CV

2020

PhD in geology and mineral sciences. Awarded in 2020 after the 2019 defence through the Dissertation Council at the V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, SB RAS. Research was conducted at the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, RAS, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

2017

Specialist degree with distinction in applied geology, Saint Petersburg Mining University, Russia. Five-year full-time programme, broadly equivalent to a Master of Science.

2025 to present

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Research on critical minerals in layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions and Bushveld chromitites within the DSTI CIMERA industry–public consortium, with a focus on chromitites and the petrogenesis of the Critical Zone

2023 to 2025

Research Associate, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.

Work on critical-mineral and PGE geochemistry in layered intrusions and related volcanic rocks as part of the Horizon Europe SEMACRET consortium on energy-transition mineral systems, in an interdisciplinary team spanning geology, geophysics, and social sciences.

2022 to 2023

Fulbright Visiting Scholar, School of Earth Sciences, University of Oregon, USA.

Research on Early Archean climate using triple oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in 3.8 Ga metalavas from the Saglek-Hebron terrane, including development of isotope fractionation models.

2020 to 2022

Research Associate, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia.

Research on PGE mineralization and hydrothermal processes in subduction-related magmatic systems in Kamchatka.

2017 to 2020

PhD candidate, Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia.

Doctoral work on the geology and platinum mineralization of concentrically zoned dunite-clinopyroxenite-gabbro complexes of the Tamanvayam and Epilchik groups.

2012 to 2017

Engineer, 0.5 FTE, Karpinsky Russian Geological Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Work on regional geology and petrology, including petrography and geochemical data for igneous and metamorphic rocks. Work on rock collections from Academician F.N. Chernyshev Central Geological Research Museum, and preparation of a field rock identification guide.

2018

Geologist, summer fieldwork, Kirganik Ltd. (Amur Minerals subsidiary), Kamchatka, Russia.

Exploration for porphyry Cu and epithermal Au systems, including field mapping, alteration and mineralization logging, and geochemical sampling.

2016 to 2017

Geologist, summer fieldworks, Kamp Ltd., Kamchatka, Russia.

Junior exploration for PGE mineralization, including prospecting, field mapping, heavy-mineral sampling, and rock and soil geochemical sampling.

2015

Field technician, summer fieldwork, Kamchatgeologia, Kamchatka, Russia.

Regional geological mapping at 1:200,000 scale, including traverses, outcrop description, and systematic sampling for petrography and geochemistry.

2025 to present

University of the Witwatersrand. Five-lecture module on magmatic mineral deposits for honours students; demonstrator for the honours field trip in the Northern Bushveld.

2023 to 2025

Cardiff University. Practical sessions for the Mineral Deposits course.

2023 to 2025

Cardiff University. Guest lectures on mineral deposits.

2023 to 2025

Cardiff University. Demonstrator for field courses in geological mapping, exploration geology, and environmental geoscience in Cyprus, Cornwall, and South Wales.

2022 to 2023

University of Oregon. Demonstrator for petrology field courses.

2022 to 2023

University of Oregon. Guest lectures in petrology and geohazards.

2024. Teaching to Improve the Quality of Student Learning, Cardiff University.

2024. Lecturing Skills, Cardiff University.

2026 to present

Co-supervisor, together with Prof. Roger Gibson, of the project Calc-silicate xenoliths in the lower zone of the Bushveld Complex and their implications for platinum-group element mineralization with Mensacia Phaswane.

2026. PetThermoTools virtual workshop.

2025. Reading the rocks, Polokwane, South Africa.

2025. Resource Geology Workshop at the 2025 GeoCongress, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

2024. MDSG workshop, Magmatic Ni-Cu Mineral Systems in Europe, Edinburgh.

2021. TESCAN electron microscopy course, Saint Petersburg.

2018. Gold Short Course, Prague.

Hands-on: SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, field portable XRF, clean-lab chemistry and mass spectrometry for Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, and triple-oxygen isotopes using a laser fluorination line, and LA-ICP-MS.

Data reduction and interpretation: EBSD, X-ray diffraction, synchrotron micro-XRF/XAS, FIB-TEM, EPMA, and atom-probe tomography.

Modelling and data processing: Python and spreadsheet-based workflows, MELTS- and MAGEMin-based thermodynamic modelling, Monte Carlo modelling of triple-oxygen isotope exchange, and mass-balance and mixing models.

2024 to 2025. Coordinator, Minerals and Energy Research Centre, Cardiff University.

Member of the organizing committee for the 2023 International Platinum Symposium, Cardiff, UK.

Reviewer for Ore Geology Reviews, Mineralium Deposita, Nature Communications, Chemical Geology, Journal of Petrology, Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, Journal of the Geological Society, Lithos, and Marine Geology.

2024. In-kind analytical access through the AuScope Access Program at Curtin University for the project Silicate-oxide-platinum group minerals intergrowths: implications for unknown aspects of low-T PGE behaviour , approximately EUR 10,700.

2022 to 2023. Fulbright Scholarship, approximately EUR 26,600.

2020 to 2022. RFBR project executor on Formation and alteration of minerals in active volcanic hydrothermal systems (Kamchatka) , approximately EUR 114,000.

2020 to 2021. RFBR principal investigator on Distribution of Ni-Fe-Co intermetallic compounds and platinum-group minerals in mafic and ultramafic rocks of various formational types , approximately EUR 21,500.

2018 to 2020. RSCI project executor on Melt-fluid evolution, magmatic immiscibility, and metal budgeting in subduction-related magmas , approximately EUR 171,000.

2018 to 2019. RFBR principal investigator on Typomorphism and formation conditions of PGE minerals in concentrically zoned ultramafic massifs (Epilchik area, Koryak-Kamchatka belt) , approximately EUR 9,700.

Total research funding received: approximately EUR 353,600.

2025 to ongoing. Mapping and sampling of the Critical Zone across the western and eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa, plus regular mine visits.

2023 to 2025. Fieldwork at the Rhiw layered intrusion, Wales (8 days total).

2021. Principal investigator and organizer of a helicopter-supported expedition to Tumrok Range arc picrites in Kamchatka (3 weeks).

2020. Sampling of alluvial awaruite in the Kamchatsky Mys ophiolite (2 weeks).

2020. Documentation of cooling lava flows and caves of the 2012-13 Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, and observations of Klyuchevskoy volcano.

2019. Underground and field sampling of mineralized intrusions and related flood basalts in Norilsk (2 weeks).

2018. Documentation of lava temperatures in the caves of the 2012-13 Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, and visual observations of Shiveluch volcano.

2018. Fieldwork on the Kamchatsky Mys ophiolite (2 weeks).

2018. Prospective works on the Kirganik Cu porphyry and epithermal Au occurrence (1 month).

2016 to 2017. Prospecting for lode and placer PGE mineralization in the Epilchik and Matysken areas, Koryak Highlands (5 months total).

2015. Geological mapping at 1:200,000 scale in the Koryak Highlands (3 months).

2017 to present. Society of Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA).

2023. Minerals Young Investigator Award.

2021. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Seal of Excellence.

Experience of school visits in the UK and Russia for ages 8 to 16, including interactive lectures about volcanoes, minerals, rocks, the societal impact of geology, and career perspectives of a geoscientist.