Romain Tilhac Personal webpage

Curriculum

Curriculum

Following my undergraduate and graduate studies at Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, I completed my PhD at Macquarie University in Sydney. I subsequently spent seven years in postdoctoral research positions in Australia, Japan and Spain. Since 2025, I work as a CNRS researcher at Géosciences Montpellier, France.

Education

  • 2013-2016 PhD in petrology and geochemistry, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia). Thesis ranked in the top 10%

  • 2009-2011 MSc in Earth and Planetary Sciences, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse (France). Top of the class, with honours

  • 2007-2010 BSc in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse (France).

Employment

  • Since 2025 CNRS researcher, Chargé de recherche classe normale (CRCN), Géosciences Montpellier UMR 5243, Montpellier (France)

  • 2022-2025 Post-doctoral researcher, Juan de la Cierva Incorporación (JdC-I) Fellowship, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT / CSIC), Granada (Spain)

  • 2020-2022 Post-doctoral researcher, Juan de la Cierva Formación (JdC-F) Fellowship, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT / CSIC), Granada (Spain)

  • 2020 Post-doctoral researcher, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Kanazawa University, Kanazawa (Japan)

  • 2017-2019 Research Associate / TerraneChron manager, ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS / GEMOC), Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)

  • 2012-2016 PhD candidate, International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (iMQRES), ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS / GEMOC), Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)

Fundings

  • 2022-2025 Juan de la Cierva Incorporación (JdC-I) Fellowship, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Ayudas Juan de la Cierva (Spain), 2-year fellowship + 6000€, Ref. IJC2020-044739-I

  • 2022-2024 Modelling arc recycling in the oceanic mantle using radiogenic isotope systems (OCEANS), Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento (Spain), 45000€ (2 years), PI: R. Tilhac, Ref. PID2021-122792NA-I00

  • 2021-2023 Archean mantle and plate tectonics : the seismic and geochemical record, Mineral Targeting International (MTI), Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia), 40000 AU$ (2 years), PI: G.C. Begg

  • 2020-2022 Juan de la Cierva Formación (JdC-F) Fellowship, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Ayudas Juan de la Cierva (Spain), 2-year fellowship, Ref. FJC2018-036729-I

  • 2020 JSPS Short-term Fellowship, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (Japan), 1-year fellowship + 6000€, Ref. PE19050

  • 2013-2016 iMQRES Scholarship, International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia), 3.5-year scholarship + 47000AU$, Ref. 2013091

Teaching & supervision

  • 2026-2027 PhD student co-supervision (Linlin Hu): “Deep Lithospheric Thermal State and Modification Processes in Northwestern North China Craton: Insights from Mantle Pyroxenite Xenoliths and Megacrysts”, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China + Géosciences Montpellier

  • 2026 MSc student supervision (Nicolas Berthelot): “Petrogenetic and geospeedometric study of plagioclase-bearing peridotites”, M2, Université de Bretagne Occidentale + Géosciences Montpellier

  • 2026 MSc student supervision (Gaëlle Gonnet): “Petro-geochemical characterisation of primitive boninite cumulates, Bay of Islands Ophiolite (Newfoundland)”, M1 IDIL AWARE-Earth, Université de Montpellier

  • 2024 MSc student supervision (Louise Garbet): “Lu–Hf isotopic characterization of Kohistan arc pyroxenites and the impact of arc delamination on oceanic magmatism”, Université de Bretagne Occidentale + Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT / CSIC)

  • 2018 MSc student supervision (Matthew Smith) “Dating the Donkerhuk granite, Damara Orogen, Namibia”, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia) / Mineral Targeting International (MTI)

  • 2015-2018 PhD student tutoring (Henry Henry) “Mantle pyroxenites: deformation and seismic properties”, Paul Sabatier University (co-tutelle) / Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)

  • 2017-2019 MSc geochemical lectures (8h): Modelling of trace-element fractionation during magmatic processes, Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)

  • 2014-2015 BSc field tutoring (50h + exam marking): Structural and metamorphic geology (Hill End, NSW), Macquarie University, Sydney (Australia)

Organisation of scientific events

  • Since 2026 Founder of The MANTLE NETWORK Initiative (mantlenetwork.org), an international collective of scientists studying the Earth’s mantle

  • April 2026 From mantle processes to volcano-tectonic hazard: linking melt/fluid-rock interactions to lithosphere-asthenosphere dynamics, Casetta, F., Koutsovitis, P., Lavecchia, A., Tilhac, R., Matusiak-Małek, M. European

  • October 2024 Field trip to the mantle section to the Cabo Ortegal Complex, Tilhac, R., Lopez-Sanchez, M.A., Llana-Fúnez, S., Padrón-Navarta, J.A. 7th Orogenic Lherzolite conference, Oviedo (Spain)

  • July 2023 Insights on the formation, preservation & transport of mantle compositional heterogeneities. Beguelin, P., Tilhac, R., Le Roux, V., Sanfilippo, A., Afonso, J.C. Goldschmidt conference 2023 - Session 2f, Lyon (France)

  • July 2021 Mantle heterogeneity: origins & contribution to magmatism & implications for mantle dynamics Tilhac, R., Lambart, S., Lissenberg, J., Sanfilippo, A. Goldschmidt conference 2021 - Session 2e, Lyon (France, online)

  • June 2020 Development and recycling of chemical and isotopic heterogeneities in the sub-arc mantle: observations, models and experiments, Tilhac, R., Garrido, C. Goldschmidt conference 2020 - Session 3a, Hawaii (USA, online)