John Peter Brodholt is currently Reader and Royal Society Research Fellow at University College, London.  John had a late start in academic life with a geology degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1985, followed by a Masters degree from Northwestern University (1988) and a PhD from Bristol University, England (1992), where he worked on molecular dynamics simulations of fluids at high pressures and temperatures.  Since obtaining his PhD 10 years ago, John has become one of the leading researchers in computational mineral physics, although in his own words he also “dabbles in experiments”.  His work has mainly been focussed on understanding the Earth’s interior.  It has ranged from computational work on the structure of iron in the core, to modelling of defects in mantle phases and their influence on diffusion and strength of minerals, experimental work on the electrical conductivity of mantle minerals, and calculations of the elastic properties of mantle minerals at high temperature and pressure.

John is an enthusiastic collaborator with strong European links, particularly with scientists in Germany, Sweden and Italy, where he held a European Fellowship.  He has also been involved in organising a number of important European conferences.  For his outstanding research work and his contributions to the strengthening of European scientific links, the European Mineralogical Union Research Excellence Medal for 2002 is awarded (jointly) to Dr John Brodholt.