Staff profile

I am the Senior Manager (Technical Services & Facilities) in the Department of Geography. I have come to this role from a research background in reconstructing palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic change. My expertise lies in micropalaeontology, geochemistry and sedimentology.

 2019 - Present: Senior Manager (Technical Services & Facilities), Department of Geography, Durham University

 2014 – 2019: Deputy Laboratory Manager, Department of Geography, Durham University

 2010 – 2014: Leverhulme Research Associate, Department of Geography, Durham University

 2010: University Teacher, Department of Geography, The University of Sheffield

 2006-2009: NERC Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The Open University

 2002 – 2006: PhD, “High-resolution analysis of Antarctic Quaternary diatom-rich laminated sediments”, School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University

Experience

• Geochemistry (biomarkers, stable isotopes, water analysis)
• Microfossils (diatoms, foraminifera and chironomids)
• Microscopy (optical (stereo and compound) and scanning electron microscopes)
• Sedimentology (high-resolution logging, coring, in situ measurements)
• Fieldwork (UK, Arctic, Antarctic, USA)

Previous research projects:

Rapid Neoglacial transitions in the North Atlantic

Department of Geography, Durham University

The cause of mid-Holocene rapid cooling, about 4-6 ka, has puzzled researchers for some time. In order to ascertain the nature and origins of this event I used biomarkers and the remains of chironomids (non-biting midges) preserved in lake sediments to construct temperature records of this period of cooling.

 

Causes and consequences of global cooling in the mid-Miocene

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Open University

An investigation of mid-Miocene cooling was made by conducting high-resolution logging and geochemical analysis of organic-rich marine sediments (Monterey Formation, California).

 

High-resolution analysis of Antarctic Quaternary diatom-rich laminated sediments

School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University

An investigation into the seasonality of Late Quaternary Antarctic climate and sea ice conditions by examining laminated diatom-rich sediments from the Antarctic Peninsula (Palmer Deep) and East Antarctica (Mertz Ninnis Trough and Dumont D’Urville Trough). To do this a quantitative and qualitative high-resolution approach was employed to analyse diatom assemblages. 

Research Interests

• Quaternary palaeoenvironments
• Palaeoclimate reconstruction
• Micropalaeontology
• Geochemistry
• Sedimentology

Journal Article

• Medeiros, A. S., Milošević, Đ., Francis, D. R., Maddison, E., Woodroffe, S., Long, A., …Axford, Y. (2021). Arctic chironomids of the northwest North Atlantic reflect environmental and biogeographic gradients. Journal of Biogeography, 48(3), 511-525. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14015
• Bentley, R., Maddison, E., Ranner, P., Bissell, J., Caiado, C., Bhatanacharoen, P., …Garnett, P. (2014). Social tipping points and Earth systems dynamics. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2, Article 35. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2014.00035
• Neoglacial sea-ice conditions. Holocene, 22(8), 857-875. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683611434223
• Pike, J., Crosta, X., Maddison, E., Stickley, C., Denis, D., Barbara, L., & Renssen, H. (2009). Observations on the relationship between the Antarctic coastal diatoms Thalassiosira antarctica Comber and Porosira glacialis (Grunow) Jorgensen and sea ice concentrations during the late Quaternary. Marine Micropaleontology, 73(1-2), 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2009.06.005
• Maddison, E., Pike, J., Leventer, A., Dunbar, R., Brachfeld, S., Domack, E., …McClennen, C. (2006). Post-glacial seasonal diatom record of the Mertz Glacier Polynya, East Antarctica. Marine Micropaleontology, 60(1), 66-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2006.03.001
• Leventer, A., Domack, E., Dunbar, R., Pike, J., Stickley, C., Maddison, E., …McClennen, C. (2006). East Antarctic Margin marine sediment record of deglaciation. GSA Today, 16(12), 4-10. https://doi.org/10.1130/gsat01612a.1
• Maddison, E., Pike, J., Leventer, A., & Domack, E. (2005). Deglacial seasonal and sub-seasonal diatom record from Palmer Deep, Antarctica. Journal of Quaternary Science, 20(5), 435-446. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.947