectonics of active compressional inversion in  NE Honshu and the physical conditions of seismogenesis along subduction  megathrusts
  • Seismogenesis in the Buller region of active compressional inversion
  • Earthquake rupturing in fluid-overpressured crust

Virginia Toy 2021 imageHonorary Associate Professor Virginia G Toy

BSc MSc(Auck) MPhil(ANU) PhD (Otago)

  • Structure of shear zones
  • Microstructure and texture analysis
  • Coseismic fault rocks
  • SW Pacific tectonics

Gary Wilson smHonorary Professor Gary S Wilson

BSc BMus PhD(Victoria)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Massey University

  • Palaeomagnetism
  • Integrated chronostratigraphy
  • Palaeoceanography
  • Palaeoclimatology
  • Stratigraphy, sedimentology and palaeoenvironments'

Professional staff

David Barr image smallDavid Barr

Centre for Trace Element Analysis – Instrument Support Technician

Email david.barr@otago.ac.nz

Hamish Bowman smHamish Bowman

BA (SUNY)
Computing and Numerical Simulation Technician

  • High performance computing support
  • Numerical modelling and programming
  • Electronics and scientific instrumentation design and fabrication

Bob Dagg imageBob Dagg

BSc MSc(Otago)
Otago Analytical Core Repository

  • iTrax
  • Geotek
  • Coring equipment
  • Geophysical equipment

Email bob.dagg@otago.ac.nz

Ray MarxRay Marx

BSc MSc(Otago)
Safety Officer / Lab Manager / Field Coordinator

  • Department Health and Safety Officer
  • Department Lab Manager
  • Coordinating field trips

Email ray.marx@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3   479 5695

Fay Nelson sm

Dr Faye Nelson

BSC MSc(Lethbridge) PhD(Otago)
Otago Paleomagnetic Research Facility – Lab Supervisor

  • Paleomagnetic methods
  • Quaternary climate change

Dianne NyhofDianne Nyhof

BSc PGDipSci(Otago)Curator / Teaching Support

  • Curating department collections
  • Teaching support for undergraduate classes

Email dianne.nyhof@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 7513

Brent Pooley smBrent Pooley

BSc(Otago)
Physical Geology Laboratories Manager

  • rock sample preparation and analysis
  • thin sectioning and polishing of rock samples
  • equipment maintenance

Email brent.pooley@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 479 7502

Sophie White smSophie White

BA(Otago)
Paleontology Lab Manager and Paleontology Collections Manager

  • Fossil Preparation
  • Curation and conservation of collections
  • Geology Museum

Email sophie.white@otago.ac.nz

Shared Services staff

Sharmaine Elley imageSharmaine Elley

Finance Associate – Shared Services

Email sharmaine.elley@otago.ac.nz

Rosie Collier imageRosie Collier

Lead Administrator– Shared Services

  • Marine Science, Surveying, Geology

Email rosie.collier@otago.ac.nz
Mob +64 21 279 2079

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