Phil McCausland

Dr. Phil McCausland is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Western Ontario and an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. He directs the Western Paleomagnetic and Petrophysical Laboratory (WPPL). His research focuses on paleomagnetism, tectonics, and meteoritics, with applications to planetary science and mineral exploration. He holds a Ph.D. from Western University (2002) and has supervised over 20 graduate and undergraduate students.

Research Interests:

• Paleomagnetic reconstruction of supercontinent assembly/disassembly
• Shock metamorphism in meteorites (ureilites, ordinary chondrites)
• Petrophysical properties of planetary materials
• Tectonic evolution of Appalachian-Caledonide orogens
• Impact processes in early Solar System

Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes Ediacaran-Cambrian paleomagnetic transitions, meteorite shock analysis, and tectonic modeling of Iapetus Ocean closure. Over 80 peer-reviewed articles span geophysics, planetary science, and mineralogy with frequent collaborations in paleomagnetism and impact studies.

Advising: Supervised 17 graduate students (PhD/MSc) and multiple undergraduates in planetary geology, tectonics, and analytical techniques. Active in meteorite recovery projects like Tagish Lake and Grimsby falls.

Labs: Leads WPPL facilities specialized in paleomagnetic measurements, X-ray diffraction, and meteorite petrophysics. Collaborates with Rotman Institute of Philosophy on interdisciplinary space science projects.