From 2012 to 2022, I built the Waikato Environmental Geochemistry (WEG) research group from scratch at the University of Waikato, growing it into an internationally connected programme spanning cave palaeoclimate, aqueous biogeochemistry, soil contaminant dynamics, and isotope geochemistry. The group hosted researchers from four continents and was supported by over $14 million in competitive funding.
Developing speleothem proxies based on colloidal geochemistry — organic ligand–metal interactions that encode information about infiltration dynamics, vegetation, temperature, and more. Central to the EU QUEST network and the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship.
Natural ligands and nanoparticles controlling metal mobility and bioavailability in lakes and rivers. Includes studies of phosphorus–iron nanoparticle interactions under variable redox conditions and alum dosing for P-sequestration.
Diffusive gradients in thin films for speciation and biogeochemical availability of metals, nutrients, and contaminants in natural and polluted aquatic environments.
Fate, mobility, and transformation of toxic metals (Cd), pollutants, and nutrients at the soil–water–root interface. Cadmium isotope tracing from fertiliser through soil to aquatic ecosystems.
Stable (O, C) and exotic isotopes (δ¹¹⁴Cd, δ⁶⁵Cu) applied to modern and ancient processes, through collaborations with Melbourne, Otago, and Wollongong isotope labs.
Analytical techniques: Fl-FFF, SE- and RP-HPLC, 3D-EEM fluorescence, TOC, GC-MS, ultrafiltration, ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS, IRMS, CRDS, and DGT.
Over a decade, WEG trained researchers who have gone on to positions across academia, government science, and industry. Every project was a genuine collaboration — and many of the people below remain active collaborators today.
Developing a new speleothem hydroclimate proxy based on trace metal–organic ligand interactions in dripwater. Cave monitoring in NZ and South Pacific, with carbonate growth experiments.
Enhancing phosphorus removal from agricultural subsurface drainage by activated bio-media. Joint supervision with NIWA (Rupert Craggs) and Massey (Dorisel Torres-Rojas).
The terrestrial carbon cycle in transition: tracking changes using novel tracers on multiple timescales. Marsden Fund–supported.
Speleothem records of Pacific hydroclimate. Joint with Ruhr-Universität Bochum through QUEST.
Assessing the leaching potential of cadmium across gradients of soil type and land use. MBIE-funded cadmium isotope programme.
Redox cycling of macro and micro-nutrients in a monomictic lake.
Quantification of nitrate concentrations and flow rates in freshwater: enhancement of the DGT methodology.
Effects of organic matter complexation on partitioning of transition metals into calcite — cave-analogue crystal growth studies.
Biogeochemical characterisation of an alum-dosed stream: implications for phosphate cycling in Lake Rotoehu.
Quantifying condensation corrosion in the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo.
Chris Wood (2020–2022) · Mahdiyeh Salmanzadeh (2018–2020)
Ben Scarlet (2014) · Jain Abraham (2015) · Amy Shen (2016) · Jackson White (2016) · Katie O'Reilly (2017) · Pierre Oesterle (2013, international intern) · Katrin Hattig (2018, PROMOS, Bremen)
WEG was supported by over $14 million in competitive research funding (as PI or associate investigator) from New Zealand, Australian, and European agencies.
MBIE Endeavour Fund · $1,000,000 · PI
Australian Synchrotron Beamtime · $65,568 AUD in-kind
Australian Synchrotron Beamtime · $65,568 AUD in-kind
MBIE Endeavour Fund · $8,000,000 · Associate Investigator (PI: Chris Tanner, NIWA)
MBIE Endeavour Fund · $999,808 · PI
Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (Royal Society Te Apārangi) · $800,000
MBIE Smart Ideas · $999,822 · Associate Investigator (PI: Joel Baker, Auckland)
EU Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie RISE · €400,000 · NZ PI
MBIE Smart Ideas · $999,960 · Associate Investigator (PIs: Cary & Pilditch)
Marsden Fast-Start (Royal Society Te Apārangi) · $300,000 · PI
Fertiliser Association of NZ · $22,500
Australian Institute of Nuclear Science & Engineering · $22,000 AUD
Through the EU QUEST programme and bilateral exchanges, WEG hosted over 20 international researchers from institutions across Europe, Australia, the US, and Asia — building a network that continues to shape collaborative research today.
Martin Andersen · UNSW, Australia (2014)
John Hellstrom · University of Melbourne (2015, 2019)
Chaoyong Hu · China University of Geosciences (2016)
Niklas Lehto · Lincoln University (2016)
Sebastian Breitenbach · Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2016, 2018–19)
Tihana Vujinovic · Lincoln University (2017)
Dharshika Welikala · Lincoln University (2017)
Mirona Chirienco · OIST, Okinawa (2017)
Andreas Holbach · KIT, Karlsruhe (2017)
Ry Farley · Vassar College, New York (2017)
Inken Heidke · JGU Mainz (2017–18)
David Dominguez-Villar · Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb (2018)
Maximilian Hansen · JGU Mainz (2018)
Bedartha Goswami · PIK Potsdam (2018)
Hauke Kraemer · PIK Potsdam (2018)
Ola Kwiecien · Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2018–19)
Cinthya Nava Fernandez · Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2019)
Anja Beschnitt · JGU Mainz (2019)
Marco Roth · Ruhr-Universität Bochum (2019)
Alena Giesche · University of Cambridge (2019)