Virginia Ettwein
I am part of the department's team of technical specialists. I split my time between Geofacilities (where I manage the day-to-day operations of the Optics Lab containing a suite of research-grade petrological microscopes and imaging equipment, and advise and assist with sample prep across the Geofacilities Labs), and the ICP Suite (where I provide research and technical support for trace element analysis.)
A palaeoceanographer/ palaeoclimatologist/ micropalaeontologist by training, I have a PhD from UCL where I used isotope geochemistry and biomarker records from the Amazon Fan to reconstruct variations in the South American Summer Monsoon through the last deglacial. I also hold a MSc in Quaternary Science (joint UCL/RHUL; now known as Past Climate and Environmental Change) which involved extensive training in laboratory techniques and proxies for a wide variety of palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, and a BSc in Geography (UCL) with a focus on palaeoecology and palaeoenvironmental change.
Prior to joining the Department in December 2024 I specialised in high-precision work throughout posts across acadaemia, private consulting (forensic geology), government national labs and industry.
