Five members of staff promoted to professor

Helen joined the Department in 2016. Her research explores how the chemistry of Earth’s interior has changed over time. Helen currently holds a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, which is allowing her to use sensitive analytical tools to examine Earth’s early magma ocean.

On hearing news of her promotion Helen said, "I’d like to thank current and former researchers and students that have worked with me, the Department for all its help and my wonderful referees for all their support!"

Jerome Neufeld joined the Department in 2011, and has been based jointly between Cambridge Earth Sciences and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics ever since. Jerome’s research focusses on the fluid behaviour of the Earth and other planetary bodies. He is working on fluid flow in a range of settings; from the cryosphere to carbon sequestration and magma dynamics.

Jerome said, “I’m very grateful for all the superb students, postdocs, colleagues and collaborators I’ve been privileged to work with over the years.”

Sanne Cottaar is a global seismologist, who first joined the Department in 2013. Sanne studies the structure and dynamics of the deep Earth by using waves from strong earthquakes which are recorded across the globe. She currently holds an ERC Starting Grant to investigate anomalous structures that exist above the core-mantle boundary.

Sanne said, “I feel very encouraged by this recognition and would like to thank the members of the Deep Earth Explorers team, my mentors and collaborators, and everyone who helped my nomination.”

Daniel Field joined our Department as an Assistant Professor in 2018 and received a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowship in 2019. In 2021 Daniel joined the University Museum of Zoology as Strickland Curator of Ornithology.  Daniel's research addresses the evolution of birds from their dinosaurian origins to their present-day diversity. 

Daniel said, “Cambridge Earth Sciences has been an amazing place to establish my lab. I've felt proud to be a part of the Department since the day I was hired, and I'm truly excited to continue exploring the evolution of birds and their dinosaurian precursors at Cambridge.”

Oli Shorttle holds a joint professorship between Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy and the Department of Earth Sciences. He studies the formation and evolution of habitable planets in the solar system and around other stars through a combination of fieldwork, geochemical analysis and modelling. Sitting between geoscience and exoplanetary science, Oli is an advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“It has been a huge privilege to hold a unique position working across Earth Sciences and Astronomy departments in Cambridge.  This has allowed a wealth of interdisciplinary science to flourish, reflecting on Earth’s habitability and extending these principles beyond the solar system”.