Research Group Memebers
Dr. Sam Kelley
Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Quaternary Geology
Clara Crowell
I received my BA in Geosciences from Trinity College Dublin in 2022 and now I am pursuing a Ph.D. in applied geosciences at UCD. The aim of my research is to develop a methodology for assessing glacial landscape modification to de-risk mineral exploration in Ireland. This project provides an exciting opportunity to combine the use of mapping and cosmogenic nuclides to test and improve on the methodology in order to create an accessible methodology for assessing glacial landscape modification to test the feasibility of drift prospecting in Ireland.
Dakota YoungEagle
I completed my BSc in Geology in 2024 at University College Dublin, where I developed a strong interest in fieldwork and geological mapping. In September 2024, I began my MSc with Sam, focusing on a well-preserved deposit in the Cairngorm Mountains that is thought to result from a paleo–glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and offers valuable insights into past natural hazards and their potential impacts on early hunter-gatherer communities.
The project investigates glacial landforms and sediments associated with the retreat of local glaciers during the Late Pleistocene and early Holocene. By integrating cosmogenic exposure dating, lithological analysis, and flood discharge estimates, the research aims to characterise the deposit, establish its age, and estimate the flood’s volume, contributing to a broader understanding of past environmental change and natural hazard dynamics.
Former Research Group Members
Beth O'Donnell (2025) - Undergraduate Research Assistant
Eoin Byrne (2024) - Undergraduate Research Assistant
Dr. Apolline Mariotti (2020) Post Doctoral Fellow Presently a Post Doc at Trinity College Dublin
Becca Smrz (2020) Undergraduate Research Assistant
Cormac O’Brien (2021-22) Research Assistant Presently professional geologist in Vancouver