Zoe Thomas

Dr. Zoe Thomas is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow and Adjunct Fellow at the University of New South Wales, Australia, situated within the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences. She serves as Associate Director of the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle Facility at UNSW, which houses the first Mini Carbon Dating System (MICADAS) Accelerator Mass Spectrometer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dr. Thomas earned her PhD from the University of Exeter (2010-2014) and her BA (Hons.) from the University of Oxford (2007-2010). Her research spans palaeoclimate studies, contemporary and future climate analysis, with particular focus on Earth System tipping points and positive feedback mechanisms.

Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent expertise in paleoclimate reconstruction, particularly regarding atmospheric circulation changes, Southern Hemisphere westerly winds, and fire history analysis. The publications reveal a strong methodological approach integrating fieldwork in southern mid- to high-latitudes with laboratory-based techniques including radiocarbon dating, infrared spectroscopy, and geochemical analysis. A significant portion of her work examines Holocene climate dynamics with implications for understanding contemporary climate change.

Scientific Recognition:

• Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA): $426,715 for project 'Investigating the synchroneity of global atmospheric shifts in the Holocene'

Dr. Thomas leads significant research initiatives focused on understanding Earth System operations during periods of past change. Her work with the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle Facility represents a major contribution to radiocarbon dating capabilities in the Southern Hemisphere. She teaches Environmental Change (GEOS3761) at UNSW, connecting her research expertise with academic instruction.

Her laboratory work at the Chronos 14Carbon-Cycle Facility has established UNSW as a key center for radiocarbon analysis in the Southern Hemisphere, providing critical dating capabilities for regional paleoclimate and archaeological research.