ForMovFluid Doctoral Candidates
François-Xavier Bonin

François-Xavier holds a BSc in Geology from McGill University and an MSc in Earth Sciences from Université Laval in Quebec, Canada. His research focuses on economic geology, with particular interest in the transport and deposition of metals in the crust. Using geochronology, stable isotopes, and sulfide trace element analysis, François-Xavier explores mineral systems to understand their genesis. His current project with Prof. Pat Meere investigates the vein-hosted copper deposits of the Munster Basin, SW Ireland. The main goals are to identify the metal and fluid source(s) and the precipitating mechanism(s).
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Based at University College Cork, Ireland
Mahasen Kulugammana
Mahasen works on characterising host-rock alterations associated with the mineralisation in Upper Palaeozoic sedimentary sequences from the SW Ireland using hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy.
His background is in geology, focusing Geological Remote Sensing, Hyperspectral Imaging Spectroscopy, Machine Learning, Subsurface, 3D modelling, and GIS. He also has more than 5 years industrial experience in landslide research and mineral exploration.
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Based at University College Cork, Ireland

Lisa Lebrun

I did all my studies in France, firstly an Earth and Planetary Sciences Bachelor in Tours and then an Ocean Geosciences Master in Brest. I’m especially interested in the petrology and geochemistry of the crust, its differentiation and the processes that can affect it. Outside of geology I like to play music (currently learning Ukulele), do outdoor activities, cook nice meals and I can spend hours reading a good book. And I love cats.
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Based at Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
Elisa Toivanen
I am doing my PhD in Erlangen, Germany, but I’m originally from Finland. I have a master’s degree in Bedrock Geology from the University of Turku. Outside of my research, I enjoy outdoor activities such as cycling or hiking together with my dog.
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Based at Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
Project 4. Ore mineralization and fluid fluxes in orogenic foreland basins.

Ehsan Ahmadi Olyaei

Ehsan’s project is based at Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) in Bavaria, Germany. Originally from Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran, His research interests include “Computational mechanics”, “Geomechanics”, and “Porous media”. He holds an M.Sc. in “Structural/Civil engineering” from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, and his work has led to a journal publication [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2025.105082]. Outside of academia, he enjoys travelling and discovering new places, as well as playing tennis, futsal, and snooker.
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Based at Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
Project 5. The influence of hydro- and chemo-mechanics on fluid pathways
Maxime Fatzaun
After acquiring knowledge from Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and France, I have relocated to Germany to pursue my research career at Geozentrum Nordbayern (FAU). I work in the space where geology meets computer science, transforming basic processes into comprehensive simulations. I’m passionate about the power of numerical modelling to help us access what would otherwise remain beyond our reach. By using emerging technologies to advance simulation techniques, I study the inaccessible: everything from deep crustal environments to the distant past and future of planets. Fundamentally, my objective is to bridge the gap between fundamental processes and the vast developmental timeline of planetary systems, simulating phenomena that remain far beyond our physical grasp.
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Based at Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
Project 6. Spatio-temporal scales of fluid transport and reaction during ore formation

Patricia Rodríguez Batista

I am from the Canary Islands, where I completed a BSc in Mathematics and a MSc in Mathematics Teaching. Then I moved to Bonn, Germany, to conduct a second MSc in Mathematics focused on applied and computational methods. Outside of research, I enjoy drawing and other plastic arts, music, and hiking. I’m generally a fan of low-key plans in nice company.
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Based at Instituto de Geociencias, Madrid, Spain
Catalina Galán
I am a geologist from Argentina and a doctoral researcher at IGEO-CSIC in Madrid as part of the ForMovFluid network. I obtained my degree in Geology from the University of Buenos Aires, where I worked on paleomagnetism, magnetostratigraphy, and rock magnetism in sedimentary rocks from Patagonia.
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Based at Instituto de Geociencias, Madrid, Spain
Project 8. Dating upper crustal fluid flow at outcrop and grain scale

Alice Maremmani

I’m originally from Italy, and I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Earth Sciences from Pisa University (Italy) and with a Master’s in Earth Structure and Dynamics from Utrecht University (The Netherlands). I decided to choose geology because I was curious about earthquakes and volcanoes, but during my university years I developed a special interest in tectonics and paleogeographic reconstructions. I like combining different methods to help us understand how tectonic plates moved in the past, and, most of all, I really like to be out on the field and learn through hands-on practice!
In my free time, I am a pretty avid reader and music fan, I love any story with fairies and mysteries and I enjoy going to (k-)pop or electronic music concerts whenever I have the chance. When I’m not reading or blasting music by my favourite artists at home, I love spending time outside with my friends, either discovering new places, bars and parks around Madrid (where my PhD is based) or staying active by playing volleyball, climbing or hiking in the mountains!
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Based at Instituto de Geociencias, Madrid, Spain
Project 9. The role of structural inheritance in fluid flow at plate scale
Oliver Ross
I have a very broad scientific background, studying natural sciences at Cambridge University with studies including physics, materials sciences, mathematics and Earth sciences before specialising into Earth sciences with particular interests in mineralogy, palaeomagnetism and computational modelling.
Projects include a masters thesis using machine learning on data from the Perseverance Mars Rover, six weeks doing geological mapping in South Africa for my undergraduate, and several weeks in Thailand doing hydrogeological studies. Other education has included three months at the Machine Learning Institute in London.
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Based at Instituto de Geociencias, Madrid, Spain

Project 10. Bottom-up fluid flow: the role of lithospheric anisotropies and plate tectonics
Léo Mazzinghi

I am a French geologist. My strong assets are Structural geology, Mineralogy and Hydrogeology. Back in high school (Collège Saint Charles la Providence, in Brittany where I am from) I took a major in Life and Earth Sciences plus I joined the European section for additional courses in foreign languages (German as first and English as second). I then went to the University of Poitiers and got a bachelor’s degree in Geology and Earth Sciences. I stayed at the same University for my master’s degree in Hydrogeology. I graduated in September 2025. I did two internships in Cologne, Germany (3 months each) focusing on surface hydrogeology; and one internship in Rennes, France, that lasted 5 months focusing on heat transport modelling in fracture networks. When I am not studying rocks, I like to craft and hang out in the wild. I fish, I hunt, I pick up chestnuts and mushrooms. I also do Judo, and I play the saxophone.
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Based at Deutsche Erdwärme, Karlsruhe, Germany
Radek Mróz
Hi! My name is Radek Mróz. I am originally from Poland, from the Holy Cross Mountains region. It is a place with amazing geology, highlighted by its status as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
I am interested in Mineral Exploration and am currently working with Machine Learning approaches that could be applied to the exploration of Critical Raw Materials. Besides that, I like spending time outdoors, hiking and bikepacking. Love all sorts of games too, does not matter if on board, on a computer, or sports ones. Cheers!
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Based at SLR Consulting, Kilkenny, Ireland

Hannah Vogel

Originally from Long Island, New York (USA), I spent much of my time in the ocean, along the shorelines, and in the forests. Having always been fascinated by nature I went on to complete a BSc in Geology at the University of St Andrews in Scotland followed by an MSc in Earth Structure & Dynamics at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. My academic background combines (micro-)structural geology, mineralogy, machine learning, and advanced imaging techniques, alongside extensive experience with large-scale research infrastructures and international collaboration.
Prior to starting my PhD, I worked with the EXCITE Network in project management, science outreach & communication, and as facility manager for the (micro-)X-ray tomography microscope supporting a wide range of interdisciplinary research projects through high-resolution data acquisition, processing, and analysis.
Within the ForMovFluid Doctoral Network, my PhD research brings together field geology, geochemistry, and micro-scale analytical methods to address fundamental questions about fluid-driven metal transport in intracratonic basins. Outside of research, I enjoy spending time outdoors, including hiking, camping, sailing, and paddle boarding.
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Based at University College Cork, Ireland
Yessica González Ixta
I am a geologist from Mexico with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Earth Sciences from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). My academic background focuses on the geological evolution of metamorphic rocks and fluid-rock interactions, and I also completed a semester abroad at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina). I am currently a PhD student at Friedrich-Alexander University (Germany) and part of the ForMovFluid MSCA Doctoral Network, specializing in petrogenetic, geochemical, structural, and geochronological studies of metamorphic systems. I have experience in fieldwork, microstructural analysis, geochemical and geochronological methods, and thermodynamic modeling, and I am particularly interested in interdisciplinary research and teaching. Beyond research, I enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors, photography, going to concerts, meet & greets, watching movies and learning new languages.
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Based at Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany

Project 14. Fluid flow scales: the time and spatial scales of metamorphic fluid events
Adrien Duringer

Interested about the planets and pretty rocks since my childhood, I decided after high school to do a BSc in general Earth Sciences at the University of Strasbourg, where I had the opportunity to develop various skills in geology. I decided to pursue with a MSc in Geology and Earth Dynamics in the same university, where I studied the Earth Dynamics through petrological, tectonic and geophysical approaches. The questions of metallogeny interested me afterward.
I got the occasion to do my master’s thesis with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, which consisted in studying an atypical orogenic Au-deposit, through in-depth petrographical and geochemical studies. As a geologist, I want to focus my research on constraining and describing the formation of ore deposits in their geological and geodynamical environment.
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Based at Instituto de Geociencias, Madrid, Spain
Egor Riemer
Born in Russia, raised in Germany and having completed my studies in Erlangen (FAU), I am now usually found in one of two states: immersed in a screen while looking at data, or at the gym practicing for the next time a drill core box is stuck. When I do venture outside, it is generally because my research demands a field season, or because I’ve decided to see how far I can push my gravel bike.
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Based at University of St Andrews, Scotland
Project 16. The interface between intrusion architectures and fluid systems

Luthfi Aryani

I am a geoscientist from Indonesia with a background in geometallurgy and a strong interest in mineralogy. I am passionate about traveling and hiking and enjoy exploring diverse natural landscapes, particularly mountainous, forested, and coastal environments. Time spent in nature originally motivated my pursuit of geology and continues to shape my perspective on Earth systems. Through both my academic work and personal interests, I am especially interested in understanding natural processes and the complexity of geological systems.
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Based at University of St Andrews, Scotland
Malou Pelletier
My name is Malou, and I am a French PhD student at the University of St Andrews, Scotland (UK). I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences in Toulouse, France. I am particularly interested in structural geology and tectonics. During my Master’s, I characterized the different microstructures of a mylonitic shear band (Agly Massif, France). I also studied the thermal and burial history of the Vocontian Basin using calcite U–Pb geochronology and Raman Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous Material thermometry (Alps, France). In my personal life, I have many different hobbies. I am passionate about knitting and sewing, I practise rugby, and I play the electric guitar. I also love spending time with my two cats, and I am always up for a hike.
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Based at University of St Andrews, Scotland
