These projects aim to monitor how environmental processes change chemistry and mineralogy both in the field and in lab simulations using spectroscopy. The projects can be adjusted for different levels of students.

Using Porites coral cores to examine elemental and isotopic proxies to develop proxy reconstructions of the environment.

This research program uses laboratory experiments and geophysical imaging techniques to constrain the thickness and density structure of continental crust and investigate its relationship to mineral systems.

Utilize elemental, isotopic and radiometric proxies trapped in deep sea coral skeletons to examine past climate.

Developing ultra-green hydrogen technologies

Experimental petrology is about subjecting rocks and minerals to pressure, temperature and other conditions that occur in the Earth, in order to investigate and understand processes that lead to diverse processes including volcanism, plate tectonics, ore deposit formation, differentiation of the Earth and many others.

The Himalaya are the world’s largest mountain belt formed in response to Cenozoic collision of the Indian continent & the Eurasian plate. This project assesses uplift history of the Himalaya, its erosional landscape response, & the preservation potential of critical mineral systems in this region.

High-temperature gases are found in many environments on Earth and other planets, but they have been overlooked because they leave little trace. These projects aim to investigate these gases in magmas, volcanoes and metamorphic rocks using geochemistry and mineralogy of natural samples and experiments.

Diatoms are an important primary producer group and currently account for 40% of global primary production. The sequestration of carbon into the deep ocean by diatoms makes them key players in the modulation of atmospheric CO2 levels and global climate.
There is growing evidence from both laboratory and...

Utilize the state of the art AMS and radiocarbon preparation labs at RSES to trace carbon through the environment.

Copper ore

Research supports
The group has funding to support one highly motivated PhD student, based on competition of applicants (academic background, research ideas, etc). Contact me if you are interested.
We also welcome candidates who can raise fund (e.g., China Scholarship Council,...

This research program explores the geodynamic history recorded by sedimentary basins and its influence on lithospheric architecture, geological processes, and critical mineral systems.