Muhammad Khan
- University of Birmingham
- Exploring Cave Sediments as a Novel Paleoclimatic Archive
- James Bendle, Sarah Greene
Using allied proxies and biomarkers (N-Alkanes, GDGT, and a newer method, 3-OH-FAs), I am developing an understanding of past climate, ecology, and environment in clastic cave sediments from three sites with contrasting climate backdrops. The three sites likely to be researched are Crete in Greece, with its Mediterranean and drought-prone climate; SE Asia (likely Laos) for monsoons; and Upstate NY for its post-glacial landscape (although the latter two may be subject to change). Cave sediments are often underexplored in research, and so, doing a cross-climate comparison provides a beneficial understanding of their potential usage and how – ultimately helping in understanding future climate change.
Before my PhD, I was an undergraduate student and part-time research aquarium assistant at the University of Hull.
Throughout my second and final year in undergraduate, I had developed a strong interest in Quaternary Sciences – with a large focus on paleoenvironments, -ecology, and -climate through the use of peatlands. Around the same time, I had done a research experience placement on coral paleoecology (also with CENTA), which exposed me to paleoenvironments through geochemistry. I find the process of learning new things and understanding how present–day environments were formed really interesting, and this highly motivated me!
I had done my REP with CENTA, and the inclusiveness and support they provided through that helped a lot. CENTA’s framework for ensuring all skills developed were also a massive plus, ensuring I have skills not just for academia but also industry!
With how multidisciplinary this area of research is, it is hard to think of a specific future plan. However, I hope that, whether through academia or industry, I can pursue research within environmental- or geo-archaeology. With the hopes of learning key skills useful in quaternary science in my PhD, I hope to apply these in an aspect where human and physical sciences can be integrated. However, I am open to all forms of research as long as I get to learn!
