My research interests are in the broad field of computational geophysics and mineral physics with a particular emphasis on the simulation of the consequences of the presence of imperfections in the crystal structure of Earth materials at multiple scales. My early research involved the simulation of minerals at the atomic scale. My more recent work builds on this knowledge base and tackles larger scale geodynamical problems linking global scale mantle convection with the generation of texture and seismic anisotropy. My interests thus span scales from the atomic to the whole mantle and couple mineral physics, seismology and geodynamics.
More generally, I am interested in the application of a wide range of computational techniques to problems in the Earth sciences. I’m currently involved in research projects which include studies of how and when the inner core crystallised in order to resolve the “core nucleation paradox“, a multidisciplinary approach to understanding upwelling in the mantle, modelling the formation of pallasite meteorites, and an exploration of non-equilibrium processes in the core.