The broad objective of my research is to advance geophysical inversion technology and thereby improve non-invasive investigation of the Earth's subsurface. Geophysical inversion recovers models (three-dimensional spatial representations) of the subsurface that could have given rise to measured data from a geophysical survey, for example, seismic, gravity, magnetic, electrical and electromagnetic measurements taken on airborne systems, at ground level, or down drillholes. Inversion is a computationally intensive procedure, relying on accurate numerical solution of the differential equations that describe the physical phenomena involved, and development of numerical optimization routines tailored to the specific inverse problem at hand. It is very much an interdisciplinary field, combining aspects of mathematics, computer science, physics and Earth sciences, but the former two are of primary significance to my research.
Geophysical inversion is a fundamental tool for advancing knowledge of the world we live in and the history of our civilization. It is relevant to our daily lives from the buildings we inhabit to the Earth-derived materials that our society depends on. Inversion technology is used in many areas including studies of the whole Earth and its tectonic history, resource exploration, archaeological investigation, civil engineering, environmental remediation, agriculture and biomedical imaging.
Fostering a diverse academic environment increases creativity and innovation. Diverse ideas, values and perspectives are inherently valuable for success. This research group values collaborative rather than competitive scientific progress, where researchers are supported with the tools they need to succeed. In following these values, we will conduct outstanding research and train the next generation of responsible and diverse scientists who represent our society and solve problems in the fields of Mathematics, Computer Science, Geophysics and beyond.
I am not currently seeking students, postdoctoral fellows or technicians to fund from my grants. I am always willing to take on students with their own funds. I usually plan to hire one or two undergraduate research students each summer. If any of my research avenues interest you, please reach out: I'm always happy to discuss my research with potential candidates.
Please see the Opportunities page.