Julian Murton obtained his PhD on thermokarst sedimentology in Arctic Canada from the University of Ottawa (1993). Subsequently he carried out laboratory experiments on permafrost and periglacial processes in cold rooms at the University of Caen (France) and at Cardiff University (Wales). Since 1996 he has lectured at the University of Sussex, teaching physical geography and geology. He carries out research on Arctic permafrost in Canada and Russia, experimental periglacial geomorphology in the Permafrost Laboratory at Sussex, permafrost in deep geological time, and Quaternary and engineering geology of past permafrost and periglacial regions.