Research
My scientific skills and abilities range from sedimentology, stratigraphy, structural geology and tectonics which were put use to carry out geological mappings at various scales. I have used GIS (ArcGIS/MapInfo) to organise and visualise field data. Expertise in petrography and petrology of magmatic and metamorphic rocks was needed on the field as well as in the lab for the study of key outcrops in association with analyses of individual samples. These skills were also used during the study of thin sections, complemented punctual EPMA analyses and geochemical whole-rock ICP-MS. I have done radiometric datings and exploited ages and complex spectra. Geochemical data was used to build phase diagrams (Theriak-Domino and Perple_X). With radiometric datings, P-T-t paths were determined. The resulting dataset of investigated sectors with bibliographic data allowed to obtain clues concerning the evolution at a regional scale and constraints concerning geodynamics and plate tectonic processes. I have used the thermo-mechanical numerical modelling codes, ADELI (Hassani et al., 1997) and I2VIS (Gerya & Yuen, 2003), to investigate mechanisms linked to far-field stress changes.
I have knowledge in natural risk/hazard evaluation and management (seismic, gravitational...). I have used the “3D GeoModeller” developed by the BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières). I have experience in the acquisition of seismic marine profiles and their comparison with on-land observations. The same is true for sub-surface electric tomography and on-land seismic investigations. I have experience in interpreting geophysical images. Knowing the methods used to acquire a dataset is for me the first step in grasping the relationships between the geophysical properties measured and the derived geological characteristics, thus their significance. This analysis is possible through my tectonophysical, rheological and petrophysical knowledge which includes pressure/temperature dependant mineral reactions, mineral fabric and rock structuring, intra- and inter-crystalline deformation mechanisms, ductility, rupture mechanisms as well as the role of fluids in all of these processes.
I worked individually on particular issues, as a member of a multidisciplinary team (at GEOAZUR) as well as a part of an international taskforce counting European, Georgian, Turkish and Armenian academics, researchers, post-docs and other PhD students (within the DARIUS PROGRAMME). I found this experience to be particularly motivating and stimulating because of the high level of individual initiative required and interdisciplinary collaboration involved during field campaigns, in-lab data acquisitions and preparing scientific communications (talks, posters and publications). The preparation and presentation of the scientific works produced were mediums to engage discussion and maintain strong relationships with work partners during group meetings, workshops or international symposiums and conferences. My expertise provided invaluable insight when addressing the numerous problems linked to basin, clastic, carbonate, magmatic, metamorphic and fracture characterisations ultimately resulting in modelling.
2017 - currently
Postdoctoral Researcher – An integrated model for the Jurassic to Cenozoic metallogenic evolution of the Lesser Caucasus, with Robert MORITZ as principle investigator
Université de Genève, Department of Earth Sciences (Genève, SUISSE)
· Organize field studies to conduct mappings, establish balanced cross-sections incorporating existing multi-variate datasets and sampling
· Constrain petrogenesis and geochronology within a sequence of magmatic, tectonic and mineralizing events
· Trace magmatic rocks affinities and the relationship with respect to changes in subduction geometry (slab roll-back), ore deposit emplacement with possible arc/fore-arc relationships
· Understand the position ore districts with respect to structural and tectonic contexts/geodynamic processes
· Construct a robust geodynamic and metallogenic model for the Lesser Caucasus
2015 - 2016
Temporary Teaching and Research Fellow
Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis and GEOAZUR – UMR 7329 (Nice/Sophia Antipolis, France)
· Specify the age of magmatic zircons to argue the age and origin of a meta-volcanic unit
· Determine the age of metamorphism by 40Ar/39Ar dating to specify obduction timing
· Detail PT evolution of metamorphic rocks using geochemical whole rock (major and trace elements) and mineral EPMA analyses
· Reinforce the structural link between the studied ophiolites with others along the Northern Tethys Suture
2010 - 2014
PhD, Earth and Planetary Sciences – Processus d’obduction : quelle ampleur, quelle durée, quelle cause ? Le cas de la branche nord de la Néotethys en Anatolie et Petit Caucase (Turquie, Arménie), supervised by Marc SOSSON and Yann ROLLAND – Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis and GEOAZUR – UMR 7329 (Nice/Sophia Antipolis, France)
· Organize field studies to conduct mappings incorporating existing multi-variate data sets, as well as sampling
· Evidence the tectonic transport of fragments of oceanic lithosphere atop continental marge
· Argue the timing of the creation of oceanic lithosphere (slow spreading oceanic domain)
· Constrain simultaneous obductions along the Izmir-Ankara-Erzinncan and Sevan-Akera suture zones
· Validate hypotheses with numerical modelling
February-June 2010
Master 2 Internship – Le mécanisme d’obduction : Processus impliqués dans la mise en place des ophiolites - Exemple des ophiolites arméniennes (Petit Caucase), supervised by Marc SOSSON and Yann ROLLAND – Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis and GEOAZUR – UMR 7329 (Nice/Sophia Antipolis, France)
· Field study to conduct mapping of study area including structural analyses and sampling
· Initiation to thermo-mechanical modelling
· Initiation to radiometric geochronology (40Ar/39Ar dating, form sample to analysis)
March-June 2009
Master 1 Internship – Estimation des vitesses de refroidissement et d’exhumation dans la semelle d’une obduction dans la partie nord-ouest de l’Arménie, supervised by Yann ROLLAND and Marc SOSSON – Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis and GEOAZUR – UMR 7329 (Nice/Sophia Antipolis, France)
· Kinematic analyses of tectonic mélange
· Initiation to thermodynamic modelling and thermobarometric estimations (Perple_X)
· Sample preparation and processing, ensuring traceability for whole-rock and mineral geochemistry
July 2007
Voluntary internship – Radiolarite sample preparation for paleontologic dating integrated in the study of the geodynamics of the island of Rhodes, supervised by Fabrice CORDAY – Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 – Département des Sciences de la Terre (Villeurbanne, France)
· Initiation to good laboratory practices (GLP)
· Hydrofluoric acid (HF) dissolution, hand picking, sorting, photography and identification of radiolarian tests
Pedagogic activities
Awards
Grants and Research Funding