Postgraduate research students

My research focuses on understanding how crustal deformation, mountain building, and climatic aridification interact in intracontinental orogenic systems. As a PhD student in Geocomputation and Earth Sciences at the University of Glasgow, I investigate the thermo-kinematcis and desertification processes of the Tianshan–Pamir–Western Kunlun ranges and Tarim foreland basin, where the indentation of the Tarim lithosphere exerts a first-order control on both mountain growth and the progressive drying of Central Asia. This study provides new insights into how deep lithospheric dynamics and surface processes jointly shape arid continental interior, offering consequential implications for regional climate evolution and desert–oasis sustainability.

In addition to this focus, my research also involves modelling the thermal and exhumation history of the northern Tibetan Plateau (Qaidam Basin) using low-temperature thermochronology, and quantifying Cenozoic source-to-sink systems and tectonic evolution in the northern South China Sea. Collectively, these projects aim to advance our understanding of Indo-Asian plate convergence, intracontinental deformation, and the broader geodynamic evolution related to the opening and closure of the Tethys Ocean.

• Dr Paul Eizenhoefer
• Professor Cristina Persano

1*. 2024-2028, University of Glasgow - The China Scholarship Council (CSC) Co-operative Scholarship

Quantifying drivers of exhumation and landscape responses to tectonic and climatic variability in the Tian Shan region

2*. 2025-2026, Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment Society 15th call Small Grant Scheme (£500)

Quantifying the drivers of exhumation and sedimentation in the Keping Fold-and-Thrust Belt, South Tianshan

3#. 2024-2028, Belgium Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen & National Natural Science Foundation of China (£400k)

Cenozoic tectonic geomorphology of the South Tianshan orogenic belt

4#. 2024-2026, The Royal Society & National Natural Science Foundation of China (£24k)

Reconstruction of the exhumation history of the Gongga Shan in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

5'. 2025-2026, The Royal Society Research Grant (£29k)

Assessing the geothermal potential of Scottish granites by establishing their long-term thermal history

6'. 2021-2024, National Natural Science Foundation of China

Tectonic and thermal evolution of the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the northern South China Sea and its control over mature hydrocarbon generation from source rocks

Thermal regime difference and tectonic response of the Pearl River Mouth and Qiongdongnan Basin in the northern continental margin of South China Sea

*Principal investigating #Research supporting 'Active participation

BSc Geology, Environmental Geoscience & Geography

• Lab Demonstrator of Level 1 Earth Science
• Lab and Workshop Demonstrator of Level 2 Earth Science
• Lab Demonstrator of Level 1 Geography

Summer School

• Teaching assistant (leader) of Earth Science

ResearchGate|ORCID|LinkedIn

• Reviewer for international journals: Basin Research, Global and Planetary Change

• Technical skills: Thermo-kinematic and surface process modelling (Pecube-D, etc.), structural restoration and balanced cross section (Move™), GIS and remote sensing analysis, Python-based geospatial and numerical data processing, and Linux/HPC workflows.