PhD
Caroline Bélanger
Canada
PhD topic: Volcanology project studying Ubehebe, Death Valley, California
Supervisor: James White
Email: belca553[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Francesco Cappuccio
Italy
PhD topic: Fracture characterisation and structural and chemical correlations in drilled rock cores by means of automated image analysis, CT scan, and multifractals
Supervisors: Virginia Toy, Steven Mills (Computer Science)
Email: capfr277[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Sebastian Clar
Germany/NZ
PhD topic: Seismic Oceanography: 3D and Time-Lapse Imaging of Mixing Processes at Water Mass Boundaries off New Zealand
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Rob Smith (Marine Science), Christina Riesselman
Email: clase510[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Rosie Cole
UK
PhD topic: Glaciovolcanism in Tongariro National Park, North Island, New Zealand
Supervisors: James White, Graham Leonard(GNS), Christian Ohneiser
Email: colro756[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Hazel Conway
Ireland
PhD topic: Investigating an uplifted submarine volcanic succession on Milos Island, Greece
Supervisors: James White
Email: conha128[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Joanna Cooper
Canada
PhD topic: Investigating water-mass mixing across the Sub-tropical Front east of the South Island using seismic oceanography.
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Ross Vennell (Marine Science)
Email: coojo202[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Josh Corrie
USA
PhD topic: Systematics and morphology of archaic kekenodontids from the Oligocene of New Zealand.
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: josh.corrie[at]otago.ac.nz
Amber Coste
France/UK
PhD topic: Describing several specimens of fossil “tusked” New Zealand dolphins and investigating their teeth.
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce, Carolina Loch (Dentistry)
Email: cosam991[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Grace Duke
USA
PhD topic: Characterising Antarctic primary productivity during the Pliocene using nitrogen bound in frustules
Supervisors: Christina Riesselman, Robert Van Hale (Chemistry) and Rebecca Robinson (University of Rhode Island)
Email: dukgr761[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Sheng Fan (Van)
China
PhD topic: Natural Ice Microstructure.
Supervisors: Dave Prior, Christina Hulbe and Heather Purdie
Email: fansh405[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Ian Geary
New Zealand
PhD topic: The Miocene to Quaternary macrofossil plant and fungal floras of Auckland and Northland
Supervisor: Daphne Lee, Janice Lord (Botany) John Conran (The University of Adelaide)
Email: geaia102[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Emanuele Giacalone
Italy
PhD topic: Swinburn Volcano
Supervisor: James White
Email: giaem375[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Greer Gilmer
New Zealand
PhD topic: Climate records from Auckland Islands, Antarctica and Lake Ohau.
Supervisors: Chris Moy, Christina Riesselman, Marcus Vandergoes (GNS)
Email: gilgr092[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Jonathan Griffin
Australia
PhD topic: Earthquake recurrence in low seismicity regions.
Supervisors: Mark Stirling, Ting Wang, Matt Gerstenberger (GNS)
Email: jonathan.griffin[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Jasper Hoffmann
Germany
PhD topic: Geophysics project examining fluid migration and escape features in the Canterbury Basin
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Gareth Crutchley (GNS Science), Christian Ohneiser
Email: hofja961[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Stephanie Junior
USA
PhD topic: Analyzing gold in the mantle, petrological and geochemical studies of New Zealand peridotites.
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: steph.junior[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Gemma Kerr
UK
PhD topic: Mineralogical and geochemical controls on mine water discharge composition.
Supervisor: Dave Craw
Email: kerge392[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Gemma is also a general staff member (part-time)
Martina Kirilova
Bulgaria
PhD topic: Deformation processes along the Alpine Fault.
Supervisor: Virginia Toy
Email: martina.a.kirilova[at]gmail.com
Anna Kowal
Poland
PhD topic: Strong motion seismology. Ground motion simulations for Dunedin-Mosgiel area.
Supervisor: Mark Stirling
Email: kowan133[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Adrienn Lukacs
Hungary/NZ
PhD topic: Geophysical characterisation of the Alpine Fault throughout and beneath Whataroa Valley, Haast River and Turnbull River, Westland, New Zealand
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Richard Norris
Email: kovad091[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Katie Matts
UK
PhD topic: Fossil penguins
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: matka014[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Risa Matsumura
Japan
PhD topic: Alpine Fault Cataclasites
Supervisors: Virginia Toy, Norio Shigematsu (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba)
Email: matri628[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Michael May
USA
PhD topic: 1886 Maar forming Eruption of Rotomahana, NZ
Supervisor: James White
Email: maymi024[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Moyna Mueller
PhD topic: Palaeontology, Hector’s dolphin, comparative flipper anatomy, morphology and taxonomy
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce, Jo Stanton, (Anatomy and Structural Biology), Steve Dawson (Marine Science)
Email: moyna.muller[at]otago.ac.nz
Arran Murch
New Zealand/UK
PhD topic: Investigating the fragmentation processes of explosive submarine volcanic eruptions
Supervisor: James White , Dr Rebecca Carey (University of Tasmania)
Email: arranmurch[at]googlemail.com
Marshall Palmer
New Zealand
PhD topic: Geochemical characterization and in-situ dating of various scheelite deposits within the South Island of New Zealand
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: palma487[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Alessio Pontesilli
Italy
PhD topic: Petrology and experimental petrology of the Dunedin Volcanic Complex
Supervisors: Marco Brenna, Silvio Mollo (University of La Sapienza, Rome), Matteo Masotta (University of Pisa), James White
Email: alessiopontesilli[at]gmail.com
Jeffrey Robinson
New Zealand
PhD topic: Fossil and Recent Brachiopods (completed)
Supervisor: Daphne Lee
Email: jeffreyhrobinson[at]yahoo.co.nz
Kat Sauer
USA
PhD topic: Influence of fluids and microstructural heterogeneities on the rheological behaviour of large-scale continental faults: Insights from the Alpine Fault mylonite zone, New Zealand
Supervisor: Virginia Toy, Dave Prior
Email: katrina.sauer[at]otago.ac.nz
Meike Seideman
Germany
PhD topic: Microstructural evolution of ice during episodic creep.
Supervisors: Dave Prior, Pat Langhorne (Physics), Sean Fitzsimons (Geography)
Email: seime036[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Yilun Shao
China
PhD topic: Rheological processes in the upper mantle under the South Island of New Zealand
Supervisors: Dave Prior, James Scott, Martin Reyners (GNS Science)
Email: shayi182[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Matt Tarling
Canada
PhD topic: Faulting and slip dynamics in ultramafic rocks, using the Livingstone Fault in New Zealand as a case study.
Supervisors: Steve Smith, James Scott
Email: tarma723[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Andrea Verolino
Italy
PhD topic: Surtseyan volcanism: case studies from Pahvant Butte and Black Point (Western USA), and Surtsey (Iceland)
Supervisors: James White
Email: veran321[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Master of Science (MSc)
Menuka Anandani
Fiji
MSc topic: Natural aggregate resource of Fiji Islands-characteristics that affect the composition, quality, and possible uses
Supervisors: Mike Palin, Candace Martin
Email: aname200[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Rachael Baxter
New Zealand
MSc topic: Investigating dikes at Allans Beach, using geochemistry to gain insight into the magmatic system and initial evoution of the Dunedin Volcanic Complex.
Supervisor: James White, Marco Brenna
Email: baxra224[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Ella van den Berg
New Zealand
MSc topic: Paleoseismology and earthquake hazard of the Cardrona (north) and Grandview Faults, Central Otago
Supervisors: Mark Stirling, David Barrell (GNS)
Email: ella.vandenberg[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Michael Bollen
New Zealand
MSc topic: Holocene-Pleistocene paleoceanography in the Ross Sea, Antarctica.
Supervisors: Christina Reisselman, Christian Ohneiser
Email: bolmi518[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Luke Carrington
New Zealand
MSc topic: Seismic characteristics and extreme hazards of faulting around Dunedin
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman, Steve Smith
Email: carlu665[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Lisa Craw
New Zealand
MSc topic: Microstructure and mechanics of flowing Antarctic ice
Supervisor: Dave Prior
Email: crali915[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Patrick Fletcher
New Zealand
MSc topic: A seismic investigation into the relationship between gas hydrates and heat flow across the Hikurangi Margin
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman
Email: flepa752[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Dannielle Fougere
New Zealand
MSc topic: Seismic characterisation of gas hydrates in the Pegasus basin, New Zealand
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman
Email: fouda188[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Simon Holbek
Denmark
MSc topic: Structural controls and geochemistry of hydrothermal fluid flow in an exhumed accretionary prism, Otago Schist, New Zealand
Supervisors: James Scott, Steven Smith
Email: holsi625[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Carrie Jewiss
New Zealand
MSc topic: Mass balanced acid mine drainage study of the Denniston Plateau, West Coast
Supervisors: Dave Craw, James Pope (CRL)
Email: jewca391[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Alastair King
New Zealand
MSc topic: An investigation into the paragenesis and structure of high-grade, high angle, gold veins at Macraes in the Hyde Macraes Shear Zone
Supervisor: Doug MacKenzie
Email: kinal762[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Aleasha King
New Zealand
MSc topic: Seismic field experiments
Supervisor: Dave Prior
Email:
James Leaper
New Zealand/United Kingdom
MSc topic: Investigating the internal mysteries of the beautiful, yet catastrophic Cascade rock avalanche within Fiordland to gauge potential landslides that jeopardise New Zealand
Supervisor: Steven Smith
Email: leaja507[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Cara Lembo
USA
MSc topic: Environmental change during early Holocene Fiordland
Supervisors: Chris Moy, Gary Wilson (Marine Science)
Email: lemca683[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Justin Lo
New Zealand
MSc topic: Basin Evolution of the Moutere Depression
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman
Email: loju5056[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Tim Lutter
New Zealand
MSc topic: Gravitational and Magnetic Modelling
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman
Email: lutti553[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Henry Mannering
New Zealand
MSc topic: Pleistocene to Pliocene Deep Water Circulation, in the Southern Ocean offshore of the Pennel Coast
Supervisor: Christian Ohneiser
Email: mannering.h.c[at]gmail.com
Loren Mathewson
New Zealand
MSc topic: Deep fault drilling project online drilling collecting mud-gas isotope data (H2, He, N, O, CH, Ar, CO2)
Supervisor: Virginia Toy, Sarah Mager (Geography)
Email: matlo181[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Jasmine Mawson
New Zealand
MSc topic: Submarine eruptive processes in the Brook Street Terrane
Supervisors: James White, Mike Palin
Email:mawja702[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Nathaniel Parsons
New Zealand
MSc topic: Acoustic properties of sea ice
Supervisor: Dave Prior
Email:parna138[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Jan-Kristian Piekarski
Germany
MSc topic: Middle Cenozoic unconformities of Waihao Valley, South Canterbury Basin
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: pieja996[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Marcus Richards
New Zealand
Msc topic: Marine Vertebrates of the Maniototo, Otago
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce
Email: marcus.richards[at]otago.ac.nz
Andrew Robertson
New Zealand
MSc topic: Investigating the structure and properties of the Ross Ice Shelf using the reflection and conversion of seismic waves.
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Dave Prior
Email: roban375[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Bryce Robinson
New Zealand
MSc topic: Mineralogy, structure, alteration footprints and paragenesis of the Waipori and surrounding Lake Mahinerangi gold deposits, Otago, New Zealand
Supervisor: Doug MacKenzie
Email: robbr187[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Catherine Sangster
New Zealand
MSc topic: Strong motion seismology ground motion simulations in Dunedin CBD
Supervisors: Andrew Gorman, Mark Stirling
Email: sanca510[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Emma Scanlan
New Zealand
MSc topic: A geochemical study of scheelite paragenesis in Glenorchy, New Zealand
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: scaem322[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Lachie Scarsbrook
New Zealand
MSc topic: Does size matter? Using osteology and ancient DNA to infer impacts of human colonization on Duvaucel’s gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii).
Supervisors: Ewan Fordyce, Nic Rawlence (Zoology)
Email: lachie.scarsbrook[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Dave Sun
China
MSc topic: Garnet pyroxenites in the Kakanui Mineral Breccia
Supervisor: James Scott
Email:sunji288[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Stephie Tay
New Zealand
MSc topic: Placer rare earth minerals on the West Coast
Supervisor: James Scott
Email:tayst598[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Olivia Truax
USA
MSc topic: A paleomagnetic, geochemical, and diatom based record of Holocene paleoclimate evolution from Robertson Bay, Antarctica
Supervisors: Christina Riesselman, Gary Wilson (Marine Science)
Email: truol520[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Mathew Vanner
New Zealand
MSc topic: Fossilised Wood of Southland and Otago
Supervisors: Daphne Lee, Uwe Kaulfuss
Email: vanma943[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Yuval Yagolnitzer
Israeli, New Zealander
MSc topic: The Pigroot Duality, an experimental analysis of the Pigroot phonolite
Supervisor: Marco Brenna
Email: yuval.yagolnitzer[at]hotmail.com
Erin Weightman
Australia, UK, New Zealand
MSc topic: Mine waste as a source of environmentally hazardous arsenic and sulphate
Supervisors: Dave Craw, James Scott
Email: weier012[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)
Samantha Allan
South Africa
BSc(Hons) topic: Controls on distributed and localised deformation within serpentinite shear zones.
Supervisor: Steven Smith
Email: allsa187[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Frances Blake
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: Arsenic mobility in loess above the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone in Otago, New Zealand
Supervisors: James Scott, Dave Craw
Email: Frances.Blake[at]gmail.com
Kacee Grant
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: Mobilisation of gold in the shallow levels of the Otago Schist at Coronation North, Macraes Mine.
Supervisors: James Scott, Dave Craw
Email: graka257[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Hamish Lilley
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: The paragenesis of the wolframite-cassiterite ore system within Tin Range, Stewart Island.
Supervisor: James Scott
Email: lilha287[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Soltice Morrison
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: An EBSD-based study of stress, strain, and vein formation in mylonitic rocks of the Alpine Fault
Supervisor: Virginia Toy
Email: morso212[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Michael William Ofman
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: Fracture damage zones of the Glade Darran Fault Zone, Fiordland, New Zealand
Supervisor: Steve Smith
Email: ofmmi216[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Laura Penrose
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: A geochemical and diatom-based Holocene paleoclimate and paleoceanographic record from the eastern Ross Embayment, Antarctica
Supervisors: Christina Riesselman, Christian Ohneiser
Email: penla170[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Daniel Pickering
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: Characterisation and paragenesis of scheelite at Golden Point, New Zealand
Supervisors: James Scott, Doug MacKenzie
Email: daniel.pickering[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Oliver Rees
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: Seismic characterisation of sediments in Otago Harbour
Supervisors: Christina Riesselman, Andrew Gorman
Email: reeol408[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Rilee Thomas
New Zealand
BSc(Hons) topic: Unmixing of Rare Earth Elements-rich carbonatites and silicate magmas of the Alpine Dike Swarm, northwest Otago
Supervisor: Marco Brenna
Email: thori218[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
Donna Condon
NZ
PGDipSci topic: Pleistocene Southern paleoceanography
Supervisor: Christian Ohneiser
Email: condo821[at]otago.ac.nz
Dannielle Eagles
New Zealand
PGDipSci topic: Fossil whales
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: eagda897[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Samuel Frew
New Zealand
PGDipSci topic: Evaluating the topologic placement of the New Zealand plesiosaur Kaiwhekea katiki.
Supervisor: Ewan Fordyce
Email: fresa299[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Talal Kadada
Palestine
PGDipSci topic(2015): Geophysical investigation of the Canterbury and Great South Basins
Supervisor: Andrew Gorman
Email: tgeologist1[at]gmail.com
Joseph Whitmore
New Zealand
PGDipSci topic: Unlocking the hidden treasures of the Otago Peninsula
Supervisor: Marco Brenna
Email: whijo549@student.otago.ac.nz
Students co-supervised by geology staff
These are students that have primary supervisors and office spaces in other departments. They have secondary supervisors in the Department of Geology.
Peter Batson
PhD (Marine Science) topic:
Supervisors:
Email:
Martin Forbes
PhD (Surveying) topic: Structural provinces and limits on rift propagation in the Ross Ice Shelf
Supervisors: Christina Hulbe (School of Surveying), Dave Prior (Geology), Andrew Gorman (Geology)
Email: martin.forbes[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Sophie Gangl
PhD (Chemistry) topic: Geochemical characterization of the development of OAE-2 (C/T boundary) using C isotopes and redox-sensitive metal isotopes
Supervisors: Claudine Stirling (Chemistry), Matthew Clarkson (Chemistry), Chris Moy
Email: ganso923[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Risha Jasmine Singh
PhD (Toxicology) topic: Biosorption of Heavy Metals from Water
Supervisors: Rhonda Rosengren (Pharmacology and Toxicology), Candace Martin
Email: sinri581[at]student.otago.ac.nz
Uru-Manuka Ming-Cheung (Ming) Williams
MSc(Marine Science) topic: The effects of sedimentation on the physiology of living New Zealand brachiopods
Supervisors: Miles Lamare (Marine Science), Daphne Lee (Geology), Jeffrey Robinson (Geology)
Email: ming.williams[at]postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Shaun Wilson
MSc (Zoology) topic:
Supervisors:
Email:
