Jennifer Girard, PhD in Material Science and Engineering

My research focus on studying mechanical properties of Earth mantle minerals under high pressure and high temperature, to build rheological laws that can be used in Earth geodynamic models (mantle convection, plate tectonics, post seismic creep, post glacial rebound etc…). Better constrains on Earth minerals deformation properties is critical to better understand Earth interior dynamic and allow its prediction.

Testing material properties under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature, using Multi Anvils press (MA), and Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC) coupled with synchrotron X-ray diffraction. is a state of the art technique, which allow collaborative studies between various fields of research, such as physics, material sciences, energy, mechanical engineering, geology and computer sciences. Study of materials under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature can lead to the discovery of new high pressure phases with totally different physical/mechanical properties than their room pressure and/or room temperature polymorph.