Update for 2023

I have spent the last 12 years in academia asking the question; how does the Earth stop global warming? I began my career as a Geoscientist looking to understand the impacts of climate change, on every scale, across Earth history. My sense of purpose has evolved, transitioning to unravel climate change recovery and toward resolution. For me, the time of studying the past is over. Now I am pursuing solutions.

My motivation is to bring my research skills to the interface of business and science around carbon dioxide removal. Moving downstream toward greater direct impact. The limitations of the academic work environment drive me toward a trans-disciplinary, team-based ecosystem where I can flourish and drive rigorous, impactful change.

Academic Background

I am a Senior Research Assistant ("Oberassistent") at the ETH Zurich, based in the 'Trace Metal' group.

As a researcher, I see myself as an Earth System Scientist, Isotope Geochemist and Geologist.  With a formal education background in Geology (BSc), Geochemistry (PhD) and Quanternary Science (MSc) I try not to restrict myself to particular time periods, seeing the entire geological record as a diverse opportunity to learn more about the Earth's climate 

At the moment, I use novel geochemical techniques, including metal isotopes and trace metal concentrations, in ancient sediments to understand the evolution of the Earth's climate in the past. I am particularly focused on understanding the recovery and feedbacks of the global carbon cycle in the aftermath of ancient global warming events, and learning lessons for anthropogenic climate change.

My work covers modern marine environments, mass extinctions and major evolution episodes. This takes me from the first rise of oxygen in the atmosphere (billions of years ago) to the present day, with sample material from outcrops in Namibia, Oman, UAE; deep see drill cores; and modern sediments and pore waters.