Group Leader
@durham.ac.uk
The Layered Mineral Geochemistry Group consists of a team of researchers at Durham University, with expertise in computational and experimental chemistry, working together to gain a fuller understanding of the structure, properties of reactivity of layered minerals with particular emphasis on how these minerals and organic matter interact, and to investigate applications of this knowledge.
Our main areas of research include: (i) Geoenergy, (ii) Prebiotic chemistry, (iii) Heterogeneous catalysis, (iv) Mineral interfaces, (v) Composite materials
The research in the group is funded by a variety of sponsors, including research councils, knowledge transfer agencies and directly by industry.
*click on the photographs to go to the individual members biography*
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Group Leader |
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| Dr H. Chris Greenwell | |
| Senior Lecturer, Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Honorary Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, University College London | |
E-mail:
chris.greenwell@durham.ac.uk
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| Tel: +44 (0)1913 342324 |
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant |
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| Dr Valentina Erastova | |
| Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Setting Geochemical COnstraints on Early Earth Peptide Formation | |
| Sponsor: Leverhulme Trust | |
| E-mail: valentina.erastova@durham.ac.uk |
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant |
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| Dr Li Li | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Chemical conversion of algae biomass | |
| Sponsor: European Union, FP7 | |
| E-mail: li.li2@durham.ac.uk |
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Industry Bridging Fellow |
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| Rodi Wout | |
| Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Project: Understanding application of sea weed technologies | |
| Sponsor: Durham Industry Bridging Fund | |
| E-mail: rodi.wout@dur.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Ben Smith | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Mineral catalysed decarboxylation reactions for biofuels | |
| Sponsor: EPSRC & Kior Inc | |
| E-mail: benjamin.smith@durham.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Jack Rowbotham | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Catalytic Thermochemical upgrading of macroalgae | |
| Sponsor: EPSRC & Centre for Process Innovation | |
| E-mail: jack.rowbotham@durham.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Leo Newport | |
| Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Project: Geochemical study of Namurian shale gas systems | |
| I-Gas | |
| E-mail: leo.newport@durham.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Radhika Patel | |
| Department of Physics, University College London | |
| Project: Understanding early stage clay hydration | |
| Sponsor: NERC-CASE & M-I SWACO | |
| E-mail: radhika.patel@ucl.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Katie Thompson | |
| Department of Anthropology, Durham University | |
| Project: Developing pathways for biofuels: governing energy technologies in transition | |
| Sponsor: EPSRC | |
| E-mail: k.m.thompson@durham.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Rikan Kareem | |
| Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Understanding controls on low salinity enhanced oil recovery in clays | |
| Sponsor: Kurdistan Regional Government | |
| E-mail: r.m.a.kareem@durham.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Samantha Clarke | |
| Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Project: Direct and indirect diagentic effects in igneous affected basins - Constraining diagenetic timings, processes and reservior quality | |
| Sponser: Chevron Upstream Europe | |
| E-mail: samantha.clarke@dur.ac.uk |
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Graduate Research Student |
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| Jacob Swadling | |
| Department of Chemistry, University College London | |
| Project: Large-scale atomistic simulation of clay-biomolecule systems | |
| Sponsor: EPSRC | |
| E-mail: jacob.swadling.09@ucl.ac.uk |
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MRes Student |
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| Duan-Chern Lee | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Investigating layered mineral-amino acid interactions | |
| E-mail: duan-chern.lee@durham.ac.uk |
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MChem Student |
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| Philip Midgley | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Decarboxylation catalysis in crude oil formation | |
| E-mail: philip.midgley@durham.ac.uk |
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MChem Student |
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| Camilla Ford | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Biochemical mechanisms of Al and Re uptake by macroalgae | |
| E-mail: camilla.ford@durham.ac.uk |
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MSc Geosciences Student |
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| Ben Flint | |
| Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University | |
| Project: Determining nutrient sources of macroalgae using stable isotopes | |
| E-mail: benjamin.flint@durham.ac.uk |
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant |
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| Dr Jon Collings | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Probing low order oxide structure using simulation and experiment |
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Visiting Research Student 2012 |
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| Catherine Ainsworth | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Characterisation of Biopolymers in Preserved Seaweed | |
| Sponser: METRC | |
| E-mail: cmainsworth@gmail.com |
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Visiting Research Student 2012 |
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| Thierry Biao | |
| Rennes 1 University | |
| Project: Phase Transition Between Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) Materials and Mixed Metal Oxides (MMO) | |
| E-mail: thierrybbboss@yahoo.fr |
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Visiting Research Student 2012 |
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| Julien Buffet | |
| ESCOM, France | |
| Project: The Origin of Life: Prebiotic Peptide Forming Reactions | |
| E-mail: j.buffet@escom.fr |
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Visiting Research Student 2012 |
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| Florian D'Accriscio | |
| Université de Lorriane, France | |
| Project: Developing Organo-modified Mineral Catalysts for Biofuel Applications | |
| E-mail: florian.daccricio@gmail.com |
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MChem Student |
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| Rachel Brooks | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Amino-Acid Layered Double Hydroxide Host-Guest Systems | |
| E-mail: rachel.brooks@durham.ac.uk |
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant |
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| Dr Dawn Geatches | |
| Department of Physics, Durham University | |
| Project: Electronic structure simulations of reactivity at mineral surfaces | |
| Sponsor: EPSRC KTS & Lafarge |
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant |
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| Dr Louise Parkes | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Transesterification of algae oils using solid base catalysts |
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Visiting Research Student 2011 |
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| Severyn Bullot | |
| ESCOM, France | |
| Project: Base catalysis by hybrid heterogeneous materials |
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Summer Intern 2011 |
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| Cat Bambrook | |
| Department of Chemistry | |
| Project: Proximate and Ultimate Coal Analysis |
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Postdoctoral Research Assistant 2010-2011 |
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| Ben Coombs | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Understanding Mixed Metal Oxide Formation Mechanisms |
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Summer Intern 2010 |
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| Will Trenholme | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Determining pore vs interlayer water in clay swelling |
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MChem Student 2009-2010 |
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| Helen Foster | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Investigating layered mineral-amino acid interactions |
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MChem Student 2008-2009 |
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| Tom Smart | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Controlling crystal growth in layered nanomaterials |
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KTP Associate 2008-2009 |
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| Dr Ernesto Hernandez | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Microbial enhanced oil recovery |
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Post Doctoral Researcher 2006-2009 |
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| Dr Richard L. Anderson | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Designing new clay swelling inhibitors using large-scale molecular dynamics |
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Visiting Research Student 2009 |
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| Maeva Benoit | |
| ESCOM, France | |
| Project: Investigating amino acid interactions with layered double hydroxide minerals |
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Nuffield Student 2009 |
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| Philip Brown | |
| Department of Chemistry, Durham University | |
| Project: Investigating amino acid interactions with layered double hydroxide minerals |
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Visiting Professor 2009 |
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| Prof. Cedric Carteret | |
| CNRS Nancy, France | |
| Interests: Simulating structures and FTIR of layered nanomaterials |
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Visiting Industry Fellow 2011-2012 |
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| Dr Alain Jacquet | |
| Lafarge Research Centre, France | |
| Interests: Simulation and experimental studies of clays and cements |
Last updated on the 29thDecember 2011 by Chris Greenwell.
