Rate My Professor Douglas Fraser

Dr Douglas Fraser is the Head Technician for the School of Geography at the University of Otago, with managerial responsibility for technical staff, laboratories, and workshop facilities. He ensures these resources effectively support the school's diverse teaching, research, and fieldwork requirements. In addition, Dr Fraser serves as the School Health and Safety Officer, where he maintains the school Hazard Register, conducts risk assessments, provides safety inductions and training, and advises on health and safety matters to staff and students alike. His role is critical in fostering a safe and functional environment for geographic studies and experiments conducted within the Richardson Building in Dunedin.

Dr Fraser earned his PhD from the Department of Geology at the University of Otago in 2017. The title of his doctoral thesis is 'Seismic characterisation of hydrate and shallow gas systems associated with active margin sediments in the Pegasus Sub-basin, Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand.' This work was supervised by Professor Andrew R. Gorman from the University of Otago Department of Geology and Dr Ingo Pecher from the University of Auckland. The research focused on seismic analysis of gas hydrates and shallow gas systems in New Zealand's tectonically active Hikurangi Margin. Dr Fraser's technical expertise has been recognized through acknowledgements in multiple peer-reviewed publications from University of Otago research groups. These include 'Wind flow dynamics and sand deposition behind excavated foredune notches on developed coasts' (Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2022), 'On the frequency response of a Wenglor particle-counting system for aeolian transport measurements' (Journal of Sea Research, 2018), and contributions to studies on wave transformation over near-horizontal rocky reefs. His support has enabled advancements in physical geography and coastal processes research.