Dr James Gilgannon
Published: 23 April 2026
School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Describe your research in fewer than 20 words?
I study how rocks deform and chemically transform to better understand processes deep within Earth’s crust.
What fellowship do you hold?
I hold a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at the University of Glasgow, running from 2024 to 2027. My project focuses on experimentally defining the effect of deformation on metamorphism.
What is your area of research?
I’m a structural geologist working to understand how rocks deform and change under heat and pressure. My research combines fieldwork, lab experiments, and numerical models to study metamorphic reactions and deformation.
Why did you choose to pursue a fellowship in your research career?
The Leverhulme fellowship gives me the space to pursue an independent line of research that builds on my expertise and previous postdoctoral work. It’s a great platform to develop new ideas and contribute meaningfully to my field.
Why did you choose to work at the University of Glasgow?
The University of Glasgow has a strong reputation in Earth sciences, excellent lab facilities and an emerging expertise in Computational Geosciences. My work needs access to state-of-the-art computational resources and Glasgow has these. It’s also a collaborative and supportive environment, which makes it an ideal place to advance my research on rock deformation and metamorphism.
What is your research highlight?
One highlight has been integrating experimental and computational approaches to model dehydration reactions across space and time. This synthesis helps us better understand the dynamics of metamorphism under different geological conditions.
What do you look for in a collaboration?
I look for collaborations that combine different expertise—experimental, analytical, or computational to tackle complex geological problems. It’s about adding depth and dimension to our understanding.
How do you see your research impacting society?
Understanding how rocks deform and transform helps us interpret tectonic processes like mountain building, earthquakes, and resource formation. It’s fundamental science, but with far-reaching implications.
What are your future plans?
I plan to build on the Leverhulme work by applying for long-term funding to establish a small research group. I’d like to explore new areas within deformation-metamorphism interactions and engage more broadly with the geoscience community.
How has the fellowship benefitted your career?
It has given me the independence to shape my own research direction and the credibility to grow my academic profile. The time and resources provided by Leverhulme have been invaluable.
Have you undertaken any public engagement?
Yes, I’ve given talks and demonstrations about geology, particularly to students and school groups. It’s important to me to communicate Earth science in an accessible and engaging way.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of being able to bridge theory and experiment in structural geology, and of the teaching and mentoring I've done especially covering structural geology lectures at Edinburgh and working with students during fieldwork.
First published: 23 April 2026