Research Profile

My research is centered on understanding how various physical and chemical conditions within the Earth's subsurface control rock deformation behavior across a range of timescales. To investigate these processes, we simulate the high-temperature and high-pressure conditions of the Earth's upper crust using advanced high-pressure machinery in the laboratory.

Currently, I hold an EPOS-NLARGE-funded postdoctoral position, where I am responsible for further developing our deformation capabilities in the High-Pressure Temperature (HPT) laboratory. This role involves enhancing our understanding of the complex interactions between stress, temperature, and chemical environments that govern rock deformation.

Before this, I was a postdoctoral researcher as part of the DEEPNL project, where my work focused on how fluid extraction rates from sandstone reservoirs influence their mechanical response. I investigated the physical and chemical processes responsible for rate-dependent deformation and explored how these mechanisms might impact reservoir behavior over decades or longer. Additionally, I studied the mechanical response of reservoirs subjected to cycles of pore fluid depletion and reinjection, aiming to pinpoint the microscale processes driving any additional deformation.

A significant portion of my research is dedicated to unraveling the complexities of fluid-rock interactions in the subsurface and their impact on rock behavior. While this research has long been essential for understanding hydrocarbon extraction, its relevance is growing as we transition to a greener economy. As the demand for sustainable geotechnical processes—such as CO2 storage, hydrogen storage, and geothermal energy production—increases, it is critical to understand the underlying subsurface processes to ensure these solutions are implemented safely and efficiently.

In addition to my current research, I have also investigated ice mechanics and participated in geological fieldwork focused on sandstone deformation.