a) Microstructures and deformation mechanisms of naturally and experimentally deformed minerals and rocks;     

b) Scanning electron microscopy and EBSD;

c) Development of crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO) of materials;

d) Physical properties of single crystals and polymineralic rocks;

e) Numerical modelling of CPO development and physical properties.

2006 – 2008 – Technical officer at Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto. Setup, development of methods and maintenance of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) detectors. Training and supervision of students for sample preparation, data acquisiton, treatment and interpretation of crystallographic fabric data.

1994 – 1999 – Geology at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

2002 – 2006 –Ph.D. from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Thesis Title: “A study of the crystallographic orientation in folds, grain boundaries and seismic anisotropy of muscovite-quartz mylonites”. Advisors: Prof. Luís Alberto D. Fernandes, Dr. Geoffrey E. Lloyd and Dr. Martin Casey (Shool of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds)

2003-2004 – Ph.D. visiting student at the School of Earth and Environment of the University of Leeds (United Kingdom), under supervision of Dr. Geoffrey E. Lloyd e Dr. Martin Casey. Training on SEM/EBSD technique, EBSD specimen preparation, quartz and muscovite crystallographic fabrics, CPO-derived seismic properties and grain boundary misorientation analyses.

Mallmann, G.; Chemale Jr., F.; MORALES, L.F.G. 2004. Structural evolution of the southern portion of the Nico Pérez Terrane, Uruguay: a convergence register between Rio de La Plata and Kalahari plates in the end of Neoproterozoic. Revista Brasileira de Geociências, 34 (2): 201-212.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Hinrichs, R.; Fernandes, L.A.D. 2007. The electron back-scattered diffraction technique in a scanning electron microscope and its application on the study of deformed rocks. Pesquisas em Geociências, 34(1): 19-34.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Fernandes, L.A.D. 2007. Crystallographic preferred orientation derived seismic anisotropic properties of muscovite-quartz mylonites. Pesquisas em Geociências, 34(2): 3-24.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Lagoeiro, L.E.; Endo, I. 2008. Development of crystallographic fabric along folded polycrystalline hematite. Journal of Structural Geology, 30:1218-1228.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Lagoeiro, L.E.; Endo, I. 2008. First results on the LPO-derived seismic properties of iron ores from the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region, southeastern Brazil. Tectonophysics, 460: 21-33.

Bitencourt, M.F.; Bongiolo, E.M.; Philipp, R.P.; MORALES, L.F.G.; Rubert, R.R.; Mello, C.L.; Luft Jr. J.L. 2008. Stratigraphy of the Florianopolis Batolith, Dom Feliciano Belt, in the region of Garopaba-Paulo Lopes, SC. Pesquisas em Geociências, 35(1): 109-136.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Boudier, F.; Nicolas, A. 2010. Microstructures and crystallographic preferred orientation of anorthosites from Oman ophiolite and the dynamics of melt lenses. Tectonics, Vol. 30, TC2011,doi:10.1029/2010TC002697.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Mainprice, D.; Law, R.D.; Lloyd, G.E. Crystal fabric development and slip systems in a quartz mylonite: an approach via viscoplastic self-consistent modelling and transmission electron microscopy. Deformation Mechanism, Rheology & Tectonics: Microstructures, Mechanics & Anisotropy – Geological Society of London – Special Publication 360, 151-174.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Casey, M.; Lloyd, G.E.; Williams, D. M. Kinematic and temporal relationships between parallel fold hinge lines and stretching lineations: a microstructural and crystallographic preferred orientation approach. Tectonophysics, 503, 207-211.

MORALES, L.F.G.; Tommasi, A. Microstructures and seismic properties of mantle xenoliths from a thin continental lithosphere (Summit Lake region, Canadian Cordillera). Tectonophysics, 507, 1-15.

Jousselin, D.; MORALES, L.F.G.; Stephant, A. From isotropic to layered gabbro: evolution record in the Oman ophiolite. Earth and Planetary Science Letters (accepted, 11/2011).

 Kruhl, J.; Wirth, R.; MORALES, L.F.G. Quartz grain boundaries as fluid pathways in metamorphic rocks. Earth and Planetary Science Letters (submitted 07/2011).

Wirth, R.; MORALES, L.F.G. Combined FIB-SEM-TEM techniques: modern tools to resolve microstructures and minerals phases in sedimentary rocks. In: Sylvester, P. (Ed.). Quantitative Mineralogy and Microanalysis of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. Mineralogical Society of Canada (submitted, 11/2011).