To find out more about COMET members, see the Our People Database.
COMET Directorate
The COMET Directorate is responsible for strategic oversight and operational delivery of COMET’s overarching vision, mission and science programme.
- COMET Co-Director: Professor Juliet Biggs (University of Bristol)
- COMET Co-Director: Professor Tim Wright (University of Leeds)
- COMET Manager: Charlotte Royle (University of Leeds)
- COMET Deputy Director (Earth Observation): Professor Don Grainger (University of Oxford)
- COMET Deputy Director (Earthquakes and Tectonics): Professor Alex Copley (University of Cambridge)
- COMET Deputy Director (Volcanoes): Dr Susanna Ebmeier (University of Leeds)
- COMET BGS Representative: Luke Bateson (British Geological Survey)
- COMET BGS Representative: Sue Loughlin (British Geological Survey)
- COMET Research and Events Officer: Lucy Sharpson (University of Leeds)
- COMET Senior Engagement and Impact Officer: Rhys Charles (University of Bristol)
- COMET Communications Officer: Lucy W.
COMET Scientists
As well as contributing to our objectives and partnerships through co-funded projects, COMET scientists play a key role in internal review and forward planning for the COMET science programme.
All COMET Scientists have demonstrated active engagement with the COMET science programme over a prolonged time period, are faculty staff members in UK universities, and are experts in core COMET competencies.
COMET Scientists oversee COMET contributions to specific projects and/or are responsible for managing an area of research within our overarching research themes. COMET Scientists also contribute to annual progress reports on priorities and activities in collaboration with COMET staff.
COMET Associate Investigators
COMET Associate Scientists are key collaborators who are engaged with our science programme; this includes postdoctoral researchers with independent research fellowships who are based in COMET research teams.
Associates are invited to annual science meetings (and other meetings as appropriate), included in internal communications, and encouraged to collaborate and engage with other COMET members for mutual benefit.
For information about how to become a COMET Associate…
COMET Science Staff
COMET Science Staff are partially-funded by COMET to work on the COMET National Capability science programme. We currently have 8 COMET staff positions:
- S1 InSAR Scientist & Facility Developer: Sami Samiei Esfahany (University of Leeds)
- S2 Brittle Tectonic Deformation: Position currently vacant
- S3a Volcanic Gas and Ash: Isabelle Taylor (University of Oxford)
- S3b Volcanic Gas and Ash: Ben Esse (University of Manchester)
- S4 Geoinformatics: Position currently vacant
- S5 Machine Learning: Matthew Gaddes (University of Leeds)
- S6 Ductile Deformation: Jin Fang (University of Leeds)
- S7 Magmatic Deformation and Modelling: Edna Dualeh (University of Bristol)
- S8 Scientific Programmer: Milan Lazecky (University of Leeds)
COMET Postdoctoral Researchers
COMET Postdoctoral Researchers are usually funded by projects or programmes that are led by COMET Scientists and/or associated with the COMET National Capability science programme. They usually work closely with or are supervised by COMET Scientists or Associates.
COMET PhD Researchers
All COMET PhD Researchers receive supervision from COMET members and are working on projects that are closely aligned with the COMET science programme or associated projects. While a few studentships are funded directly by COMET, most of the students within the COMET community are externally funded. COMET supports an annual student meeting to encourage collaboration and a sense of collegiality across our PhD Researcher community, while also providing a supportive atmosphere for presenting research findings.
