Academic and research staff
Ordered chronologically, latest to leave are listed first. Some Academic staff that have retired have continued on as Emeritus professors, for the purposes of this list they are listed by date retired.
2022
Dr Amber Coste
MSci (Southampton)
- Cetacean palaeobiology
- Anatomy and functional morphology
- Cetacean systematics and phylogeny
Google Scholar Amber Coste
Dr Sheng Fan
PhD(Otago)
- Ice microstructure and mechanics
- Ice deformation (creep) experiments
- Cryogenic electron backscatter diffraction (cryo-EBSD) and fabric analyzer
- Cryo-seismology
Google Scholar Sheng Fan
ResearchGate: Sheng Fan
ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0404-1374
Dr Gemma Kerr
BSc(Hons)(St Andrews) PhD(Otago)
- Geochemistry/X-ray Lab Technician
- Geochemical processes in human impacted environments
- Environmental / low temperature geochemistry and mineralogy
- Alluvial gold deposits
Google Scholar Gemma Kerr
2021
Dr Rosie Cole
MSci(Durham) PhD(Otago)
- Volcanology
- Dyke propagation
Google Scholar Rosie P Cole
ArtFisH research
Dr Matthew Tarling
BSc(McGill) PhD(Otago)
- Structural Geology
- Serpentinite fault rocks
- Raman spectroscopy of serpentinite
- Experimental petrology
Google Scholar Matthew S Tarling
ORCID orcid.org/0000-0002-9235-5348
2020
Dr Tobias Dürig
Dipl. phys., Dr. rer. nat.(Wurzburg)
- Experimental volcanology
- Generation processes of volcanic ash
- Magma-water interaction
- Ash plume dynamics
Google Scholar Tobias Dürig
2019
Dr Erin Todd
Postdoctoral Fellow
BS (Penn State University), PhD (University of California Santa Cruz)
- Seismotectonics
- Earthquake seismology
- Geodynamic modelling
What is she doing now? In 2019 Erin began work for Golder in Christchurch, New Zealand.
2014
Dr Matt Sagar
Teaching fellow
BscHons, PhD(Otago)
Left late 2014
While at Otago:
- 100- and 200-level teaching (EAOS111, GEOL112 and GEOL252)
- U-Pb geochronology
- 40Ar/39Ar and fission-track thermochronology
- New Zealand tectonics
What is he doing now?: Awarded Rutherford Foundation New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowship to study “Alpine Fault “Big Bend”: Evolution and earthquake hazard” at Victoria University of Wellington starting in 2015
Contact details: matt.sagar@vuw.ac.nz
2013
Dr Steven Kidder
Post Doctoral Fellow
B.S. (Univ. of Minnesota), M.S. (Univ. of Arizona)
Ph.D. (Caltech)
Left late 2013
While at Otago Steve researched:
- Structural geology
- lithospheric rheology
- tectonics
- deformation mechanisms & microstructures
What is he doing now? He will begin as an assistant professor at City College New York in Manhattan beginning in January 2014.
(last updated December 2013)
Contact details: www.StevenKidderGeologist.com
Dr Martin Jutzeler
Post Doctoral Fellow
MSc (Lausanne), PhD (Tasmania)
Left in 2013
While at Otago Martin researched:
- Explosive subaqueous eruptions
- Volcaniclastic sedimentology
What is he doing now? Position at The National Oceanography Centre Southampton
(last updated May 2013)
Contact details: jutzeler@gmail.com
2012
Dr Dushan Jugum
MSc BSc (Auckland) PhD(Otago)
Left in 2012
While at Otago Dushan was in charge of:
- Teaching laboratories stages 1 - 3
- Teaching field trips stages 1 - 2
What is he doing now? Master's degree at teachers college at Otago University
(last updated March 2015)
Contact details: dushan@geology.co.nz
2011
Emeritus Professor Richard J Norris
MA DPhil(Oxon) FGS FRSNZ
Retired in 2011, Passed away in 2016
Research interests(while at Otago):
- structural geology & tectonics
- neotectonics, paleoseismology, Alpine Fault structure
- N.Z. Cenozoic tectonics & basin evolution
- deformation in the Haast Schists
2010
Dr Phaedra Upton
DipGrad, PhD(Otago)
BSc (Canterbury)
left in
Research interests(while at Otago):
- Active deformation in the Southern Alps of New Zealand
- Regional studies of fault mechanics and anisotropy in the Otago Schist
- Mechanical investigations of the Macraes Mine
- Fluid flow in ancient and modern orogenic belts
- Interaction between erosion and tectonics, projects in Taiwan and the Himalaya
- Geodynamics of the ancient orogens, the Acadian orogeny
- Exhumation of ultrahigh pressure rocks of Western Norway
What is she doing now? Landform modeller, GNS Science
(last updated August 2012)
Contact details:
Email link (GNS)
2009
Professor Emeritus Richard H. Sibson
BSc(Auck) MSc PhD DIC(Lond) FRS FGS FRSNZ
Retired in 2009
Research interests:
- 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
What is he doing now? : He is an Emeritus Professor at this department and also adjunct professor at University of Canterbury (last updated August 2012)
Contact details:
60 Brabant Drive
Mapua 7005, Tasman District
New Zealand
Phone: +64-3-540-3713 (or +64-3-304-8003 - Takamatua)
Email rick.sibson@otago.ac.nz
Professor Francesca C. Ghisetti
Dottore in Scienze Geologiche(Catania) Fellow National Council of Research(Italy)
Left in 2009
Research interests:
- Structural analysis of fold-and-thrust belts, section balancing, stress inversions
- Structural analysis of active faults
- Basin evolution and fault-controlled sedimentation
- Microstructural assemblages of brittle fault rocks
- Field mapping of sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic assemblages
- Regional Tectonics
- Tectonic geomorphology, Quaternary geology, and Neotectonics
- Seismotectonics and seismic hazard assessment
- Geological map editing and publishing, GIS
(last updated August 2012)
2006
Professor Emeritus Douglas S. Coombs
Passed away in 2016
- mineralogy and petrology of metamorphic and igneous rocks
- New Zealand tectonics
General / technical staff
2018
Luke Easterbrook
Left in 2018
What he did at the Department of Geology: Scientific Illustrator
What he is doing now: Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) specialist at Aeropath, Wellington
Contact details: Contact us
Dee Roben
Left in 2018
What she did at the Department of Geology: Academic administrator
What is she doing now?:Coordinator Hands on at Otago
Contact details: Contact us
2017
Dr Claudio A. Tapia
Left in 2017
What he did at the Department of Geology: Teaching fellow, Teaching Support Technician, Curator, Otago Paleomagnetic Research Facility supervisor
What is he doing now?: Lecturer at the Universidad Católica de Temuco in the Natural Resources Faculty ( http://geologia.uct.cl) in Chile
Contact details: Contact us
2016
Dr Kat Lilly
Left in 2016
What she did at the Department of Geology: Scientific officer, SEM
What is she doing now?: Computer Science Dip Grad
(Last updated May 2017)
Contact details: Contact us
2015
Adrien Dever
Retired April 2015
What she did at the Department of Geology: Academic Administrator
What is she doing now?: Enjoying retirement and playing golf.
(Last updated April 2015)
Contact details: Contact us
Dr John G Williams
Retired July 2015
What he did at the Department of Geology: Departmental Administrator
What is he doing now?: "I am off to Nepal in mid October [2015] to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity for earthquake victims and do a little tramping. I also want to do volunteer work at the Orokunui Ecosanctuary."
(Last updated August 2015)
Contact details: margandjohn43[@]gmail.com Phone: 03 4530410
2013
Andreas Auer
Left in 2013
What he did at the Department of Geology: Electron Microprobe Officer & Teaching Fellow (also former student)
Research interests:
- Microbeam analytical techniques
- X-ray spectroscopy
- Geology of the Kiwikiwi Formation (Phd Completed 2013)
What is he doing now?: Looking for work in Germany.
(updated August 2013)
Contact details:aui-post@outlook.de
2011
Mike W Trinder
Retired in 2011
What he did at the Department of Geology: Senior Technical Officer & Departmental Health and Safety Officer.
- electronics, computers, electrical
- palaeomagnetism laboratory
What is he doing now?: Mike is enjoying retirement. He still pops in occasionally for morning teas and does some odd electrical jobs to keep the department equipment running.
(last updated August 2012)
Contact details: Contact us
2010
Andrew Grebneff
Passed away in 2010
What he did at the Department of Geology: Paleontology Lab Technician
- Fossil Preparation
- Curation and conservation of collections
Kay Swann
Left in 2010
What she did at the Department of Geology: Scientific Illustrator
- computer graphics support
- website management
- GIS system
What is she doing now?: Kay moved to England to live with her husband.
(last updated August 2012)
Contact details: Contact us
