My interest is in crustal and upper mantle structure of New Zealand and Antarctica, and geodynamic problems linked to plate and continental tectonics. Since 2004 I have led, or co-led, four Marsden funded programs – seismic exploration of the North Island’s upper mantle (2004); recording and interpreting microearthquakes on the central section of the Alpine fault (2008); an investigation of mantle processes that drive the uplift of the central North and South Island (2012); application of small scale convection processes to uplift of major mountain ranges such as the Transantarctic Mountains (2016).

A Royal Society James Cook fellowship that I took up at Leeds University (UK) enabled me to pursue an interest in mantle instabilities and the role they play in tectonics. In 2018 I undertook a 4-month visit to the USA as a Fulbright Scholar.

From 2021 I have moved to 0.4 FTE position but continue with teaching at the 400 level. I have an evolving interest in applying geophysical exploration in urban areas for the purpose of seismic hazard assessment. In particular, we have a programme to measure the depth and shape of the basin beneath Wellington City, as these characteristics modulate the level of shaking for both local and distant earthquakes.

I am a fellow of the Royal Society(NZ) (2007) and the American Geophysical Union (2012).