PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Marilena Stimpfl PhD., MSc, B.Sc. (Hons).
 Earth Scientist / Geochemist


Summary
Dr. Stimpfl holds the position of Earth Scientist - Geochemist and Office Manager with Earth Systems. Since she joined the company in May 2007, she has been involved in assessing, monitoring and evaluating remediation strategies for acid and metalliferous drainage projects, in designing and conducting transient electromagnetic geophysical surveys, and in assessing the environmental impact of landfill leachate on surrounding environment. During her academic tenure she has been responsible for generating, managing and funding her research projects. Her main research focus has been the study of solid-state processes in silicate minerals and of the interactions between water and mineral surfaces.

Education and Affiliations
Doctor of Philosophy (Experimental Petrology and Crystallography), University of Arizona, USA, 2003.

Master of Science (Earth Sciences), University of Padova, Italy, 1995.

Bachelor of Science (Natural Sciences), University of Padova, Italy, 1992.

Honorary Research Fellow - Department of Chemistry – University College of London – UK.

Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) & of the Mineralogical Society of America (MSA).

Countries of Work Experience
Australia, United States of America.

Professional History

  • May 2007 – Present: Earth Scientist/Geochemist and Office Manager, Earth Systems Pty Ltd, Sydney.
  • 2003 – 2007: Research Associate, University of Arizona, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Tucson, AZ, USA.
  • 1999 –2003: Teaching and Research Assistant, University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences, Tucson, AZ, USA.
  • 1996 – 1999: Research Associate, University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences, Tucson, AZ, USA.

Fields of Special Competence
Project management: supervision of earthwork contractors; training of personnel; liaison with clients; budget preparation; report writing; acid and metalliferous drainage assessment and amelioration; assessment of leachate and water quality data; design and implementation of hydrogeochemical and geochemical sample collection and data analyses; field and laboratory research techniques; mineral characterization; analytical chemistry and geochemistry; water/rock interaction; geochemical modelling.

Representative Experience
Dr Stimpfl's recent roles and projects include:

  • Project management of ongoing waste rock trial dumps to minimise acid mine drainage in context of overall mine site rehabilitation for Primary Industries and Resources South Australia; onsite supervision of earthworks crew during construction of waste rock trial dumps; design and implementation of geochemical sampling; design of procedural protocols (leachate collection, data analyses, irrigation); liaison with client and laboratory personnel; collection and field analyses of leachate samples; interpretation and reporting on static and kinetic geochemical test.
  • Assistance with preparation of Acid and Metalliferous Drainage Risk Assessment and Management Plan. Preparation of interim budget; (Pan Australian Resources).
  • Assist design and implementation of Transient Electromagnetic Geophysical survey of the External Overburden Dump at the Loy Yang coal mine; data collection and quality control; (Loy Yang Power).
  • Assessment of environmental impact of landfill leachate on the area surrounding the Nudgee landfill site (Brisbane City Council).
  • Lunar and Planetary Laboratory: project generation and management; established international collaboration and secured funding from NASA and the Royal Institute of London. Published scientific papers in peer-reviewed international journals.

Selected Publications
Stimpfl M., Ganguly J., Molin G. (2005) Kinetics of Fe2+–Mg order–disorder in orthopyroxene: experimental studies and applications to cooling rates of rocks. Contribution to Mineralogy and Petrology, Vol 150, pp 319-334.