Igneous and metamorphic petrology, isotope geochemistry, early earth studies

Matilda is a third year PhD student investigating early Earth evolution and the formation of Archean anorthosites. Through her studies, she aims to learn how these ancient magmatic rocks, including some of the oldest rocks in Australia, can tell a story about the early formation of the Earth.

Matilda received her BSc (chemistry, geology) from the University of Western Australia in 2019, which included a year of study at Cardiff University, Wales. At the end of 2019, Matilda received a CSIRO Vacation Student Scholarship and undertook a 3-month research project. In 2020 Matilda completed her BSc (Hons) in geology at UWA, studying the chemistry of rutile in Archean gabbros.

Participant in the Exploration Science Summer Internship Program at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas (2023), a multidisciplinary internship program with the NASA Johnson Space Center.

During the internship program, Matilda worked with a team of postgraduate students to investigate the geology of the lunar south pole region and provide support for the upcoming Artemis lunar missions. Outcomes of the internship include a written report and presentation of research findings to LPI and NASA scientists, as well as future plans to present work at a conference and as a full length journal article in 2024.