Alex Kunert

PhD Candidate (Sedimentary Geochemistry) at the University of Waterloo

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

About

My research focuses on ancient marine anoxia using redox-sensitive trace metal geochemistry in black shales. My past experience has focused on Mesozoic (~250 to 66 million years ago) sedimentary sequences. In my PhD, I am time-travelling back to the mid-Proterozoic Earth (~1.8 to 1.0 billion years ago) to compare the oxygenation record with the evolution of complex life.

Experience

  • University of Waterloo (8 yrs 5 mos)
    • Graduate Research Assistant
      Mar 2018 - Present · 8 yrs 5 mos

      Under the supervision of Dr. Brian Kendall at the Metal Isotope Geochemistry Lab, I perform geochemical analysis on organic-rich black shales. I prepare samples in a class 10 000 clean lab for trace element analysis on an Agilent 8800 QQQ ICP-MS and stable metal isotope analysis (U, Tl) on a Nu Plasma II MC-ICP-MS.

    • Graduate Teaching Assistant
      Jan 2025 - Apr 2025 · 4 mos

      EARTH 333 - SEDIMENTOLOGY

    • Graduate Teaching Assistant
      Sep 2024 - Dec 2024 · 4 mos

      EARTH 331 - IGNEOUS PETROLOGY

  • Geology Mitacs Graduate Intern at PETRONAS Canada
    Jan 2019 - Mar 2019 · 3 mos

    The second term of a Mitacs Accelerate grant in partnership with Petronas (previously Progress Energy) Canada, Sasol Canada and the University of Waterloo. I worked alongside geologists and geotechnical staff to collect samples and data for my Master's thesis project. The samples collected during this 2 month period were brought back to UW for geochemical analysis in March/April 2019.

  • Geology Mitacs Graduate Intern at Progress Energy Canada Ltd.
    Jan 2018 - Mar 2018 · 3 mos

    As a component of a Mitacs Accelerate grant in partnership with Progress Energy Canada Ltd, Sasol Canada and the University of Waterloo I worked alongside geologists and geotechnical staff to collect samples and data for my Master's thesis project. The samples collected during this 2 month period were brought back to UW for geochemical analysis in March/April 2018.

  • Geology Summer Student at Progress Energy Canada Ltd.
    May 2015 - Aug 2015 · 4 mos

    I was tasked with a geological formation review for Progress Energy’s South Business Unit. This included: - Compiling geological parameters of the formation from both published and corporate studies - Geological analysis and mapping to aid in the determination of location-specific depositional characteristics and reservoir geometry - Core viewing and review - Production/economic evaluation with the help of an engineer

  • Geology Summer Student at Progress Energy Canada Ltd.
    May 2014 - Aug 2014 · 4 mos

    - Data Collection and Interpretation - Core data analysis - Log Analysis - Geological Mapping