Professor Charlotte Allen
Faculty of Science,
School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Biography
Professor Charlotte Allen is the Director of QUT's Central Analytical Research Facility (CARF) which provides specialist equipment and expert scientists to help researchers and industry carry out analytical research. The facility's state-of-the-art equipment and expert technologists offer transdisciplinary analytical support, including sample preparation, data collection and interpretation of results. The laboratories include: sample preparation of hard materials (crushing, thin sections), genomics, proteomics, small molecule mass spectrometry, surface science, physical and mechanical processes, light, electron and ion beam microscopy, X-ray, vibrational spectroscopy and elements and isotopes.Professor Allen is an expert in the chemistry and structure of granites and her approach covers field work (large and medium scale) to the micron scale, studying granite as the main constituent of the earth's crust. She has 20 year’s experience running an ICPMS facility (solution and laser) and has used this instrumentation to date minerals (zircon and other U-Pb bearing minerals), look at diffusion profiles in natural and experimentally produced minerals, determine trace element contents of minerals and rocks including very rare elements like Pt and Au. Recently, she has been extending laser-ICPMS techniques to the accurate trace element analysis of organic compounds (plants, hair).
She was employed at the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University for 20 years before moving to QUT in early 2013 to oversee the CARF elements and Isotopes laboratory.
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
Keywords
Geochronology, Zircon, ICPMS, Isotope Geochemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Geology
Research field
Geochemistry, Analytical chemistry, Geology
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Geological Sciences (Virginia Tech)
Professional memberships and associations
I am a member of the following: Geological Society of Australia, Geological Society of America, and the Geochemical Society.
Teaching
As a lab manager, the majority of my teaching has been one-on-one, educating students and staff and visitors on how to apply ICP-MS technology to scientific problems, and then how to run the instrument to acquire those data, and finally how to interpret them.
Experience
I am Director of the Central Analytical Research Facility in the Research Portfolio. This facility engages with researchers and inside and outside of QUT. Our commercial engagements include long term contracts, including with Pacific Aluminum and BHP Copper. We have frequent engagements with the Queensland Police Service and the Geological Survey of Queensland.
Publications
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Charlotte, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Selected research projects
- Title
- Resolving the influence of intraplate orogenesis on continental margin tectonics
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP130102028
- Start year
- 2013
- Keywords
- Geochronology; Tectonics; Sedimentary Basins
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.