Gilby Jepson

The University of Arizona

1040 E 4th St
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States of America
Phone: +1 520 891 1831
Email: [email protected]/[email protected]
Citizenship: Australian/Canadian

Personal Statement
My research is focused on the relationship between tectonics, structure and the Earth’s crust.
To do this, I focus on three lines of research: 1) Structure and tectonics, or how the topography
changes as a result of plate interactions, 2) how the chemistry of minerals and rocks changes
in response to geological processes, and 3) the interaction between mountains and the global
climate. Through mentoring and research, my work seeks to improve our understanding of litho-
spheric dynamics and the earth’s surface evolution by applying coupled high- and low-temperature
isotope geochemistry to orogenic systems; as well as provide a basis to a range of Earth sciences
applications such as mineral exploration, past and modern climate, even the spread of society.

Academic Appointments
Postdoctoral research associate, Department of Geosciences 2019-Present
The University of Arizona

Education History
PhD, Geosciences, University of Adelaide 2015-2018

Honours, Geosciences, University of Adelaide 2014

B.Sc., Geosciences, University of Adelaide 2011-2013

Publications
24. Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P. G., Ducea, M. N., Jepson, G., Osakwe, A., Balgord, E., Stevens-
Goddard, A., and Giambiagi, L., (2022), Estimates of paleo crustal thickness at Cerro
Aconcagua (Southern Central Andes) from detrital proxy-records: insights into models of

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 continental arc evolution, Earth and Planetary Science Letters

23. Jepson, G., B. Carrapa, George, S. W. M., Reeher, L. J., Kapp, P. A., Davis, G. H., Thom-
son, S. N., Amidori, C., Clinkscales, C., Jones, S., Gleadow, A. J. W., Kohn, B. P, (2022),
Where did the Arizona-plano go? Middle to lower crustal processes required, Journal of
Geophysical Research: Solid Earth

22. He, Z., Wang, B., Glorie, S., Su, W., Ni, X., Jepson, G., Liu, J., Zhong, L., Gillespie,
J., De Grave, J., (2022), Mesozoic building of the Eastern Tianshan and East Junggar
(NW China) revealed by low-temperature thermochronology, Gondwana Research, https:
//doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2021.11.013

21. Yang, F., Jepson, G. Liu, C., Qian, Z., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., Glorie, S., (2021), Uplift-
exhumation and preservation of the Yumugou Mo-W deposit, East Qinling, China: Insights
from multiple apatite low-temperature thermochronology, Ore Geology Reviews

20. Jepson, G., B. Carrapa, J. Gillespie, R. Feng, P. G. DeCelles, P. A. Kapp, C. Tabor, J. Zhu,
(2021), Climate as the great equalizer of continental-scale erosion, Geophysical Research
Letters, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095008

19. Jepson, G., Glorie, S., Khudoley, A. K., Malyshev, S. V., Gillespie, J., Glasmacher, U. A.,
Carrapa, B., Soloviev, A. V., and Collins, A. S., (2021), The Mesozoic exhumation history
of the Karatau-Talas range, western Tian Shan, Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan, Tectonophysics,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2021.228977

18. Gillespie, J., Glorie, S., Jepson, G., Zhimulev, F. I., Gurevich, D., Daniík, M., and Collins,
A. S., (2021), Inherited structure as a control on late Paleozoic and Mesozoic exhumation
of the Tarbagatai Mountains, southeastern Kazakhstan, Journal of the Geological Society,
https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2020-121

17. Jepson, G., Carrapa, B., George, S. W. M., Triantafyllou, A., Egan, S. M., Constenius, K.
N., Gehrels, G. E., and Ducea, M. N., (2021), Chemical Geology, Resolving mid- to upper-
crustal exhumation through apatite thermochronology and petrochronology, 565, 120071,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120071

16. Gottardi, R., McAleer, R., Casale, G., Borel, M., Iriondo, A., Jepson, G., (2020), Exhuma-
tion of the Coyote Mountains metamorphic core complex (AZ): implications for orogenic
collapse of the southern North American Cordillera, Tectonics, 29(8), e2019TC006050,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019TC006050

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15. Yang, F., Santosh, M., Glorie, S., Jepson, G., Xue, F., Kim, S. W., (2020), Meso-Cenozoic
multiple exhumation in the Shandong Peninsula, eastern North China Craton: Implica-
tions for lithospheric destruction, Lithos, 370-371, 105597, https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.lithos.2020.105597

14. Armistead, S. E., Collins, A. S., Redaa, A., Jepson, G., Gillespie, J., Gilbert, S., Blades,
M. L., Foden, J. D., and Razakamanana, T., (2020), Structural evolution and medium-
temperature thermochronology of central Madagascar: implications for Gondwana amalga-
mation, Journal of the Geological Society, 177(4), 784-798, https://doi.org/10.1144/
jgs2019-132

13. Van Daele, J., Dewaele, S., Melcher, F., Onuk, P., Spikings, R., Glorie, S., Jepson, G.,
Muchez, P., (2020), Geochronology of metamorphism, deformation and fluid circulation: a
comparison between Rb-Sr and Ar-Ar phyllosilicate and U-Pb apatite systematics in the
Karagwe-Ankole Belt (Central Africa), Gondwana Research, 83, 279-297, https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.gr.2020.02.008

12. Zhimulev, F. I., Gillespie, J., Glorie, S., Jepson, G., Vetrova, E. V., De Grave, J., (2019),
Tectonic history of the Kolyvan-Tomsk folded zone (KTFZ), Russia: insight from zircon
U/Pb geochronology and Nd isotopes, Geological Journal, 55(3), 1913-1930, https://
doi.org/10.1002/gj.3679

11. Glorie, S., Otasevic, A., Gillespie, J., Jepson, G., Daniík, M., Zhimulev, F. I., Gurevich,D.,
Zhang, Z., Song, D., Xiao, W., (2019), Thermo-tectonic history of the Junggar Alatau within
the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (SE Kazakhstan, NW China): insights from integrated
apatite U/Pb, fission track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology, Geoscience Frontiers, 10(6),
2153-2166, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2019.05.005

10. Gillespie, J., Glorie, S., Jepson, G., Xiao, W., Collins, A. S., (2020), Late Paleozoic ex-
humation of the West Junggar Mountains, NW China, Journal of Geophysical Research:
Solid Earth, 125(1), e2019JB018013, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB018013

9. Alessio, B. L., S. Glorie, A. S. Collins, F. Jourdan, G. Jepson, A. Nixon, P. R. Siegfried,

C. Clark, (2019), The thermo-tectonic evolution of the southern Congo Craton margin as
determined from apatite and muscovite thermochronology, Tectonophysics, 766, 398-415,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2019.06.004

8. Jepson, G., King, R. C., Holford, S., Bailey, A. H. E., Hand, M., (2019), In-situ stress
and natural fractures in the Carnarvon Basin, Northwest Shelf, Australia, Exploration Geo-
physics, 50(5), 514-531, https://doi.org/10.1080/08123985.2019.1634540

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 7. Glorie, S., Jepson, G., Konopelko, D., Mirkamalov, R., Meeuws, F., Gilbert, S., Gille-
spie, J., Collins, A. S., Xiao, W., Dewaele, S., De Grave, J., (2019), Thermochronological
and geochemical footprints of post-orogenic fluid alteration recorded in apatite: Implica-
tions for mineralisation in the Uzbek Tian Shan, Gondwana Research, 71, 1-15, https:
//doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2019.01.011

6. Jepson, G., Glorie, S., Konopelko, D., Mirkamalov, R., Mamadjanov, Y., Gillespie, J., Daniík,
M., and Collins, A., (2018c), The low-temperature thermo-tectonic evolution of the western
Tian Shan, Uzbekistan, Gondwana Research, 64, 122-136, https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.gr.2018.08.003

5. Jepson, G., Glorie, S., Konopelko, D., Mirkamalov, R., Mamadjanov, Y., Gillespie, J., Daniík,
M., and Collins, A., (2018b), Low-temperature thermochronology of the Chatkal-Kurama ter-
rane (Uzbekistan-Tajikistan): insights into the Meso-Cenozoic thermal history of the west-
ern Tian Shan, Tectonics, 37(10), 3954-3969, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017TC004878

4. Jepson, G., S. Glorie, D. Konopelko, J. Gillespie, M. Daniík, E. J. Noreen, Y. Mamadjanov,

and A. Collins, (2018a), Thermochronological insights into the structural contact between
the Tian Shan and Pamirs, Tajikistan, Terra Nova, 30(2), 95-104, https://doi.org/10.
1111/ter.12313

3. Gillespie, J., Glorie, S., Jepson, G., Zhang, Z. Y., Xiao, W., Daniík, M., and Collins, A. S.,
(2017), Differential Exhumation and Crustal Tilting in the Easternmost Tianshan (Xinjiang,
China), Revealed by Low-Temperature Thermochronology, Tectonics, 36(10), 2142-2158,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2017TC004574

2. Song, D., Glorie, S., Xiao, W., Collins, A. S., Gillespie, J., Jepson, G., and Li, Y., (2017),
Tectono-thermal evolution of the southwestern Alxa Tectonic Belt, NW China: Constrained
by apatite U-Pb and fission track thermochronology, Tectonophysics, 722, 577-594, https:
//doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2017.11.029

1. Glorie, S., Alexandrov, I. A., Nixon, A., Jepson, G., Gillespie, J., and Jahn, B.-M., (2017),
Thermal and exhumation history of Sakhalin Island (Russia) constrained by apatite U-
Pb and fission track thermochronology, Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 143, 326-342,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2017.05.011

Gilby Jepson Google Scholar profile

W ORK IN PROGRESS / REVIEW

8. Davis, G., Bos Orent, E., Ferroni, F., Guns, K., Gehrels, G., George, S., Hanagan, C.,
Hughes, A. N., Iriondo, A., Jepson, G., Levenstein, B., Lingrey, S., Miggins, D. P., Moore,

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 T., Portnoy, S., and Wang, J., In Review, Kinematic, mechanical, and temporal emergence
of the Catalina Detachment Zone, Catalina-Rincon metamorphic core complex, Tucson, Ari-
zona, GSA Books

7. Davis, G. H., Reeher, L. J., Jepson, G., Chaudoir, K. M., Carrapa, B., DeCelles, P. G., Rein-
ers, P. W., In Review Structure andtThermochronology of basement/cover relations along
the definance uplift (AZ & NM), and implications regarding Laramide tectonic evolution of
the Colorado Plateau, American Journal of Science

6. Glorie, S., Gillespie, J., Warren, C., Meeuws, F., Simpson, A., Nixon, A., Jepson, G., Xiao,
W., Major Revisions, Meso-Cenozoic tectonic history of the Altai: new insights from apatite
U-Pb and fission track thermochronology for the Fuyun area (Xinjiang, China), Tectonics

5. Yang, F., Zhang, J., Liu, C. Jepson, G. Zhang, C., Xue, F., Zhang, S., Minor Revisions,
Exhumation and preservation history of the Zaozigou gold deposit, West Qinling, China:
Evidence from apatite U-Pb, fission track and (U-Th)/He triple-dating, Ore Geology Reviews

4. Shi, G., Xue, J., Yang, F., Wang, X., Pang, Z. Jepson, G., Tao, W., In Review, Ore genesis
of the Changkeng-Fuwan Au-Ag deposits in the central Guandong, South China: Evidence
from fluid inclusions and C-H-O-S-Pb-He-Ar isotopes, Ore Geology Reviews

3. Jepson, G., and B. Carrapa, C., Jones, S., Gleadow, A. J. W., Kohn, 17th International
Conference on Thermochronology, Santa Fe, NM, USA, Monazite fission-track dating of the
Catalina Metamorphic Core Complex, AZ, USA

2. Egan, S., Carrapa, B., Jepson, G., 17th International Conference on Thermochronology,
Santa Fe, NM, USA, Tectono-thermal History of the Mogollon Rim: Timing Implication of
Colorado Plateau Uplift

1. Richter, F., Pearson, J., Vilkas, M., Heermance, R. V., Garzione, C. N., Cecil, R. M. Jepson,
G., Moe, A., and Xu, J., Growth of the southern Tian Shan and its impact on central Asian
climate

S CIENTIFIC C OMMUNICATION

1. Jepson, G., Collins, A. S., Gillespie, J., 2018, How Eurasias Tianshan mountains set a stage
that changed the world, The Conversation

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R EVIEWER FOR THE FOLLOWING JOURNALS

GEOLOGY
Geophysical Research Letters
Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface
Scientific Reports
Tectonics
Geological Society of America Bulletin
Journal of the Geological Society of London
Geomorphology
Gondwana Research
Geoscience Frontiers
Geological Magazine
MDPI Geosciences
MDPI Minerals

Geological Field Work

Tianshan range [20 weeks] 2015, 2016, 2017
This fieldwork was related to understanding the Mesozoic-Cenozoic exhumation of the Tianshan
range in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and China. The focus was on detailed structural
relationships and collecting samples for geo- and thermo- chronological analysis in relation to the
extent of India-Asia collision related deformation.

Southern Arizona, Laramide structures and metamorphic core complexes [10 weeks] 2019,
2020, 2021
Extensive fieldwork across southern Arizona, focusing on the relationship between the Laramide
crustal thickening and subsequent extension via detachment faults associated with metamorphic
core complexes. This field work focused on detailed structural and stratigraphic relationships, with
targeted thermochronological sampling to constrain timing and rates of exhumation.

Wyoming and Montana, Sevier and Laramide provinces [5 weeks] 2020

Detailed structural and sedimentological fieldwork in the Sevier fold and thrust belt (Wyoming)
and basement-cored uplifts (Monatana). The goal of this field work is test hypotheses associated
to the onset of basement-cored uplifts in the western US.

Invited talks
China Earthquake Administration, Institute of Geology, Introductory Course on Geology/Geo- and
Thermochronology 10/2021

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University of Lyon-1, Departmental seminar 03/2021

IGCP 648 Virtual Seminar Series 05/2020

Ghent University, Departmental seminar 08/2018

Freie Universität Berlin, Interview presentation 05/2018

Laboratory experience
Fission-track thermochronology 2015 - present
Developed and maintained both the Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrom-
etry and External Detector Method laboratories for apatite, monazite, titanite, and zircon fission-
track analysis.
Uranium-Lead thermo- and geochronology 2015 - present
Established and maintained apatite, titanite, and zircon U-Pb analysis via Laser Ablation-Inductively
Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. With a focus on double-dating.
Accessory mineral geochemistry 2019 - present
Established and maintained apatite, titanite, and zircon trace and rare earth element analysis
via Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. With a focus on comparing
accessory mineral geochemical signatures to whole rock and U-Pb dates.

Academic conferences
Geological Society of America; Portland, Oregan, USA, 2021, Presentation: Where did the
Arizona-plano go? Middle to lower crustal processes required.

Geological Society of America; Portland, Oregan, USA, 2021, Guest convener for GSA2021
session T2 - Cenozoic Tectonism, Magmatism, Sedimentation, and Landscape Evolution in the
Intermountain West.

17th International Conference on Thermochronology, Santa Fe, NM, USA, Oral Presentation:
Monazite fission-track dating of the Catalina Metamorphic Core Complex, AZ, USA.

17th International Conference on Thermochronology, Santa Fe, NM, USA, Session convener:
Fission-track: Theory, Nuts & Bolts, and Best New Practices.

European Geosciences Union; Online, 2021, Oral presentation: Climate as the great equalizer
of continental-scale erosion (doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-13718).

Geological Society of America; Online, 2020, Oral presentation: Resolving mid- to upper-
crustal exhumation through apatite petrochronology

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American Geophysical Union; San Francisco, California, USA 2019, Poster presentation:
Linking emplacement to exhumation: A Thermochronology and Geochemistry Approach

Geological Society of America; Phoenix, Arizona, USA 2019, Poster presentation: Ther-
mochronological and geochemical insights on the transition between the Metamorphic Core Com-
plex and the North American Cordillera, Southern Arizona

Himalaya-Karakorum-Tibet (HKT) Workshop; Montana, USA 2019, Oral presentation: The

Low-Temperature Thermo-Tectonic Evolution of the Eurasian Margin

Thermochronology and Noble Gas Geochronology and Geochemistry Organisation; Victo-

ria (TANG3O), Australia 2018, Poster presentation: The Mesozoic Thermo-Tectonic Evolution of
the Western Tian Shan (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan)

Thermo2018; Quedlinburg, Germany 2018, Poster presentation: The Mesozoic Thermo-Tectonic

Evolution of the Western Tian Shan (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan)

Geological Society of Australia; Earth Sciences Student Symposium, South Australia 2017,
Oral presentation: Deciphering Central Asian Mountain Building; a Thermochronology Approach

Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology 2017, Oral presentation: The Meso-
Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the western Tian Shan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Goldschmidt 2017, Oral Presentation: Formation and reactivation of the Pamir-Tian Shan su-
ture: insights from apatite triple dating.

Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2016, Oral Presentation: A Thermochronological Tran-

sect Through the western Tian Shan (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan).
Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology 2015, Poster presentation: Exhumation
history of the Western Tian Shan (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan): Preliminary thermochronological
results

Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2014, Poster presentation: In-situ stress and natural
fractures in the Carnarvon Basin, Northwest Shelf, Australia

Mentoring
U NIVERSITY OF A RIZONA

2020 - present: Jack Konguthaithip (project development and data collection)

2020 - present: Sakinah Muhammad (field work, data collection and analysis)
2020 - present: Jordan Wang (field work, data collection and analysis)
2020 - present: Caden Howlett (field work, data collection and analysis)
2019 - present: Shana Egan (project development, data collection and analysis, presentation)

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2019 - present: Tshering Lama-Sherpa (data analysis)
2019 - present: Emilia Caylor (data collection and analysis)
2019: Chiara Amidori (data collection and analysis)

U NIVERSITY OF A DELAIDE

• 2018: Supervised and trained a visiting PhD student using apatite fission-track and apatite
U-Pb to investigate the exhumation history of the Northern China Craton.

• 2018: Supervised and trained two honours projects using apatite fission-track, apatite U-
Pb, calcite U-Pb to investigate the exhumation of both the Djunggar Range, north-west
China and southern Kazakhstan, and Three Pagoda and Khao Kwang faults, Thailand and
Maynmar.

• 2018: Supervised and trained two PhD students in the use of apatite fission-track and
apatite U-Pb to augment geochronology studies in Madagascar and Ethiopia.

• 2017: Supervised and trained a postgraduate researcher applying apatite fission-track and
apatite U-Pb to the Alxa Tectonic Belt, NW China.

• 2017: Supervised and trained a honours research project using apatite fission-track to in-
vestigate the thermal history experienced by the Cooper Basin, South Australia.

• 2016: Supervised and trained a honours research project using apatite fission-track and
apatite U-Pb to elucidate the tectonic history of the Bole-Nangodi shear zone, northern
Ghana.

• 2015: Supervised and trained a honours research project using apatite fission-track to in-
vestigate the eastern Musgrave province, South Australia.

• 2015-2018: Supervised the collection and interpretation of three undergraduate summer-

research programs investigating the thermchronology of Baluchistan, Pakistan and Sakhalin
Island, Russia, as well as one project collecting zircon U-Pb data from Bela Ophiolite, Pak-
istan.

Teaching
U NDERGRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT : U NIVERSITY OF A DELAIDE

• Field Geoscience III (2018):

Assisted third-year geosciences students over the course of a four week structural and
metamorphic mapping course.

• Earths Interior I (2015-2017):

Assisted first-year geoscience students in labs relating to introductory geological processes.

• Petroleum Geoscience I (2016-2017):

Assisted first-year geoscience students on a weekend field trip, investigating introductory
structural and sedimentological processes with an emphasis on petroleum systems.

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 • Tectonics III (2016-2018):
Assisted third-year geosciences students investigating detailed structural and tectonic con-
cepts.

C O - TEACHING : U NIVERSITY OF A RIZONA

• Orogenic Systems - graduate (2020):

In the graduate course Orogenic Systems, led by Pete DeCelles, I taught the course on
geochronological and thermochronological applications to orogenic systems.

• Historical Geology - GEOS255 (2021):

Co-taught Historical Geology with Dr. Carrapa. This class describes the scientific method,
principles of Earth History, evolution and history of continents, plate tectonics and its effect
on climate change, the origin and evolution of life and the stratigraphy of N America.

Professional Societies
Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia SA/NT: SA/NT committee member and division
secretary 2015-2018.
Young Petroleum Professionals SA: Member and committee member 2016-2018.
Young Energy Professionals SA: Member and committee member 2015-2018.
Geological Society of America: Member 2019-present.

Scholarships and Grants

• GSA Student Conference Bursary (2014): This scholarship allowed for my attendance at
the Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2014.

• Research Training Program Scholarship (2015-2018): Being awarded this scholarship

allowed for me to undertake my PhD project at the University of Adelaide.

• GSA Student Conference Bursary (2016): This scholarship allowed for my attendance at
the Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2017.

• GSA Student Conference Bursary (2017): This scholarship allowed for my attendance at
the Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology 2017.

• HKT Early Career Travel Bursary (2019): This scholarship allowed for my attendance at
the Himalaya-Karakorum-Tibet (HKT) Workshop 2019

Hobbies and Interests

I am a passionate football player and have played for amateur and professional clubs in both Ade-
laide and Tucson, currently running a geosciences departmental football competition at the Uni-
versity of Arizona. I also have a love of outdoor activities such as hiking, rock-climbing, and camp-

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ing. In addition, I volunteer my time with a local charity (South Australians Supporting Women and
Children in Assam), aiding in both fund-raising and logistic management.

Referees
Professor Barbara Carrapa
Professor at the University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences.
Phone: +1 520 891 6559
Email: [email protected]
Professor Carrapa is my postdoctoral research adviser at the University of Arizona.

Professor Alan Collins

Professor at the University of Adelaide, Department of Earth Sciences.
Phone: +61 408 916 965
Email: [email protected]
Professor Collins was a principal adviser of my PhD project.

Professor Paul Kapp

Professor at the University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences.
Phone: +1 520 440 3246
Email: [email protected]
Professor Kapp has been a close mentor and collaborator while working at the University of Ari-
zona.

Professor Stijn Glorie

Professor at the University of Adelaide, Department of Earth Sciences.
Phone: 08 8313 2206
Email: [email protected]
Professor Glorie was a principal adviser of my PhD project.

Professor George Davis

Regents Professor at the University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences.
Phone: (520) 621-6000
Email: [email protected]
Professor Davis has been a close mentor and collaborator during my time at the University of
Arizona.

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