MY RESEARCH is in the fields of Geochemistry, Petrology and Volcanology and my work aims to better understand physical and chemical processes that occur in nature and particularly around volcanoes. My efforts strive to better define and comprehend the interplay between formation and use of volcanic rocks and volcanic resources (ore deposits, geothermal energy, building stones, fertile soils) and volcanic hazards for humans and wildlife, and the risks for society and infrastructure in major population centres.

With my research I aim to contribute to several of the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) of the UN , including:

• SDG2  fertile soils,
• SDG3  health risks from volcanoes,
• SDG4  hazard education,
• SDG7  geothermal energy,
• SDG8  mining and mineral extraction in extreme environments,
• SDG9  volcanic risks to populations and infrastructures,
• SDG11 safe cities in active volcanic regions,
• SDG13 climate relevant natural processes and CO₂ sequestration via mineral alteration, and
• SDG14 mining around submarine volcanoes.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Since 2008: UPPSALA UNIVERSITY, Sweden.

Chair Professor (Petrology)

Department for Earth Sciences / Section for Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

since 2024: Advisory Panel Member "Museográfica Viajeros y Expediciones Científicas en Canarias en los siglos XVIII y XIX", La Orotava, Tenerife.

2023 - ongoing: Head of Section for Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.

2023 - ongoing: Director of Postgraduate Education (FUAP) of Section for Natural Resources and Sustainable Development (>25 PhD students in Section).

2018 - ongoing: Steering Board Member for national geochemistry facilities at NordSIM-Vegacenter at Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Sweden. www.nrm.se

2009 - 2019: Director of the Field-emission Microprobe facility at UU (served two five year terms).

2010 - 2016: Elected Member of the Steering Board of the Department of Earth Sciences (250 employees; served two terms of three years).

2008 - 2011: Elected Member of the Department of Earth Sciences Recruiting Committee (served two year terms).

2001 - 2008:  TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, Ireland.

May 2007: Promotion to Associate Professor in Igneous Petrology & Volcanology.

May 2007: Elected Fellow of Trinity College (FTCD).

2005 & 2006: Accelerated promotions on the lecturer pay scale.

Sep 2004: Promotion to permanent Lecturer in Igneous Petrology & Volcanology.

Sep 2004: International Student Coordinator for Geology.

Dec 2003: Initiator and Director of Volcanic and Magmatic Processes Group.

Sep 2001: 5 year contract as Lecturer in Igneous Petrology & Volcanology.

2003 - 2010: BLAISE PASCAL UNIVERSITY, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

2004-2009: Erasmus Visiting Professor

2006: Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR).

Supervisor: Prof. B. van Wyk de Vries

1998 - 2001: GEOMAR, Centre for Ocean Research / University of Kiel, Germany.

Oct 1998 - Sep 2001: PhD project 'Evolution of large peralkaline silicic magma bodies and associated caldera systems, a case study from Gran Canaria, Canary Islands'.

Supervisors: Prof. H.-U. Schmincke and Dr. T.H. Hansteen

The thesis was awarded the grade 'mit Auszeichnung' (with distinction).

The project was funded by the 'Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft' (DFG) and through a personal fellowship from the 'Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes'.

1996 - 1998: UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS, Scotland, UK.

Jul 1998: BSc (Hons) with first class (Geology).

Aug 97 - Jul 98: BSc thesis 'On the intracaldera ignimbrites of the Northern Marginal Complex, Isle of Rum, Scotland'.

Supervisor: Dr. C.H. Donaldson

1998: The BSc thesis was awarded the 'de Courcy Duggan Prize' at St Andrews University for most innovative undergraduate research project.

1998: Final year Class medal of St Andrews GeoScience Class (35 students).

1993 - 1996: JULIUS MAXIMILIANS UNIVERSITY OF WüRZBURG, Germany.

Mar 1996: 'Vordiplom' examinations in geology; (overall grade: first class).

Exam subjects: Geology & palaeontology, petrology & mineralogy, mathematics, and inorganic chemistry.

1994 - 1996: Main courses: Geology, mineralogy & petrology, and geophysics.

1993 - 1994: Main courses: Experimental physics, geophysics, and mathematics.

1987 - 1990: SIEMENS AG, Würzburg, Germany.

May 1990: Fully certified "industrial toolmaker".

Qualification received from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Lower Frankonia, Germany after 3 years of full time employment and practical & theoretical examinations.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT  (since 1998)

Oct 2023: Working with Cultural Differences. Training Course at Uppsala University (Dr. G. Garrets).

Aug 2023: Leadership. Training Course at  Uppsala University (P. Holmqvist).

Apr 2021: Equal opportunity and subconscious bias. Training Course for Uppsala University staff (Prof. K. Schönning).

Jun 2020: EBSD analytical techniques, 3 days on-site training, Natural History Museum Stockholm (Dr. G. Kenny).

Dec 2019: EBSD analysis via SEM. Natural History Museum Stockholm (Dr. G. Kenny).

May 2017: One-week course ‘Student centred learning’ at Uppsala University, Sweden.

May & June 2015:  Wilderness First Aid Certificate , NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute, Stenungsund, Sweden (Dr. L. Conlan).

May 2015:  Wildlife Awareness cerfificate, Safety Association Canada.

Jun 2013: Doctoral Supervisor Training Course, Faculty of Science and Technology, Dept. for Quality Enhancement and Academic Teaching and Learning, Uppsala University, Sweden (Dr. P. Reinholdsson, Prof. M. Elmgren).

2010, 2008, 2005 & 2003: Leader / Co-leader of four expeditions to Indonesia (Java and Sumatra) with up to eight scientists on the team.

Nov 2009: Neutron tomography analysis of volcanic rock and xenolith at FRMII research reactor, Technical University of Munich, Germany (Dr. B. Schillinger).

Sep 2009: Stable isotope analysis (B, O, Fe), Nordsim, Natural History Museum, Stockholm, Sweden (Dr. M. Whitehouse).

Nov 2008: X-ray tomographic methods on geological samples, ELETTRA Synchrotron facility, Trieste, Italy (Dr. L. Mancini).

Feb 2006: Introduction course to high pressure/high-temperature experimental procedures (piston-cylinder), INGV-Rome, Italy (Dr. C. Freda).

May 2005: One-week intense practical training in in-situ laser ablation ICPMS analysis for radiogenic isotopes, Washington State University, USA (Prof. J. Wolff).

Feb 2004: One-week course in in-situ microdrilling of minerals for radiogenic isotope analysis, University of Durham, UK (Prof. J. Davidson and Dr. C. Ginibre).

Nov 2002: Short course on cathodoluminescence analysis (CL), Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (Dr. C. Mulhall).

Mar 2001: Two week cruise with the German research vessel "Poseidon" (P270) to dredge submarine rift zone volcanics off the Canary Islands (acted as chief petrographer).

Mar 2000: Three-week laboratory course on radiogenic isotope analysis with TIMS (chemical separation techniques and analysis), GEOMAR Research Centre, Kiel, Germany (Prof. K. Hoernle).

Apr 2000: One-week intense training course on 'Imaging techniques', University of Münster, Germany (SEM AFM, TEM) (Prof. A. Putnis).

Jan 2000: One-week practical course on Electron Microprobe Analysis, GEOMAR EMPA (SX-50) (Supervisor: Dr. P. Sachs).

Oct 1999: One-week course in Synchrotron-XRF-microprobe analysis, "Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron", DESY, Hamburg, Germany (Dr. F. Lechtenberg).

Sep 1999: Two-week practical training on 'Scientific reporting' with the West-German TV (WDR) and the Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic. (Dr. Ranga Yogeshwar).

Sommerakademie der Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes & der Körber-Stiftung.

Jun 1999: Seven day training course in XRF analysis, GEOMAR Research Centre, Kiel, Germany (Supervisor: Dr. T. Hansteen).

Mar 1999: Two-week practical training with the preparation company GEOTRAIN. Geological sample preparation for optical microscopy, EMP and SYXRF-microprobe analysis, GEOTRAIN Kiel, Germany .

Dec 1998: Four week cruise with the German research vessel "Meteor" (DECOS/ M43-1) to dredge seamounts off the Canary Islands (assistant petrographer).

1980 - 1986: Member of the Youth Chapter of the Fire Brigade of Bavaria. Training in Fire Hazard Mitigation and Disaster Prevention.

Uppsala universitet / Institutionen för geovetenskaper / Forskning / Forskarporträtt / Valentin Troll