That’s us! – The new GMPV ECS Team 2020/2021

Usually our blog posts are about fancy minerals and cool science, but today we want to use this platform to introduce you to our new GMPV ECS team for the term 2020/2021!

First of all, what exactly are we doing here in the GMPV ECS team and why are we even existing?! – Well, the GMPV ECS team is a group of young researchers (themselves being ECS), who want to support young scientists at the beginnings of their careers. For this we try to connect our community not only during the annual GA by organizing social events and workshops, but also by connecting international scientists over social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter). Additionally, we give ECS the opportunity to share their science on our blog or during our newly organized virtual seminars to increase the visibility of their work. So generally speaking, we mostly try to increase networking over the whole community also outside of conferences.

To do so, we need quite a big team, which has significantly grown in the course of the last months, especially to support our chief blog editor Mike with all the work he is doing to keep you readers entertained. So let’s see who we are:

Emily – ECS Representative

I’m a final year PhD student in volcanology at the University of Cambridge, UK, and I have been the ECS rep for GMPV since the 2019 General Assembly – we’ll be advertising for my replacement soon so people should keep an eye out for that! My PhD focuses on trace metal emissions from volcanoes and how they are dispersed in tropospheric eruptions, such as the 2018 Lower east Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea volcano. Over the past year or so we’ve and find the best way to support early career scientists in all our activities. Please get in touch if you want to get involved or there is something you think we should offer in the future!

Francesco – Careers

I’m a post-doc researcher at the University of Bologna. My research is focused on the study of orogenic chains (Alps, Scandinavian Caledonides, Apennines), from the micro- to the macroscale. I am interested in investigating the interactions between deformation mechanisms and metamorphic processes. I reconstruct the tectonometamorphic evolution of polydeformed terranes to unveil mechanisms and processes responsible for the formation of orogens. To do so, I use multidisciplinary tools and skills deriving from metamorphic petrology, structural geology and geochronology, including fieldwork, petrographic and microstructural analyses, thermodynamic modelling, electron probe micro-analyser, electron backscattered diffraction analyses, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy. You can contact me via mail.

Giulia – Facebook Manager

Hi there! I am a 3^rd year PhD student at University of “The Learned, The Fat and The Red”, Bologna! As a metamorphic petrologist, I investigate the role of orogenic garnet-bearing peridotites from Italian Alps in cycling of carbon and sulfur during continental collision, by integrating different microanalytical approaches. I love pursuing my research from field work to laboratory work, and here comes the most exciting part of the PhD: travelling around the globe! As a member of the ECS committee I manage the Facebook page. Why social media? I actually have controversial feelings for them. But here’s the point: if used in the right way, socials can be fruitful, being a virtual place to be keep up to date and discover new things. I am also one of the organizers of the new series of GMPV-ECS virtual seminars, which is turning great –we’ll be back soon- ! Outside research, I am passionate of books, cinema, concerts, hiking with my Irish Setter and travelling around – for no particular reasons. You can reach me via e-mail or tweet me.

Ela – Instagram Manager

Hi everyone, I am a PhD student in the Petrology and Volcanology laboratory at Kyushu University, Japan. Currently, I am working on the detailed characteristics of the Youngest Toba deposit to reveal the dynamic processes in the volcanic conduit and chamber of the YTT eruption (74 ka). I use several methods such as component analysis, density analysis using a 3D laser scanner, textural study using scanning electron microscopy, chemical analysis by EPMA and XRF. I’m from Indonesia, I like everything about nature and celestial objects. In my free time, I spend my time for climbing, cooking, and reading novels. I am interested in being a researcher, especially observing microtextures in rocks such as bubbles in pumices. You can get in touch with me via email or find my tweets and Instagram.

Frances – Twitter Manager

Hi there, I’m a researcher at Uppsala University. Before that I grew up in Dublin, Ireland, and obtained my bachelor degree from Trinity College Dublin. I obtained my PhD from Uppsala University, Sweden and did a post-doc at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. One of my main focus areas is micro-analysis of crystals and glass in magmatic and volcanic rocks and in experimental products using micro-beam techniques, such as SIMS (Secondary Ionisation Mass Spectrometry). Currently, I am looking at volatile (C-H-S) release from the interaction of magma with sedimentary rocks during emplacement of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs). These types of processes may have contributed to serious environmental changes during and in the aftermath of LIP eruptions and may even have resulted in mass extinctions during those times. You can reach me via email or over Twitter

Mike – Chief Blog Editor

Hello, bonjour, hola etc! I am a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University, in New York (USA). Originally British, but firmly in denial. I do experimental petrology, aka ‘put something in a furnace and see what happens’. Seriously. My research is all about crystals, their defects, and diffusion – I try to provide the numbers (diffusion coefficients) that ‘real’ petrologists end up using. The pandemic lockdown reality has reminded me how much I enjoy painting, baking and pizza, and of course managing the EGU GMPV blog (but mostly the pizza)!

Natasha – Blog Editor

Hi everyone! I’m a PhD student in the Arctic Resources Geochemistry Lab at the University of Alberta in Canada. For my research, I study the evolution of Earth’s oceanic mantle lithosphere using petrography, trace elements, and isotope geochemistry. I’m also part of the Diamond Exploration and Research Training School, and I’ve recently “dabbled” in some planetary science as a graduate intern at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston. Outside of research, I enjoy snowboarding, climbing, tennis, and I’ve recently started playing ice hockey. I’ll be moving to Denmark later this year to start a postdoc at the University of Copenhagen and look forward to getting more involved with the EGU-GMPV ECS team! You can contact me via Email or Twitter.

Niamh – Blog Editor

Hello everyone, I am a PhD researcher in Environmental Geochemistry in Trinity College Dublin. I study the synthesis of carbonate minerals for applications in carbon capture and storage, working predominantly with techniques like X-ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy. I am a Dublin local, and when I’m not in work I love sailing and sea swimming in Dublin’s gorgeous swimming spots, not to mention enjoying a creamy pint of Guinness. I am particularly interested about geoscience applications in the field of climate change mitigation. You can get in touch with me via e-mail or find my tweets at @NiamhFlknr_Geo.

Franzi – Blog Editor

Hello everybody, I’m a second year PhD student in magmatic Petrology/ Volcanology at ETH Zürich and just recently joined the GMPV ECS team. In my PhD studies I’m trying to understand long-term petrological cycles in large silicic systems in Japan. For this I was lucky enough to do some field work in Japan exploring their amazing volcanoes and will now apply different petrological as well as geochronological techniques to evaluate petrological changes during caldera cycles. When I’m not at work, I enjoy hiking in the mountains (fortunately I’m living in Switzerland with the Alps just in front of the door), doing sports or just lying at the lake relaxing a bit (preferably with ice cream!). You can contact me via mail or Twitter.

Camilla – Blog Editor

Hi everyone! I am a publishing professional currently working for an Open Access academic publisher. In my previous life I completed my PhD studies at Royal Holloway University of London, spending my days looking at crystal cargoes to better understand magma mixing, mingling and crystal mushes. I love science communication and outreach, and spend my time volunteering and basking in the halls of the Natural History Museum. In my free time you can often find me playing volleyball, hiking (preferably on volcanoes), reading and making pizza. You can reach me via email or over Twitter.

Simona – Blog Editor

Hi there! I’m a final year PhD student at the University of Aberdeen, working on tomographic imaging and geomorphological mapping of Mount St. Helens volcano, and on the influence of the landforms on volcano seismicity. Besides science, I’m a cat lady with a passion for musical theatre and, as a typical Italian, a food lover too. I’m part of the blog editors team of the GMPV and the events and sponsorship officer. You can reach me via e-mail or tweet me.

Manuel – Blog Editor

I am a PhD student at the Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zürich. My research focusses on the gabbro-tonalite interaction at shallow crustal levels in arc settings. I am integrating field, geochemical, and experimental methods to constrain the viability and extent of cannibalisation of gabbroic cumulates and its potential role in the differentiation of calc-alkaline magmas at convergent plate margins. I am part of the GMPV blog team as an editor and you can reach me via e-mail.