Max-Planck-InstitutDepartment of Human Evolution
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 350
fax: +49 (0341) 3550 - 399
e-mail: streiber@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Debra Colarossi
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Department of Human Evolution
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
Germany
phone: 0049 (0) 341 3550 862
fax: 0049 (0) 341 3550 399
e-mail: debra_colarossi@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Profile
Debra Colarossi is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating within the Department of Human Evolution. She has a strong background in luminescence dating and experience with multiple luminescence signals from both quartz and feldspar, including quartz OSL, quartz violet stimulated luminescence (VSL) and K-feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (post-IR IRSL) at both multiple and single grain level. Her research focuses on utilising multiple luminescence chronometers to extend the upper age limit of the luminescence dating technique. Her strong luminescence background is complemented by extensive experience in geology, geomorphology and physical geography, having worked in numerous environmental settings.
Debra holds undergraduate degrees in teaching and geology. During her MSc research at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa she used OSL dating to establish the timing of deposition of tributary fan sediments, exposed in donga (gulley) systems, along the Nyl/Mogalakwena River in South Africa. This lead to her doctoral research at Aberystwyth University into the fundamental principles of luminescence dating and its application to determine the driving factors of deposition and erosion, and the switch between them, by accurately dating episodes recorded in Quaternary sediments.
Debra joined the Department of Human Evolution in March 2017 were she will be responsible for dating archaeological sites across Europe and Africa. She is also keen to continue her research into the fundamental principles of multiple luminescence chronometers, with a view to extending the upper age range of the technique.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
| 2013 – 2017 | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK Title: Developing the use of luminescence chronometers to establish the timing of late Quaternary environmental changes in South Africa Supervisors: Prof Geoff Duller & Prof Stephen Tooth | |
| 2011 – 2013 | Master of Science (MSc) by research, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Title: Geology and geochronology of the Nyl River floodplain sediments, Limpopo Province, South Africa Supervisors: Prof Terence McCarthy & Dr Mary Evans | |
| 2010 | Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc (Hons) Geology) - with distinction, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Title: Clay mineralogy and soil textures of Quaternary alluvial fan palaeosols on Heelbo game farm, eastern Free State, South Africa Supervisors: Dr Mary Evans & Dr Zubair Jinnah | |
| 2007 – 2009 | Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa | |
| 2001 – 2006 | Bachelor of Education (BEd), University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa |
Teaching experience
| 2016 | Postgraduate demonstrator on undergraduate field trips: Rocks and Minerals course (1 week residential) |
| 2013 – 2016 | Undergraduate practical demonstration: Rocks and Minerals course |
| 2013 – 2015 | Academic tutor: Physical Geography & Environmental Earth Science courses Aberystwyth University, Wales |
| 2010 – 2012 | Undergraduate practical demonstrations: Geology, Mapwork & Sedimentology courses University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa |
| 2010 – 2012 | Postgraduate demonstrator on undergraduate field trips: Sedimentology & Structural geology courses (1 week residential), Introduction to geology course (series of 1-day excursions) University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa |
Grants and Awards
| 2013 – 2016 | Aberystwyth University: Doctoral Career Development Scholarship (DCDS) |
| 2015 | Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA): Research, Education and Innovation (REI) award British Society of Geomorphology (BSG): Postgraduate Research Grant Aberystwyth University: DGES Postgraduate Discretionary Fund |
| 2014 | Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA): REI award Quaternary Research Association (QRA): New Research Workers Award Aberystwyth University: DGES Postgraduate Discretionary Fund |
| 2011 – 2012 | National Research Foundation (NRF): Innovation Scholarship for Masters study University of the Witwatersrand: Postgraduate Merit Award for Masters study |
| 2011 | Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA): REI award |
| 2010 | National Research Foundation (NRF): Innovation Scholarship for Honours study University of the Witwatersrand: Postgraduate Merit Award for Honours study |
| 2011 | Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA): Haughton Award for the Best Honours Dissertation in South Africa for the previous year (2010) |
| 2010 | University of the Witwatersrand: School of Geosciences Gold Medal for the most outstanding Honours (4th year) student in Geology |
| 2007 | University of the Witwatersrand: RA Pelletier Prize in Geology University of the Witwatersrand: School of Geosciences Bronze Medal for the best performing student in 1st year Geology |
Training and Workshops
| 2016 | Introduction to Palaeoclimate Modelling (NERC Advanced Training short course) 5 day course, Centre for Past Climate Change, University of Reading, UK |
| 2015 | Quaternary Palaeoecology (NERC Advanced Training short course) 5 day course, Micropalaeontology Department, National History Museum, UK |
| 2014 | BSG Windsor Postgraduate Workshop 3 day workshop, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK |
| 2013 | Luminescence Dating: Theory, Methods and Applications 5 day course, Aberystwyth Luminescence Research Laboratory (ALRL), Aberystwyth University, Wales |
Affiliations
| Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA) |
| Quaternary Research Association (QRA) |
| British Society for Geomorphology (BSG) |
| The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (MinSoc) |
| Past Global Changes (PAGES) |
| Young Earth Scientists (YES) Network |
| Aberystwyth Luminescence Research Laboratory (ALRL) |
| Quaternary Environmental Change research group, Aberystwyth University |
Publications
Articles
| Colarossi, D., Duller, G., Roberts, H., Tooth, S., & Botha, G. (2020). A comparison of multiple luminescence chronometers at Voordrag, South Africa. Quaternary Geochronology,60: 101094. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., Chapot, M. S., Duller, G. A. T., & Roberts, H. M. (2018). Testing single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) protocols for violet stimulated luminescence. Radiation Measurements,120, 104-109. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., Duller, G. A. T., & Roberts, H. M. (2018). Exploring the behaviour of luminescence signals from feldspars: Implications for the single aliquot regenerative dose protocol. Radiation Measurements,109, 35-44. DOI BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., Duller, G. A. T., Roberts, H. M., Tooth, S., & Lyons, R. (2015). Comparison of paired quartz OSL and feldspar post-IR IRSL dose distributions in poorly bleached fluvial sediments from South Africa. Quaternary Geochronology,30, Part B, 233-238. DOI BibTeX Endnote |
Conference Papers
| Colarossi, D., & Evans, M. Y. (2011). Palaeo-environmental characterisation using clay mineralogy: A case study of the Heelbo hillslope deposit, Free State Province and the Diepdrift hillslope deposit, Limpopo Province, South Africa. In G.-I.-E. Ekosse, L. de Jager, & V. M. Ngole ( BibTeX Endnote |
Meeting Abstracts
| Ssebuyungo, C., Mavuso, S., Colarossi, D., Dogandzic, T., O’Brien, K., Ndiema, E., Braun, D. R., Ranhorn, J. W. H., & Ranhorn, K. L. (2020). GaJj17: A Middle Stone Age site at Koobi Fora, East Turkana (Kenya). American Journal of Physical Anthropology,171(S69), 272-272. DOI BibTeX Endnote |
Talks
| Colarossi, D., Duller, G. A. T., Roberts, H. M., Tooth, S., & Botha, G. A. (2016).Single grain quartz and feldspar ages for a key late Quaternary terrestrial archive: Voordrag, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Talk presented at UK Luminescence and ESR Meeting (UKLUM2016). Liverpool, UK. 2016-07-10 - 2016-07-13. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., Tooth, S., & Duller, G. A. T. (2016).Timing, patterns and drivers of late Quaternary environmental changes in the southern African interior. Talk presented at BSG Annual Meeting. Plymoth. 2016-09-04 - 2016-09-07. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., Duller, G. A. T., & Roberts, H. M. (2016).Single grain equivalent dose measurements of feldspars from incompletely bleached sediments. Talk presented at UK Luminescence and ESR Meeting (UKLUM2015). Glasgow. 2016-07-07 - 2016-07-10. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., Tooth, S., & Duller, G. A. T. (2015).New geochronological investigations of a key late Quaternary terrestrial archive: Voordrag, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Talk presented at BSG Annual Conference. Southampton, UK. 2015-09-07 - 2015-09-09. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Colarossi, D., & Evans, M. Y. (2012).Case studies of the effect of insufficient light exposure on deriving the equivalent dose values for OSL dating of southern African sediments. Talk presented at 3rd International Symposium on Luminescence. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2012-07-01 - 2012-07-06. BibTeX Endnote | |
| Evans, M. Y., & Colarossi, D. (2012).A review of optically stimulated luminescence dating in southern Africa. Talk presented at 3rd International Symposium on Luminescence. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2012-07-01 - 2012-07-06. BibTeX Endnote |
