My research at UBC is focused on the study of the sedimentology and diagenesis of organic matter in sediments with particular reference to petroleum source rocks, coal and formation of ore deposits. Ongoing research areas include:

• peat sedimentology- the evolution of the inland peat swamp of Tasek Bera, Malaysia.
• coalbed methane- assessment of those factors that influence the reservoir characteristics of coal
• organic maturation- variation of organic maturation in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
• coal sedimentology- sedimentology of coal measures of the Mist Mountain Formation, SE British Columbia
• characterization of macerals- micro-FTIR, microprobe and SEM-EDS analyses of macerals
• experimental studies- effects of pressure on pyrolyses products of organic matter and reservoir characteristics of coal
• origin of graphite - experimental and field studies of the genesis of graphite

Current Graduate Students

Chris Clarkson (B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc) Ph.D. student- coalbed methane
Mark Caplan (B.Sc., M.Sc.) Ph.D. student - sedimentology of organic matter- Exshaw Formation
R. Wust (B.Sc., Diplom) Ph.D. student- sedimentology of peat- Tasek Bera, Malaysia
S. Vessey (B.Sc.) M.Sc. student- sedimentolgoy of coal measures- Mist Mountain Formation