Professor Froukje M. van der Zwan has a strong interest and expertise in magmatic and hydrothermal processes at young rifted margins (e.g. the Red Sea), Mid-Oceanic Ridges and intraplate volcanoes. Her research aims to understand why volcanic and magmatic provinces occur where they are and by which processes they form. In addition, she studies hydrothermal systems and their effect on magmatic processes and the formation of related mineral resources. These processes she examines on land and in the oceans in various geodynamic settings, but with a focus on continental breakup, which has been a fundamental process on Earth for at least 2.5 Ga. Her group investigates the initial stages of continental breakup, the transition from rifting to spreading of a young ocean basin and later stage intraplate volcanism at the continental margin. The research methods of Professor van der Zwan are igneous petrology, geochemistry and volcanology with a focus on in-situ methods, e.g. detailed studies of melt inclusions, combined with data from other (geoscience) disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach including field and/or sea expeditions together with various geochemical laboratory techniques is key to unravel geological processes and to understand volcanic and hydrothermal systems in all their aspects.

Marine Science, Earth Science and Engineering