Dr Saini Samim - Volcanoes and Human Origins: Unlocking Timelines of Early Human Evolution with High-Resolution Tephrochronology
Name: Dr Saini Samim
University: The University of Melbourne
Bio: Dr Saini Samim is originally from India and is currently a Research Fellow in the Noble Gas Research Group at the University of Melbourne, where she completed her PhD in 2025. Her research focuses on high-resolution 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and LA-ICP-MS trace element geochemistry to refine the chronological precision and geochemical fingerprinting of volcanic tuffs that frame key archaeological and hominin-bearing sequences in the Turkana Basin, Kenya. She is also interested in advancing micro-analytical techniques and inter-laboratory calibration of standards. More recently, her work has focused on applying in situ methods to investigate volcanic source processes across the East African Rift System, tracing ash layers beyond Kenya, and understanding the impacts of explosive volcanism on hominin-occupied paleoenvironmental landscapes.
About Seminar Series
The School of the Environment Seminar Series (a.k.a. SENVinars) — held in-person on campus and online via Zoom — invites national and international experts to present their current research outcomes and priorities for disciplinary areas aligned with our School.
Our presenters include current research academics, visiting researchers, collaborators from industry and government.
SENVinars promote the exchange of ideas, new collaborations and strengthen current partnerships. They are attended by our large and diverse community of academics, professional services staff, higher degree by research scholars, postgraduate research and Honours research students.
Questions? Please email - senv.gsa@uq.edu.au
Venue
Zoom Meeting ID: 871 7089 0628
