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.
2023
Dr Steven A F Smith
MSci PhD(Durh)
- Structure and mechanical properties of fault zones
- Fault rock microstructure
- Deformation experiments
- Structural Geology
2022
Dr Marianne Negrini
MSc(Zurich) PhD(Tromsø)
Electron Beam Data Technician
Dr Cathy G Rufaut
Dip. Wildlife Management(Otago) MSc(Victoria) PhD(Otago)
- Geo-ecology, botany, zoology
- Mine environmental issues
- Land rehabilitation
- Project management and outreach
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 Sophie K Gangl
MSc(BOKU, Vienna) PhD(Otago)
- Heavy isotope geochemistry
- Trace element geochemistry
- Palaeoclimatology
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 Jon Lindquist
MSc PhD(Otago)
- Sedimentology and ichnology
- On-land southern NZ Cretaceous–Tertiary basin stratigraphy
Damian Walls
MSc(Otago)
Department Administrator, Safety Officer, Lab Manager, Geochemistry/X-ray Lab Technician
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
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
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 and microstructures
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
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
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 and tectonics
- neotectonics, paleoseismology, Alpine Fault structure
- NZ Cenozoic tectonics & basin evolution
- deformation in the Haast Schists
2010
Dr Phaedra Upton
DipGrad, PhD(Otago)
BSc (Canterbury)
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
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
Email rick.sibson@otago.ac.nz
Professor Francesca C. Ghisetti
Dottore in Scienze Geologiche(Catania) Fellow National Council of Research(Italy)
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
2006
Professor Emeritus Douglas S. Coombs
Passed away in 2016
- mineralogy and petrology of metamorphic and igneous rocks
- New Zealand tectonics
General / technical staff
2023
Dr Stephen Read
What he did at the Department of Geology: Geological Mapping Technician
2018
Luke Easterbrook
What he did at the Department of Geology: Scientific Illustrator
Dee Roben
What she did at the Department of Geology: Academic administrator
2017
Dr Claudio A. Tapia
What he did at the Department of Geology: Teaching fellow, Teaching Support Technician, Curator, Otago Paleomagnetic Research Facility supervisor
2016
Dr Kat Lilly
What she did at the Department of Geology: Scientific officer, SEM
2015
Adrien Dever
What she did at the Department of Geology: Academic Administrator
Contact details:Contact us
Dr John G Williams
What he did at the Department of Geology: Departmental Administrator
2013
Andreas Auer
What he did at the Department of Geology: Electron Microprobe Officer & Teaching Fellow (also former student)
2011
Mike W Trinder
What he did at the Department of Geology: Senior Technical Officer & Departmental Health and Safety Officer.
2010
Andrew Grebneff
What he did at the Department of Geology: Paleontology Lab Technician
Kay Swann
What she did at the Department of Geology: Scientific Illustrator