I am a lecturer in Earth and Ocean Sciences and teach a range of undergraduate modules relating to geology, sedimentology, basin analysis and ancient earth environments. My research interests are related to these areas and involve the investigation of sedimentary processes using diverse datasets at a range of different scales from assessing gross depositional environments, through petrography, to microanalysis of single grains. Much of my research work has focussed on using novel sedimentary provenance techniques to constrain sediment dispersal, to determine the source of sand in sedimentary basins, and to resolve issues related to basin development, ancient/modern drainage evolution and palaeogeographic/palaeoclimatic reconstructions.  This has stimulated research in a diverse range of sedimentary environments, from Triassic drylands, shallow shelf environments, deep-water fan systems and glaciogenic sediments. 

Sandstone provenance, sedimentary petrography and sedimentology as utlised in the understanding of basin development, landscape evolution and palaeogeographic reconstructions. Source to sink modelling of sedimentary systems. Determining and understanding the factors controlling the nature, distribution and petrography of sandstones and, in particular, the use geochemistry as a tool for investigating sedimentary provenance and diagenesis. Interrogating records of past climate in sedimentary archives. The development and application of new sandstone provenance techniques, specifically, single-grain isotopic methods using in-situ microanalysis. Development and refinement of the use of Pb isotopes in feldspar as a provenance tool. Understanding modern drainage systems with a view to applying learnings to palaeodrainage. Using provenance data in conjuction with burial-history information in order to reconstruct palaeogeology at various scales. Tectono-sedimentary development and drainage evolution in basins on the Atlantic conjugate margins, and their linkage with the break-up of the Pangean Supercontinent and the opening of the North Atlantic. The age, nature and crustal affinity of basement blocks offshore Ireland. The evolution and sedimentary recycling of the Irish Continential Crust using Pb and Sm-Nd isotopic systems. Applications of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS).

Sedimentology, sedimentary environments, basin evolution,field geology, petrography