Alexander Llewellyn Thomas
Department of Earth Science
Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3PR, UK.
Tel: +44(0)1865 272124
Email:alext(at)earth.ox.ac.uk
PERSONAL DETAILS
Age: 28, Nationality: British.
SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS
My research is focused on the application of U-series geochemistry as a tool to investigate the climate system. Specifically, this includes using U-Th dated reef deposits to understand past sea level changes and the development and application of 231Pa and 230Th as paleocenographic proxies. I am also interested, more generally, in the development of geochemistry - both isotope and trace element - as new proxies of past climate change.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
2006 – 2008 Post Doctoral Research Associate Department of Earth Science, University of Oxford. NERC IODP funded for IODP Expedition 310, Tahiti Sea Level.
2002 – 2006: Hertford College, University of Oxford. D.Phil Variations in past and present ocean circulation assessed with U-series nuclides. Supervisor: Dr. Gideon Henderson.
1998 – 2002: University of Bristol. MSci Geology, Research Project: ‘The nature of an enriched mantle component at the East Pacific Rise: evidence from lithium isotopes, using a new high precision technique. Supervisor: Dr. Tim Elliott
1996 – 1998: King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham. A-Levels: Physics (A); Chemistry (A); Geology (A); General Studies (A).
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
2007 – Co-Supervision of D.Phil student: Ben Hickey (Reconstructing past southern hemisphere deep-water flow rates using sediment 231Pa/230Th).
2003 – 2008 Co-supervision of 4th year undergraduate projects: Chris Atkinson (U isotopes in the Black Sea); Katherine Cox (U/Th dating of MIS 9 in Bahamas sediments); James Rae (Testing the bipolar seesaw: 231Pa/230Th in the SW Atlantic); James Collins (U/Th dating of marine microbialite).
2007 Southern Surveyor Cruise SS07/2007 (Jody Webster & P. Davis) participant on 19 day cruise from Cairns to Mackay, Australia. I was involved in bathymetric mapping and seismic profiling of drowned reefs and submarine canyons, and collection of water samples and benthic dredges. My principle focus is U-Th chronology of the recovered carbonates.
IODP Expedition 310: “Tahiti Sea Level”. As a shore-based participant, I was involved in the processing of cores recovered and in the collaborative sampling for U-Th dating.
2003 – 2004 Charles Darwin Cruise CD 154 (I. R. Hall & R. Zahn) participant on 28 day cruise from Durban to Cape Town, SA, collecting water samples and sediment cores.
ORGANISATIONAL & TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES
2006 – College Lecturer in Earth Science: Hertford College, Oxford. Involving tutoring undergraduate students as well as coordinating extra-college tutorials. I also undertake interviews for undergraduate admissions.
2003 – Departmental Demonstrator. I have assisted in the teaching of practical classes within the department (mineralogy, igneous petrology, geological mapping, environmental geochemistry, geochemical methods, isotope geochemistry, and climate) as well as field trips covering: geological mapping, siliclastic and carbonate sedimentology, and tectonics.
I have served on Hertford College academic committee, as well as being the representative for both graduate students and postdoctoral researchers within the earth science department at Oxford.
As a college lecturer I have promoted earth sciences by speaking for the department at a Sutton Trust outreach/access event as well as at Oxbridge regional access events.
