Updated 27-07-2023

CURRENT POSITION

2021 - today   Professor of Petrology (Associate), Department of Chemistry and Geology, Universitá di Cagliari, Italy

PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2015 – 2021   Post-Doctoral Fellow (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft – DFG – Eigene Stelle), Institut für Geowissenschaften (formerly Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften), Universität Potsdam, Germany

2014 – 2021   Guest Visiting Researcher, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions-und Biodiversitätsforschung, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Germany

2012 – 2015   Post-Doctoral Alexander Von Humboldt Fellow, Universität Potsdam, Germany

2010 – 2012   Post-Doctoral Fellow, Geoscience Department, University of Padova, Italy. Supervisor: Bernardo Cesare.

EDUCATION

2007 – 2010   Ph.D. candidate at the Geoscience Department, University of Padova.Supervisors: B. Cesare, R.J. Bodnar (Virginia Tech), E. Salvioli-Mariani (University of Parma).

2008 – 2009   Visiting Scholar Fluid Research Lab - Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, USA. Supervisor: R.J. Bodnar.

2003 – 2006   M.A. (Laurea Magistrale) in Geology, University of Torino. Supervisor: P. Rossetti.

2000 – 2003    B.A (Laurea) in Geology, University of Torino. Supervisor: A. Borghi.

                    

FELLOWSHIPS

• 2020 – 2023   Research Fellowship (3 years extension) funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), at the Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Potsdam, Germany. Project title: Nanogranites in migmatites: deciphering the chemical differentiation in the continental crust (FE 1527/2-3).
• 2017 – 2020   Research Fellowship (3 years extension) funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), at the Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Potsdam, Germany. Project title: Nanogranites in migmatites: deciphering the chemical differentiation in the continental crust (FE 1527/2-2).
• 2015 – 2017    Research Fellowship funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), at the same institute. Project title: Nanogranites in migmatites: deciphering the chemical differentiation in the continental crust (FE 1527/2-1).
• 2012 – 2015   Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship at the same Institute. Project title: A novel approach to identify unadulterated natural melt compositions: investigation of nanogranites.

FURTHER PROJECT-RELATED FUNDINGS

• 2023 Project "Deep fluid fluxes during mountain building processes". EDUC-SHARE initiative.
• 2022-2023    Project Regione Sardegna "Integration of new geological data into the characterization of the Einstein Telescope (ET)  site of Sos Enattos, Sardinia, Italy"
• 2020 – 2022    Project FE 1527/4-1 „Re-fertilizing the Earth´s mantle: crust-mantle interaction in (ultra)high pressure settings“. PI: Silvio Ferrero (total amount ~130.000 €).
• 2020                Host for 3-months DAAD-funded Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists awarded to Prof. M.TEDESCHI (University of Belo Horizonte, Brazil). Topic: Nanogranitoids in zircons.
• 2020 – 2022    Co-host for a 2 years von Humboldt fellowship to Dr. G. Nicoli (Uni. Cambridge, UK). Project: „Carbon buffering in the continental crust“.

 

REVIEWER

Geology; Journal of Metamorphic Geology; Geological Society of America (GSA) Bulletin; American Mineralogist; Chemical Geology; Journal of Asian Earth Sciences; Mineralogy and Petrology; Geoscience Frontiers; Lithos; Island Arc; Precambrian Research; G3 -Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. Canadian Mineralogical Association short courses (2020).

EDITOR

• 2022 Guest editor per Special issue "Probing the Earth: Melt and solid inclusions as probes to understand nature. Editor(s): Elisabetta Rampone, Silvio Ferrero, Matteo Alvaro, and Ross Angel" on the European Journal of Mineralogy, in progress.
• 2021       Associate Editor for the journal Mineralogia (Mineralogical Society of Poland)
• 2019       Corresponding Editor for FERRERO, S., LANARI, P., GONCALVES, P. & GROSCH, E. G. (eds) 2019. Metamorphic Geology: Microscale to Mountain Belts. Geological Society, London, Spec. Publ., 478.

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST

• 2023                PhD Committee member, Università di Padova, Italy
• 2018                PhD Committee member, Universitá di Torino, Italy
• 2015                Evaluator of Scientific Projects for ETH, Switzerland, and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS/POSTDOCS 

• 2023 – 2026      Co-supervision PhD thesis of Kerstin Gresky (Potsdam Universitaet, Deutschland). Title: „Investigation of anatectic melt inclusions to unravel the chemical differentiation of the continental crust.“
• 2020 – 2022      Supervision of a Post doc scientific researcher for the implementation of the project FE 1527/4-1 „Re-fertilizing the Earth´s mantle: crust-mantle interaction in (ultra)high pressure settings“.
• 2016 – 2019     Co-supervision PhD thesis of Alessia Borghini. Title: „Melt inclusions in mafic rocks as witnesses of metasomatism in the bohemian massif“.
• 2019 – 2020     Supervision Master thesis of Rico Fuchs. Title: „Microanalytical investigation of nanogranitoids in Variscan eclogite: implications for crust-mantle interaction"
• 2018 – 2020     Supervision Master thesis of Iris Wannhoff. Title: „Melt inclusion investigation reveals first evidence for partial melting in giant garnets of Gore Mountain (Adirondacks, USA)“.
• 2018                Co-supervision/collaboration Master thesis of Pawel S?upski. Title: „Former melt inclusions in garnets from granulites of the Góry Sowie Block, NE Bohemian Massif. Main institute: AGH, Krakow, Poland“.
• 2017               Supervision Bachelor thesis of Iris Wannhoff. Title: „Evidence for fluid-melt immiscibility during partial melting in the Oberpfalz migmatites, Moldanubian Zone (Bohemian Massif)“.

TEACHING ACTIVITIES at  UNI CAGLIARI

• 2023/2024       BA level course  "Applied petrography". 6 CFU.
• 2022/2023       MA level course "Crustal evolution". 6 CFU
• 2022/2023       BA level course "Applied petrography". 6 CFU.
• 2022                Workshop "Lo studio di inclusioni di fluido e fuso come strumento di investigazione dei processi geologici profondi".

TEACHING ACTIVITIES at UNI POTSDAM

• 2020                MA level course online “Petrology and Evolution of the continental crust”
• 2019                MA level course “Petrology of the lower crust”
• 2015 - Now      Workshops “Fluids and geological processes: fluid inclusions investigation”
• 2019                Short course “Petrology of the lower crust”, June 3rd-5th, for international PhD and PostDoc students.

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

• 2024 European Mineralogical Conference - Dublin, Ireland, 18-22 August 2024. Main convener of session ""One drop at a time: fluid, melt and multiphase inclusions as a tool to unravel geological processes".
• 2015 – Now    Main convener and Co-convener of several different GMPV sessions at the general assembly of EGU, Vienna (Austria). Session titles: Garnet, the ultimate tool in petrology (2023); Garnet, an invaluable mineral in basement geology (2022); Peering into the past: the power of microstructures to unravel metamorphic and igneous processes (2019); Microstructures as an interpretative tool in igneous and metamorphic petrology (2018); Progress in Metamorphic Geology: Multi-scale Model Testing from Minerals to Tectonic Plates (2018); Progress in Metamorphic Geology: Petrochronology (2017); Progress in Metamorphic Geology: From Ultrahigh-temperature Terrains to Subduction Zones (2016); Contributions to Metamorphic Geology (2015).
• 2019 – Now    Science officer of the division GMPV for the general assembly of the European Geological Union (EGU).2021                Co-convener at the upcoming European Mineralogical Conference, Krakow (Poland), September 2020. Session title: Are inclusions petrologists’ best friends?
• 2016                Main Convener “Microscale is the key: microstructural and microchemical studies of metamorphic processes to unravel compositional and geodynamic evolution of the Earth”, 35th International Geological Congress, Cape Town, South Africa.
• 2016                Co-convener “Host–Inclusions system in geosciences: new methods and applications”, European Mineralogical Conference, Rimini, Italy.

INVITED TALKS AND WORKSHOPS IN INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS

• 2024                Invited Speaker at the Vibrational Spectroscopy meets Geoscience (GeoVibrS), Villa del Grumello (Lake of Como, Italy), June 24th – 28th  2024
• 2022                Invited expert at the Advanced Training Programme on "Granites and related rocks", Kumaun University, Nainital, India (5-15 settembre 2022).
• 2020                Solicited talk at General Assembly EGU 2020 “Strange polymorphs and where to find them: a melt inclusion story“.
• 2018                Invited talk at Goldschmidt 2018 “Mineral growth and metastability phenomena in melt inclusions from metamorphic rocks”.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

• S.I.M.P. (Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia) prize for best PhD in 2010.
• Grant from the Foundation “A. Gini” to fund research periods abroad, 2008/2009.
• Prize “Professor Ugo Pognante” 2007 for petrology master thesis on the Alpine-Himalayan orogen.

MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

2010 – Member of E.G.U. (European Geosciences Union)

2007 – Member of S.I.M.P. (Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia)

SEMINAR “Tiny tools for big tasks: the contribution of nanogranites and fluid inclusions studies to understanding crustal melting”

• Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 18-22 March 2024
• Charles University, Prague, 18-19 October 2023
• Freie Universitaet, Kolloquium - November 17th 2022
• Petrochronics, august 26th 2021 (video available at https://youtu.be/a08M_GywBkg)
• Universitat de Barcelona, February 2019
• Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, February 2019
• Talks at Vienna. Graz, Leoben and Innsbruck on invitation of, and fully sponsored by, the Mineralogical Society of Austria, April 2018.
• Universität Bern, Switzerland. March 2018
• Université Paris-Diderot, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, January 2017.
• AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow (Poland), Graduate students programme. December 2016;
• University of Bologna (Italy). March 2016;
• GeoForschung Zentrum-Potsdam (Germany). January 2016;
• Yale University (US), PhD students programme. November 2015;
• Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (Germany). April 2015;
• Charles University, Prague (Czech Republic). November 2014;
• Stellenbosch University & Uni. of Witwatersrand (South Africa). August 2014;
• Museum für Naturkunde-Berlin (Germany). May 2014;
• The Open University, Milton Keynes (UK). March 2014.

PUBBLICATIONS

1. Angel, R.J., Alvaro, M., and Ferrero, S., (2024). A brief history of solid inclusion piezobarometry. European Journal of Mineralogy, 36, 411–415, 2024 https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-36-411-2024.
2. Ferrero, S., Borghini, A., Remusat. L., Nicoli, G., Wunder, B., and Braga, R., (2023). H2O and Cl in deep crustal melts: the message of melt inclusions in metamorphic rocks. European Journal of Mineralogy, 35, 1031–1049, https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-35-1031-2023.
3. Borghini, A., Ferrero, S., O’Brien, P.J., Wunder, B., Tollan, P. Majka, J., Fuchs, R. and Gresky, K, (2023). Halogen-bearing metasomatizing melt preserved in near ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites of Pfaffenberg, Bohemian Massif. European Journal of Mineralogy, accepted.
4. Borghini, A., Nicoli, G., Ferrero, S., O’Brien, P.J., Laurent, O., Remusat, L., Borghini, G., and Milani, S., (2023). The role of continental subduction in mantle metasomatism and deep carbon cycle revealed by melt inclusions in UHP eclogites. Science Advances, 9, eabp9482.
5. Wannhoff, I., Ferrero, S., Borghini, A., Darling, R., and O´Brien, P.J., (2022). First evidence of dmisteinbergite (CaAl2Si2O8 polymorph) in high grade metamorphic rocks. American Mineralogist, 107, 2315–2319, DOI: 10.2138/am-2022-8505.
6. Nicoli, G., Borghini, A. and Ferrero, S. (2022). The carbon budget of crustal reworking during continental collision: Clues from nanorocks and fluid inclusions. Chemical Geology, 608, 121025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2022.121025.
7. Nicoli, G., Gresky, K. and Ferrero, S. (2022). Mesoarchean melt and fluid inclusions in garnet from the Kangerlussuaq basement, Southeast Greenland. Mineralogia, 53, 1-9, DOI: 10.2478/mipo-2022-0001.
8. Wang, J., Su, B-X, Chen, C., Ferrero,S., Malaviarachchi, S.P.K.,  Sakyi, P.A., Yang, Y-H. and Dharmapriya, P., L. (2021) Crustal derivation of the ca. 475-Ma Eppawala carbonatites in Sri Lanka. Journal of Petrology, https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egab075.
9. Ghignone, S. , Sudo, M., Balestro, G., Borghi, A., Gattiglio, M., Ferrero, S. and van Schijndel, V. (2021) Timing of exhumation of meta-ophiolite units in the Western Alps: New tectonic implications from 40Ar/39Ar white mica ages from Piedmont Zone (Susa Valley). Lithos, 404–405, 106443, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106443.
10. Ferrero, S., Wannhoff, I., Laurent, O., Yakymchuk, C., Darling, R., Wunder, B., Borghini, A., and O´Brien, P.J. (2021) Embryos of TTGs in Gore Mountain garnet megacrysts from water-fluxed melting of the lower crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 569, 117058, doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117058.
11. Nicoli, G. & Ferrero, S. (2021): Nanorocks, volatiles and plate tectonics. Geoscience Frontiers, 12, 101188.
12. Ferrero, S., Ague, J.J., O’Brien, P.J., Wunder, B., Remusat, L., Ziemann, M.A., Axler, J. (2021): High pressure, halogen-bearing melt preserved in ultra-high temperature felsic granulites of the Central Maine Terrane, Connecticut (US). American Mineralogist, 106, 1225–1236, DOI: doi.org/10.2138/am-2021-7690. 
13. Gianola, O., Bartoli, O., Ferri, F., Galli, A., Ferrero, S., Capizzi, L.S., Liebske, C., Remusat,. L., Poli, S., Cesare, B. (2021): Anatectic melt inclusions in ultra?high temperature granulites. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 39, 321–342, DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12567.
14. Ferri, F., Cesare, B., Bartoli, O., Ferrero, S., Palmeri, R., Remusat, L., Poil, S. (2020): Melt inclusions at MT. Edixon (Antarctica): Chemistry, petrology and implications for the evolution of the Lanterman range. Lithos, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105685.
15. Borghini, A., Ferrero, S., O'Brien, P.J., Laurent, O., Günter, C., Ziemann, M.A. (2019): Cryptic metasomatic agent measured in situ in Variscan mantlerocks: Melt inclusions in garnet of eclogite, Granulitgebirge,Germany. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, doi:10.1111/jmg.12519.
16. Lanari, P., Ferrero, S., Goncalves, P., Grosch, E.G. (2018): Metamorphic Geology: Progress and Perspectives. In: Ferrero, S., Lanari, P., Goncalves, P. & Grosch, E.G. (eds) Metamorphic Geology: Microscale to Mountain Belts. Geological Society of London, Special Publications, 478.
17. Carvalho, B. B., Bartoli, O. , Ferri, F. , Cesare, B. , Ferrero, S. , Remusat, L. , Capizzi, L. S., Poli, S. (2018): Anatexis and fluid regime of the deep continental crust: new clues from melt and fluid inclusions in metapelitic migmatites from Ivrea Zone (NW Italy). Journal of Metamorphic Geology, doi:10.1111/jmg.12463
18. Berkesi, M., Czuppon, G., Szabó, C., Kovács, I., Ferrero, S., Boiron, M-C., Peiffert, C., (2018): Pargasite in fluid inclusions of mantle xenoliths from northeast Australia (Mt. Quincan): Evidence of interaction with asthenospheric fluid. Chemical Geology, in Press, doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2018.06.022.
19. Borghini, A., Ferrero, S., Wunder, B., Laurent, O., O’Brien, P.J., Ziemann, M.A. (2018): Granitoid melt inclusions in orogenic peridotite and origin of garnet clinopyroxenite. Geology, doi.org/10.1130/G45316.1.
20. Ferrero, S., O´Brien, P.J., Borghini, A., Wunder, B., Wälle, M., Günter, C., Ziemann, M.A. (2018): A treasure chest full of nanogranitoids: an archive to investigate crustal melting in the Bohemian Massif. Submitted In: FERRERO, S., LANARI, P., GONCALVES, P.&GROSCH, E. G. (eds) Metamorphic Geology: Microscale to Mountain Belts.Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 478.
21. Ferrero, S. & Angel, R.(2018): Micropetrology: are inclusions in minerals grains of truth?. Journal of Petrology, 1–30, doi: 10.1093/petrology/egy075.
22. Ferrero, S., Godard, G., Palmeri, R., Wunder, B., Cesare, B. (2018): Partial melting of ultramafic granulites from Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica: constraints from melt inclusions and thermodynamic modeling. American Mineralogist 103, 610-622. 
23. Ferrero, S., Wunder, B., Ziemann, M.A., Wälle, M., O´Brien P.J., (2016): Carbonatitic and granitic melts produced under conditions of primary immiscibility during anatexis in the lower crust. Earth Planetary Science Letters 454, 121–131.
24. Bartoli, O., Acosta-Vigil, A., Ferrero, S., Cesare, B. (2016): Granitoid magmas preserved as melt inclusions in high-grade metamorphic rocks. American Mineralogist, dx.doi.org/10.2138/am-2015-5541.
25. Ferrero, S., Ziemann, M.A., Angel, R., O´Brien P.J., Wunder, B. (2016): Kumdykolite, kokchetavite and cristobalite crystallized in nanogranites from felsic granulites, Orlica-Snieznik Dome (Bohemian Massif): not an evidence for ultrahigh pressure conditions. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 171, 3. DOI 10.1007/s00410-015-1220-x.
26. Cesare, B., Acosta-Vigil, A., Bartoli, O., Ferrero, S. (2015): What can we learn from melt inclusions in migmatites and granulites? Lithos, 239, 186–216.
27. Ferrero, S., Wunder, B., Walczak, K, O´Brien, P.J., Ziemann, M. (2015): Preserved near-UHP melt from continental crust subducted to mantle depths. Geology, 43, 447-450.
28. Ferrero, S., Braga, R., Berkesi, M., Cesare, B., & Laridhi Ouazaa, N., 2014. Production of metaluminous melt during fluid-present anatexis: an example from the Maghrebian basement, La Galite Archipelago, central Mediterranean. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, DOI:10.1111/jmg.12068.
29. Ferrero, S., Bartoli, O., Caesar, B., Salvioli-Mariani, E., Acosta-Vigil, A., Horse, A., Groppo, C. and Battiston, S. (2012): Microstructures of melt anatectic inclusions in metasedimentary rocks. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 30 , 303-322.
30. Cesare, B., Acosta-Vigil, A., Ferrero, S. and Bartoli, O. (2011): Melt inclusions in migmatites and granulites. In: The Science of Microstructure - Part II, Journal of the Virtual Explorer, Eds. M.A. Forster, and John D. Fitz Gerald, Electronic Edition, ISSN 1441-8142, 38, paper 2.
31. Ferrero, S., Bodnar, R.J., Cesare, B. and Viti, C. (2011): Re-equilibration of primary fluid inclusions in peritectic garnet from metapelitic enclaves, El Hoyazo, Spain. Lithos, 124, 117–131.
32. Cesare, B., Ferrero, S., Salvioli-Mariani, E., Pedron, and D. Cavallo, A. (2009): Nanogranite and glassy inclusions: the anatectic melt in migmatites and granulites. Geology   37 , 627-630.
33. Rossetti, P. & Ferrero, S. (2008): The Zn–Pb deposits of Casario (Ligurian Alps, NW Italy): late Palaeozoic sedimentary–exhalative bodies affected by the alpine metamorphism. Geodinamica Acta 21,117-137.

Miscellaneous (about my work with anatectic melt inclusions)

1. Matthias Zimmermann, Set in stone. Portal Knowledge 2, 2013 universität Potsdam.
2. Lilo Berg, Brief Enquires: What´s really going on down there, Mr. Ferrero? Humboldt Kosmos, 101-2013.