Jonathan's research concerns the generation, movement and evolution of magma within the Earth. He uses a combination of igneous petrology, high temperature and pressure experimental geochemistry, thermodynamics, and field geology to address the fundamental problem of how volcanoes work.

He has ongoing research projects on subduction-related volcanoes in the Lesser Antilles, Kamchatka (Russia), Cascades (USA), Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Turkey and Vanuatu. Of particular interest is the relationship between magmatism and ore formation. This work is funded currently through a Royal Society Research Professorship entitled “From Volcanoes to Green Mining”. The project investigates how we can use our evolving understanding of magmatic systems to develop new tools for mineral exploration and metal extraction. As we transition to a low-carbon economy, demand for certain key resources, such as copper, lithium and rare earth elements, is set to grow dramatically, placing a high priority on the discovery of new deposits and development of novel ways to access and extract these sustainably.