Philippa is an Earth and planetary geologist specialising in the use of satellite imagery to study rocks, minerals, geology, geomorphology and the environment. Her teaching and research also involves the translation of terrestrial techniques in Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and imaging spectroscopy to assist in the understanding of geological features and processes on other Earth-like planets, such as Venus and Mars.

She is a member of both the NASA VenSAR Science Team (VeST) for the EnVision Venus, mission, and of ESA Science Study Team (SST) during mission phases Phase 0, A and B1. EnVision will be heading to Venus in Nov 2031 and is aimed at gaining a better understanding the geology and climate of Venus, our neighbouring planet, helping determine whether it might once have been habitable in its past.