Function and Responsibilities:

Research Interests:

How do source-to-sink systems respond to changes in external forcings? How can we use the geological record and the shape of Earth’s surface to inform us about past and present geological processes? In my research, I aim to understand how climate and tectonics shape Earth's landscape across spatio-temporal scales by combining diverse techniques and leveraging unconventional datasets. I am specifically interested in:

• Quantifying the surface expression (amplitude, timing and wavelength) of mantle convection

• Explore how sediment routing systems respond to dynamic changes

See more on my Google Scholar and personal webpage.

Career:

2022–2025    Postdoctoral Researcher, GFZ Potsdam, Germany

2021–2022    Postdoctoral Research Associate, Imperial College London, UK

2016              Research Intern, Schlumberger, Abingdon, UK

Education:

2017–2021    PhD, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, UK

                      Thesis: "Continental-Scale Landscape Evolution: A Multi-Proxy Approach"

                      Supervisor: Dr. Gareth Roberts, Dr. Alex Whittaker

2015–2016    MSci Geological Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK

                      Thesis: "Subsidence History of the Parnaíba Cratonic Basin, NE Brazil"

                      Supervisor: Prof. Nicky White

2012–2015    BA Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, UK

Projects:

• GyroSCoPe – GFZ

My current research looks to understand how an erosional signal in glaciated landscapes propagates from source to sink, using glacio-fluvial systems of Patagonia as a natural laboratory. In this project, I am combining modelling with low-temperature thermochronology and cosmogenic nuclide dating to better constrain how a geodynamically active landscape responds to changes in frequency and magnitude of climate forcing. Research outputs: Fernandes et al. 2024 (EGU abstract).

• MC2: Mantle Circulation Constrained – Imperial College London

The project objective was to use novel geological datasets, which quantify vertical motions at length-scales pertinent to mantle convection, to test dynamic topography predictions made from mantle circulation models. Research outputs: Fernandes et al., 2024, O'Malley et al., 2024.