Professor Dr Daniel J. Frost
- Section Earth Sciences
- Location Bayreuth, Germany
- Election year 2018
Research
Research Priorities: Earth’s formation and development, Earth’s mantle, degree of oxidation of Earth’s core, plate-tectonic processes, high-pressure and high-temperature research
Daniel Frost is a British geoscientist. He studies the formation and development of Earth. His research into Earth’s mantle and core have delivered key insights into the planet’s structure and development. He builds new hydraulic devices for his experiments.
Daniel J. Frost’s research focuses on Earth’s mantle as well as processes deep within the planet. The processes deep within Earth are key to understanding plate-tectonic processes. Such experiments pose a major challenge, as Earth’s centre is more than 6,000 kilometres from the planet’s surface. Daniel J. Frost’s experiments simulate the high pressures and temperatures in Earth’s interior and reproduce the processes that take place there. He carries out high-pressure and high-temperature experiments for this purpose. He develops new devices for these experiments, including hydraulic presses, which concentrate extreme forces onto small areas.
Daniel J. Frost investigates mineral, stone, and melting properties, as well as the carbon cycle in Earth’s core and mantle, and its degree of oxidation. He managed to show that the rate of oxidation in Earth’s mantle is highly dependent on oxidation deep within the planet. While carbon oxidises to form carbonate on Earth’s surface, a large proportion is saved as graphite or diamond deep in the mantle. This significantly differentiates the degree of oxidation in Earth’s mantle.
Daniel J. Frost’s experiments have delivered key insights into the structure and development of Earth and other planets. He has played a major role in the ongoing development of geoscientific high-pressure and high-temperature research.
Daniel Frost is a British geoscientist. He studies the formation and development of Earth. His research into Earth’s mantle and core have delivered key insights into the planet’s structure and development. He builds new hydraulic devices for his experiments.
Daniel J. Frost’s research focuses on Earth’s mantle as well as processes deep within the planet. The processes deep within Earth are key to understanding plate-tectonic processes. Such experiments pose a major challenge, as Earth’s centre is more than 6,000 kilometres from the planet’s surface. Daniel J. Frost’s experiments simulate the high pressures and temperatures in Earth’s interior and reproduce the processes that take place there. He carries out high-pressure and high-temperature experiments for this purpose. He develops new devices for these experiments, including hydraulic presses, which concentrate extreme forces onto small areas.
Daniel J. Frost investigates mineral, stone, and melting properties, as well as the carbon cycle in Earth’s core and mantle, and its degree of oxidation. He managed to show that the rate of oxidation in Earth’s mantle is highly dependent on oxidation deep within the planet. While carbon oxidises to form carbonate on Earth’s surface, a large proportion is saved as graphite or diamond deep in the mantle. This significantly differentiates the degree of oxidation in Earth’s mantle.
Daniel J. Frost’s experiments have delivered key insights into the structure and development of Earth and other planets. He has played a major role in the ongoing development of geoscientific high-pressure and high-temperature research.
Career
- 2015-2018 Director, Bavarian Research Institute of Experimental Geochemistry and Geophysics (Bayerisches Geoinstitut BGI), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- since 2012 Professor of Experimental Geosciences, BGI, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- since 2007 Academic Director, BGI, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- since 2004 Senior Staff Scientist (Oberrat), BGI, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- since 2001 Permanent Staff Scientist, BGI, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- 1997-2012 Staff Scientist, BGI, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- 1996-1997 Postdoctoral Fellow, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington D.C., USA
- 1995 Doctorate, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- 1992-1995 Degree in Chemistry and Geology, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- 1989-1992 Degree in Chemistry and Geology, Royal Holloway and Bedford College, University of London, London, UK
Functions
- 2018-2021 Chairperson, Organising Committee, Goldschmidt Conference 2021, Geochemical Society, Washington D.C., USA, and European Association of Geochemistry (EAG)
- since 2017 Selection Committee, Alexander von Humboldt Professorships, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany
- since 2015 Chairperson, Executive Committee, Elements
- since 2015 Member, Review Panel “Starting Grants”, European Research Council (ERC)
- 2015-2017 Chairperson, Geochemical Fellows Award Committee, Geochemical Society, Washington D.C., USA, and EAG
- 2015 Member, Science Committee, Goldschmidt Conference 2015, Geochemical Society, Washington D.C., USA, and EAG
- 2012-2013 Member, Review Panel, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
- 2010-2015 Member, Council, EAG
- 2010-2015 Chairperson, Communications Committee, EAG
- 2004-2007 Associate Editor, Geophysical Research Letters
Projects
- since 2024 Applicant, Project “Fluid permeability and speciation in subduction zones”, German Research Foundation (DFG), Germany
- 2022 Principal Investigator, Major Research Device “Microfocus single-crystal X-ray diffractometer”, DFG, Germany
- 2017-2023 Principal Investigator, Project “Flow Strength and Acoustic Emissions of Earth Materials at High Pressures”, DFG, Germany
- 2016-2020 Spokesperson, Research Training Group (RTG) 2156 “Deep Earth Volatile Cycles”, DFG, Germany
- 2015-2023 Participating Scientist, Project “Impact-induced melting, magma ocean evolution and core-mantle differentiation during accretion of the Earth”, Priority Programme (PP) 1833, DFG, Germany
- 2015-2021 Principal Investigator, Subproject “Identifying the mechanism for the early oxidation of Earth’s interior”, PP 1833, DFG, Germany
- 2014-2017 Participating Scientist, Project “The influence of mantle rheology on the early differentiation of icy satellites”, PP 1385, DFG, Germany
- 2014 – 2016 Participating Scientist, Project “Chemical development of the metal cores of small planets in the early solar system”, PP 1385, DFG, Germany
- 2014-2016 Applicant, Project, “The phase relations of mafic rocks within the Earth’s mantle and geobarometers for eclogite and pyroxenite rocks to conditions of the Earth’s transition zone”, DFG, Germany
- 2014 Principal Investigator, Project “Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM)”, DFG, Germany
- 2010-2016 Participating Person, Project “Conditions, timescales and cosmochemical evolution during the early accretion of terrestrial planets”, PP 1385, DFG, Germany
- 2010-2011 Applicant, Project, “Experimental investigation of the redox conditions at which carbonate minerals and melts transform to graphite or diamond in Earth’s mantle”, DFG, Germany
- 2009-2014 Principal Investigator, Subproject “Combining experimental and computational approaches to determine high P and T thermal conductivity of CaGeO3 and MgSiO3 perovskite”, PP 1236, DFG, Germany
- 2009 Principal Investigator, Advanced Grant, “Deep Earth Elastic Properties and a Universal Pressure Scale”, ERC
- 2006-2010 Principal Investigator, Subproject “Systematics of the post-spinel transition in Fe-bearing compositions”, PP 1236, DFG, Germany
- 2005-2010 Principal Investigator, Subproject “Stability and structures of hydrous minerals in the transition zone of the Martian mantle”, PP 1115, DFG, Germany
- 2004-2007 Applicant, Project “Experimental determination of mantle rheology”, DFG, Germany
- 2002-2009 Principal Investigator, Project “Mechanisms of metal-silicate segregation during formation of the Martian core”, PP 1115, DFG, Germany
- 2001-2007 Applicant, Project “Ca-Si-Fe perovskites with oxygen defects: structures, stability, properties”, DFG, Germany
- 2001-2006 Principal Investigator, Subproject “Melting of peridotite at lower mantle conditions”, PP 1055, DFG, Germany
Honours and Memberships
- 2020 Fellow, Royal Society, UK
- since 2018 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
- 2018 Geochemistry Fellow, Geochemical Society, Washington D.C., USA, and EAG
- since 2017 Member, Bavarian Academy of Sciences, Munich, Germany
- 2016 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, DFG, Germany
- 2011 Arnold Sommerfeld Prize, Bavarian Academy of Sciences, Munich, Germany
- 2006 James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (AGU), USA
- 2006 MSA Award, Mineralogical Society of America (MSA), USA
- 2002 Max Hey Medal, Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, UK