People
Current academic staff
Dr Lewis Alcott
I'm a biogeochemist interested in answering multidisciplinary questions associated with Earth surface processes and events including past, present and future environmental change
Dr Chris Coath
Mass spectrometry hardware and technique development. Numerical methods and statistics.
Professor Tim Elliott, Research Group Leader
I am an isotope geochemist who studies planetary formation and evolution. Specific interests range from modern geological processes to meteorite cosmochemistry, using an approach that focusses on high precision isotope analyses.
Dr Michael Henehan
My research centres on the global carbon cycle: from quantifying sources and sinks today, to understanding how climate interacted with these sources and sinks in the past, to documenting how all this was manifested in past atmospheric CO2 levels and temperatures. I apply a range of methods spanning metal(loid) isotopes in marine sediments and modern critical zone settings, to micropalaeontological methods in the fossil record. I have worked a lot in developing isotopic and trace metal proxies for ocean chemistry, atmospheric CO2 and temperature in foraminifera, and am increasingly exploring the potential for siliceous fossils to provide similar archives further back in time. This proxy development work involves live cultures of foraminifera and radiolarians, and calibration using modern sediments and plankton samples. I’m particularly interested in applying these climate and carbon cycle proxies to the greenhouse worlds of the Cretaceous and early Cenozoic – periods of high pCO2 and temperature that provide useful lessons for our potential future Earth.
Professor Laura Robinson
Drawing on samples collected through field work, ocean exploration and geochemistry our research group is looking at the interactions between oceans and climate in the modern and the past. We apply a diverse range of geochemical analyses to deep sea corals including uranium series, radiocarbon and trace metal approaches. The data reveal unique insights into the links between deep ocean biogeochemistry and global climate, as well as the vulnerability of deep-sea ecosystems in a changing world.
Current Fellows
Dr Simon Lock
My research focusses on the phenomenon of induced seismicity - where human activities in the subsurface cause earthquakes. To study induced seismicity we deploy microseismic monitoring arrays to provide detailed observations from industrial sites, and we use statistical and numerical models to understand the fundamental geomechanical processes at play. I work on the development of observational seismological methods to improve the monitoring performance of microseismic arrays, and I work on the development of statistical models and numerical simulations of induced seismicity processes. My work has been applied to a broad range of industry types, including carbon capture and storage (CCS); geothermal energy; hydraulic fracturing (fracking); conventional oil and gas; natural gas storage; and subsurface wastewater disposal.
Dr Caitlyn Witkowski
I investigate the co-evolution of life and Earth, especially how climate, the carbon cycle, ecology, and depositional environments impact one another over geologic time using organic geochemistry and stable isotopes. My current focus is on Palaeozoic mass extinction events, looking for similarities that lead to radical and catastrophic moments in Earth history, relevant for our rapidly changing planet today.
Ke Zu
I am a Marie Curie Fellow and my research focusses on the history of the early solar system as recorded in meteorites. I have used mass dependent and mass independent isotope ratio measurements, dominantly on the Cr but also on the Ni isotope system to constrain the origin, nature and timing of processes on planetary bodies.
Current postdoctoral researchers
Toby Halmka
I am a geomicrobiologist and organic geochemist who studies the relationship between microbial physiology and lipid biomarker distributions.
Jamie Lewis
My broad interests are in applying novel and existing geochemical techniques to help solve geological and archaeological problems. My PhD thesis focused on measurements of strontium isotopes in archaeological enamel and the extent to which diagenetic alteration can affect the results given by this method. I have also undertaken work using stable strontium isotopes (δ88Sr) to investigate trophic level spacing and ancient diets using controlled feeding experiments.
Xiaoning Liu
My work is applying the novel isotope, mainly Mg and Si isotope systems, to understand the mantle evolution process. MORB and OIB samples are the mantle messager as they are the partial melting product of mantle. By deciphering the geochemical information carried out by the basalt, we would be allowed to re-build the isotope composition of mantle and its evolution history.
Joel Rodney
I am an isotope geochemist interested in applying novel stable isotope systems to understand the long term chemical evolution of the Earths interior. My work primarily focuses on understanding the processes involved in crustal recycling and the generation of chemical heterogeneity in the mantle.
Bryony Rogers
I am an archaeological scientist using strontium isotope analysis of animal remains to explore farming practices in the past. I am a postdoc on the ERC funded ANSOC project investigating animals in Bronze Age European societies.
I am an isotope geochemist studying the chemistry of marine biogenic carbonates to better understand the chemistry of the seawater in which these organisms lived. More recently research efforts have been focused on the refinement and application of boron isotope proxy for seawater pH measured in corals and calcified algae. The aims of this research are (i) to identify suitable coral substrates for use as pH biosensors, (ii) document changes in past ocean pH and (iii) to further our understanding of coral bio-mineralization and the impact of ocean acidification on marine calcifiers.
I work with silicifying organisms, particularly polycystine radiolarians. My previous research has focused on constraining Phanerozoic ocean silicon concentrations using radiolarian morphometrics, diagenetic modelling, and Si isotopes. At Bristol, as part of the PETRARCH project (PI: Michael Henehan), I am working on developing radiolarian boron isotope composition as a palaeo-pH proxy, which has the potential to greatly expand our record of past atmospheric CO2 levels. This involves culturing radiolarians for 3 months at the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche in southern France, providing many opportunities to learn about their physiology and behaviour as well.
Nidha Eriyattukuzhiyil
My PhD will try to determine the onset of plate tectonics from the geochemical record in the continental crust. In particular I am using the novel Proteus mass-spectrometer to examine the record preserved in the Rb-Sr systematics of detrital potassium feldspar grains.
Using Silicon and Germanium isotopes, my research aims at understanding early sediment diagenesis and tracing seafloor nutrients to better our understanding of the benthic Silicon cycle. I am particularly interested in the high latitudes and am currently analysing water and sediment samples from the West Antarctic Peninsula.
Stylasterids are an abundant and ecologically important group of azooxanthellate coral. Using a suite of geochemical measurements including stable isotope ratios (ẟ11B, ẟ13C, ẟ18O), element/Ca ratios and radiometric isotopes, I study the biocalcification mechanisms of stylasterid corals, their resilience to ocean acidification and their use as proxies of past oceanic conditions.
I am using measurements of radiogenic W isotope ratios to investigate major changes in the source of material to the continental crust over the history of the Earth. I have studied the Pilbara craton in detail and am now extending my work to other cratons.
Current Honorary Staff
Professor Kate Hendry
I am a biogeochemist and chemical oceanographer, interested in understanding nutrient cycling in the modern ocean, and the link between past climatic change, ocean circulation, nutrient supply and biological productivity.
Technicians
Emmeline Gray
Emmeline is the lab manager for our micropalaeontology labs, and a specialist technician within the PETRARCH project. Her role involves supporting lab users with Li, B and Si isotope and trace element geochemical methods in foraminifera and radiolarians.
Carolyn Taylor
I am a research lab manager for the Isotope Geochemistry Labs, my role involves supporting lab users and carrying out various lab based research projects.