Personal Statement
I am an expert in luminescence dating and provide time constraints on environmental change and archaeological discoveries. I am the director of the Liverpool Luminescence Laboratory, which hosts a vibrant, diverse research group. More recently, I have been using new luminescence techniques to measure rock erosion rates.


I use my expertise to answer a variety of research questions across the environmental sciences and archaeology, but at present, most of my research falls within these themes:


Theme #1: Resilience of net zero energy infrastructure to climate change
Theme #2: Past environmental change
Theme #3: The untold story of human evolution and adaptation


2017 Lecturer in Physical Geography (Keele University)
2014 - 2016 Postdoctoral Research Associate (Aberystwyth University) on the BRITICE-CHRONO consortium project (see http://www.britice-chrono.group.shef.ac.uk/).
2010 - 2014 PhD (Aberystwyth University). Title: Testing the use of single grains of K-feldspar for luminescence dating of proglacial sediments in Patagonia.
2009 - 2010 MSc in Quaternary Environmental Change (Aberystwyth University)
2008 University centre in Svalbard
2006 - 2009 BSc Geography (Aberystwyth University)

Research Overview

Research projects (ongoing and recently completed)

Gravel barriers - This research is working to understand the vulnerability of coastal energy infrastructure that is currently protected by gravel barriers to future sea-level rise and storms.we are using novel approaches of luminescence dating to constrain gravel barrier migration over thousands of years and sea-level rise magnitudes similar to the future projections as part of the NERC-funded #GravelBeach Highlight topic project: Gravel barrier resilience in a changing climate, in addition to an EPSRC-funded N0MES PhD student project (Tegan Quinn) with Tarmac Marine Ltd. In collaboration with Dr Ataee, Dr Lyddon and Prof Plater (University of Liverpool) and the wider #GravelBeach project

Nuclear Geological Disposal Facility - This research is working to inform risk assessments for a future UK Geological Disposal Facility by quantifying long-term rock erosion. It is funded by an EPSRC-funded GREEN PhD project (Ruby Williamson) and in partnership with Nuclear Waste Services, Environment Agency, Office for Nuclear Regulation and British Geological Survey.

The life and times of Homo Sapiens at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. In collaboration with: Prof. Stanistreet, Dr Fenn and Dr Ataee (University of Liverpool), Prof. Stollhofen (GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Erlangen, Germany), Prof. Schick, Prof. Toth and Prof. Njau (Indiana University, USA). Funded by the Stone Age Institute, USA and GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Erlangen, Germany

Constraining long-term changes in moisture over the understudied but important region of north Africa in a NERC-funded project titled 'When and why does it rain in the desert?'. In collaboration with Prof. Rogerson (Northumbria University), Dr Bird (University of Hull), Prof. Harrison (University of Reading), Dr Fenn (University of Liverpool).

Reconstructing the past dynamics of the Antarctic Ice Sheets and surrounding region to inform future change. In collaboration with Dr Small and Prof. Bentley (Durham University) and the British Antarctic Survey.