Robert N. Ulrich

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Robert N. Ulrich Robert N Ulrich 595 Charles E Young Drive East, Slichter Hall RM 2855 Los Angeles, CA 90095 [email protected] — https://www.robertnulrich.com/ — (703) 851-7276 Education University of California, Los Angeles September 2017 – Present Ph.D., Geochemistry Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University August 2013 – May 2017 B.S., Chemistry B.S., Geosciences Honors and Awards National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow Fall 2018 - Present Reclaiming STEM Cohort Member (Inaugural class) Summer 2018 - Present Center for Diverse Leadership in Science Graduate Fellow Summer 2018 - Present COACh Travel Scholarship ($800) Fall 2018 Point Foundation Scholarship Semifinalist Spring 2018 Scientist Biography feature in book for Pearson Education’s Elevate Science California Program Fall 2017 Short biography in new textbooks to showcase scientists from underrepresented groups and their research UCLA Office of Instructional Development Mini-grant ($250) Fall 2017 To help pay for transportation to take students on a field trip for Env Sci M10 – Introduction to Environmental Science UCLA Graduate Division Fellowship Award ($10,000) Fall 2017 Thomas T. Jeffries Endowed Fund Scholarship ($1,000) Spring 2016 Dean’s List All semesters 2014 - 2017 Research Experience University of California, Los Angeles – Advisor, Dr. Aradhna Tripati (current projects) September 2017 – Present Graduate Student Researcher, Using multiple geochemical tracers to shed light on a newly-discovered major mineral formation pathway for biominerals Purpose: To determine the effects of the amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor on the clumped isotope signatures of crystalline polymorphs of calcium carbonate in both inorganic and organic syntheses Graduate Student Researcher, Assessing the impact of changing seawater carbonate chemistry on 13C-18O bond ordering and 18O/16O ratios of biogenic marine carbonates Purpose: To determine the effect of the pH and biomineral formation pathway on the clumped isotope signatures of biogenic carbonates from marine organisms Graduate Student Researcher, Molecular dynamics modeling of assessing energetics of near-surface fractionation of trace elements and stable isotope ratios in calcite and calcite nanocrystals Purpose: To theoretically quantify the energetics of stable isotopes in varying locations within a calcite crystal slab and nanocrystal in the context of clumping Virginia Tech Biogeochemistry Lab – Advisor, Dr. Patricia Dove June 2015 – June 2017 Undergraduate Student Researcher, Solubility and Local Structure of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) as a Function of Magnesium Content Purpose: Quantify the solubility product, Ksp, of ACC at standard temperature and pressure using experimental methods 2+ - that determine the effect of Mg and HCO3 concentrations Techniques: pH measurements, flow-through experiments, XRD, SEM, APS synchrotron Undergraduate Student Researcher, Towards and Understanding of Composition Systematics in the Exoskeleton of the American Lobster, Homarus americanus Purpose: Quantify distribution of elements magnesium, calcium, strontium, and phosphorus in the mineral and organic components of the lobster exoskeleton and determine relationships to the function of body components. Techniques: chemical extraction, ICP-OES, pH measurements, titrations Virginia Tech Sedimentary Systems Lab – Advisor, Dr. Brian Romans August – December 2014 Undergraduate Student Researcher, Petrographic characterization of axial versus marginal submarine channel sandstones, Tres Pasos Formation Purpose: Determine relationships between location within an oil field reservoir and quality or type of sediment. This study also developed and tested new image-analysis software workflows to streamline future research. Techniques: microscopy, Leica software Industry Experience Geochemistry Intern, S.S. Papadopulos & Associates, Inc., Bethesda, MD June 2017 – September 2017 Publications Sebastian T Mergelsberg, James J De Yoreo, Robert N Ulrich, J Donald Rimstidt, F Marc Michel, Patricia M Dove (in adv. prep.) Solubility and Local Structure of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) as a Function of Magnesium Content. Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Robert N Ulrich, Shuhai Xiao, Patricia M Dove (submitted) Towards an Understanding of Composition Systematics in the Exoskeleton of the American Lobster, Homarus americanus. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Published Abstracts and Presentations Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Robert N Ulrich, Shuhai Xiao, Patricia M Dove (2017) Distribution of magnesium and phosphorus in the H. americanus exoskeleton: Insights for chemical signatures in biominerals. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. New Orleans, LA. Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Robert N Ulrich, Patricia M Dove (2017) The Solubility of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate(s) (ACC): Toward and Understanding of Chemical and Structural Evolution During Mineralization. Geological Society of America National Meeting. Seattle, WA. Robert N Ulrich, Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Patricia M Dove (2017) Distribution of Magnesium and Phosphorus in the H. Americanus Exoskeleton: Insights for Chemical Signatures in Biominerals. Geoscience Student Research Symposium. Blacksburg, VA. Robert N Ulrich, Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Patricia M Dove (2016) Exoskeleton Heterogeneity in Crustaceans: Quantifying Compositional and Structural Variations across body parts in H. americanus. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA. Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Robert N Ulrich, F Marc Michel, Patricia M Dove (2016) Influence of Magnesium Content on the Local Structure of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC): Real Time Determination by In Situ PDF Analysis. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA. Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Robert N Ulrich, Patricia M Dove (2016) Morphological Dependence of Element Stoichiometry in the H. americanus Exoskeleton. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA. Robert N Ulrich, Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Patricia M Dove (2016) Dependence of exoskeleton composition on the mineral, protein, and chitin components in the American Lobster, H. americanus. Geoscience Student Research Symposium. Blacksburg, VA. Robert N Ulrich, Sebastian T Mergelsberg, Patricia M Dove (2015) Morphological dependence of element distributions in the organic and mineral fractions of the H. americanus exoskeleton. Geological Society of America National Meeting. Baltimore, MD. Teaching Experience Graduate Writing Consultant, UCLA Graduate Writing Center, Los Angeles, CA September 2018 – Present Graduate Teaching Assistant, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Blacksburg, VA Fall 2017 Introduction to Environmental Science (M 10) Teaching Assistant, Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry Spring 2016 – 2017 General Chemistry (CHEM 1035 & 1036) Private Tutor, Blacksburg, VA May 2015 – 2017 Tutored undergraduates in general chemistry and environmental geochemistry Chemistry Tutor, Virginia Tech Dept. of Chemistry, Alpha Chi Sigma August 2014 – May 2015 Tutored undergraduates in general, analytical, physical, and environmental chemistry Science Communication Writer, Climate Currents, University of California, Los Angeles, CA August 2018 – Present Social Media & Communications Liaison, CDLS, University of California, Los Angeles, CA October 2017 – Present Service and Leadership Founder & President, Queers in STEM, University of California, Los Angeles, CA October 2017 – Present Leadership Team, Center for Diverse Leadership in Science (CDLS) October 2017 – Present Mentor, Queers in STEM Mentorship Program, University of California, Los Angeles March 2018 – Present Queer Alliance Representative, Queer Alliance, University of California, Los Angeles March 2018 – Present Letters to a Pre-Scientist Pen Pal, Letters to a Pre-Scientist September 2018 – Present Volunteer, OCDS Spring Science & Engineering Showcase for Community College Students, Los Angeles, CA May 2018 Mentor, Pride Admit Weekend Campus Resource Fair, University of California, Los Angeles, CA April 2018 Mentor, PEERS Research Networking Event, University of California, Los Angeles, CA November 2017 Panelist, “Applying to Graduate School” Panel, University of California, Los Angeles, CA November 2017 Geology Booth, Exploring Your Universe Science Festival, Los Angeles, CA November 2017 Mentor, Organization of Cultural Diversity in Science Fall Science Showcase, Los Angeles, CA October 2017 Program Ambassador, Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry April 2016 – May 2017 Student Volunteer, The Big Event, Blacksburg, VA All semesters 2013 – 2017 Student Volunteer, Relay for Life, Blacksburg VA All semesters 2013 – 2017 Workshops Observed COAChing Strong Academics in the Art of Strategic Persuasion, COACh at SACNAS, San Antonio, TX October 2018 How to be an Ally: From Awareness to Action, University of California, Los Angeles, CA May 2018 For anyone looking to promote effective to help promote inclusion Preparedness: How Students Learn, University of California, Los Angeles, CA September 2017 Preparedness: The Nuts & Bolts of Lesson Planning, University of California, Los Angeles, CA September 2017 Preparedness: Creating Inclusive Classrooms, University of California, Los Angeles, CA September 2017 Getting Their Attention: How to Talk to Policymakers, AGU Sharing Science, Arlington, VA August 2017 Affiliations Alpha Chi Sigma Professional Chemistry Fraternity (AXS) American Chemical Society (ACS) American Geophysical Union (AGU) Center for Diverse Leadership in Science (CDLS) Geochemical Society Geological Society of America (GSA) Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Scientists (LAGLS) National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP) Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispancs and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Out in STEM (oSTEM) Queer Alliance (QA) Queers in STEM (QSTEM) .
Recommended publications
  • ESD Distinguished Scientist Seminar Series
    94720 Berkeley, CA Road One Cyclotron Laboratory National Berkeley Lawrence Earth SciencesDivision DIRECTIONS By BART Take the Richmond line to the downtown Berkeley exit -- not the North Berkeley exit, and not the Ashby exit, just the Berkeley exit. Get off at the Berkeley exit, go up to the street level, and find our shuttle bus stop. It is on the north side of Center Street at its intersection with Shattuck Avenue next to the bank automatic teller machine. By LBNL Bus You can then take the shuttle bus to the Lab. ESD Distinguished Please note, visitors are required to bring visitor bus pass (can be requested through Visitor Pass Scientist Seminar site https://visitorpass.lbl.gov/public_html/login.jsp), Series email, or permission from lab host written on department letterhead. Please contact Yingying Kooyman at 510-486-4539 or at Topic: Investigating the physical basis [email protected] for details. of biomineralization Speaker: Patricia Dove By Car Virginia Tech Take Highway 80 to the University Avenue exit. 10:30 AM-12:00 noon Drive east on University Avenue until Oxford Bldg. 50 Auditorium Street. Turn left on Oxford. Go two blocks to Hearst Street. Turn right on Hearst until you hit Friday, January 15, 2010 LBNL. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory For inquiries, please contact: Caption describing picture or graphic. Yingying Kooyman 510-486-4539 Web site: http://esdnews.wordpress.com/distinguished- scientist-seminar-series/ ABSTRACT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH SCHEDULE The ability of organisms to mineralize Patricia M. Dove is a Professor of tissues into skeletons and other Geochemistry in the Department of functional structures is a crowning Geosciences at Virginia Tech.
    [Show full text]
  • 2013 Annual VAS & VJAS Meetings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And
    Volume XXIII, Issue 2 September-October, 2013 2013 Annual VAS & VJAS Meetings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Tech President, Charles W. Steger, and Senior Vice President and Provost, Mark McNamee, welcomed attendees at the 91st VAS and 72nd VJAS Annual Meetings with warm hospitality and exciting STEM offerings, May 21-24, 2013. Special thanks go to the Local Ar- rangements Committee Co-Chairs, Peter Kennelly and Ashley Roberts, her capable staff, and everyone at Tech who contributed their time, effort, expertise, and financial support to make this event a success. Virginia Tech faculty provided one of many highlights; almost every Tech undergraduate and graduate STEM pro- Virginia Tech ,President, gram was represented in the Exhibits/ Dr. Charles W. Steger Posters Hall! It was a great experience for everyone, to be able to share their interests with so many Tech professors. For three days, the Junior Academy, immersed 1,000 Virginia students, teachers, mentors, and several parents, in the STEM- rich atmosphere of one of America’s premier research universi- ties. Over $40,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded. Dr. Peter Kennelly at the VAS & VJAS Career Fair Over 924 submitted papers were reviewed and commented on 2013 Annual Meeting by a three-member Continued, See “Annual Meeting at Tech,” Page 2 Fall Undergraduate Research Conference Submission Deadline: October 4, 2013 The Fall Undergraduate Research Conference to inspire and support Virginia’s future scientists will convene on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. All Faculty mentors through-out the Commonwealth are invited to encour- age their undergraduate students to submit grant appli- cations describing proposed investigations by the deadline: October 4, 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • Acceptance of the Dana Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America for 2002
    American Mineralogist, Volume 88, pages 947–948, 2003 Acceptance of the Dana Medal of the Mineralogical Society of America for 2002 MICHAEL F. HOCHELLA JR. Nanogeoscience and Technology Laboratory, Department of Geological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, U.S.A. I read several years ago about a Noble Laureate in chemis- try who was being interviewed by a reporter. He was asked what it takes to win a Noble Prize. Without hesitation, the chem- ist said that it took three things. First, being a genius was defi- nitely not required. Being reasonably intelligent was perfectly fine. Second, you needed to be a hard worker. (I remember thinking at that point in reading this story that the great major- ity of all successful scientists that I have ever known have ful- filled these two criteria. What then was the third, and presumably deciding factor, which resulted in winning a Nobel Prize. I read on anxiously.) Third, you not only had to be at the right place at the right time, but you had to be very, very fortu- nate! Indeed. And that is why I never even gave serious thought to winning a science prize of any sort. Not to mention that I have been accused in the past of being a dilettante geochemist. That comment must have had some element of truth because it struck a nerve. The proper response to that kind of comment is, FIGURE 1. The state of the Nanogeoscience and Technology “Don’t you ever call me a geochemist!” as I learned from my Laboratory in the Department of Geological Sciences at Virginia Tech wife, Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Robert N. Ulrich
    Robert N Ulrich 11000 Weyburn Dr. Apt 724 Los Angeles, CA 90024 [email protected] — (703) 851-7276 Education University of California, Los Angeles September 2017 – Present Ph.D., Geochemistry Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University August 2013 – May 2017 B.S., Chemistry, 3.52 GPA B.S., Geosciences, 3.74 GPA Research Experience University of California, Los Angeles – Advisor, Dr. Aradhna Tripati September 2017 – Present Graduate Student Researcher, Using multiple geochemical tracers to shed light on a newly-discovered major mineral formation pathway for biominerals Purpose: To determine the effect of the amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor on the clumped isotope signatures of crystalline polymorphs of calcium carbonate in both inorganic and organic synthesis. Techniques: GC-MS, vacuum line, acid digestion, apparatus design, flow-through experiments Virginia Tech Biogeochemistry Lab – Advisor, Dr. Patricia Dove June 2015 – June 2017 Undergraduate Student Researcher, The Mg-dependent solubility and local structure of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) Purpose: Quantify the solubility product, Ksp, of ACC at standard temperature and pressure using 2+ - experimental methods that determine the effect of Mg and HCO3 concentrations. Techniques: pH measurements, flow-through experiments, XRD, SEM, APS synchrotron Undergraduate Student Researcher, Establishing Composition Systematics in the American Lobster Homarus americanus Purpose: Quantify distribution of elements magnesium, calcium, strontium, and phosphorus in the mineral and organic components of the lobster exoskeleton and determine relationships to the function of body components. Techniques: chemical extraction, ICP-OES, pH measurements, titrations Virginia Tech Sedimentary Systems Lab – Advisor, Dr. Brian Romans August – December 2014 Undergraduate Student Researcher, Petrographic characterization of axial versus marginal submarine channel sandstones, Tres Pasos Formation Purpose: Determine relationships between location within an oil field reservoir and quality or type of sediment.
    [Show full text]
  • A Natural Laboratory for Fundamental Geochemistry
    Analytical and Isotopic Geochemistry Picture of Andesine being replaced by Albite from Lee Riciputi, Oak Ridge National Laboratory from Rico, CO. Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center Gaithersburg, MD June 5-6, 2005 FORWARD “Analytical and Isotopic Geochemistry” is the twelfth in a series of Geosciences Research Program Symposia dating from 1995. These symposia are topically focused meetings for principal investigators in the program and provide opportunities for our investigators to give presentations on their Office of Basic Energy Sciences’ supported research. In addition to the recognition the symposium gives to all of the investigators, we traditionally also recognize one outstanding contribution from a DOE Laboratory Project and one from a University Project. The outstanding contributions are selected by our session chairpersons. We are fortunate to have as guest session co-chairs Professor William McDonough from the University of Maryland at College Park, Professor Joel Blum from the University of Michigan, Professor John Hanchar from the Memorial University of Newfoundland and Professor Louis Derry from Cornell University. They join our Principal Investigator co-chairs Professor Patricia Dove of Virginia Tech, Professor R. James Kirkpatrick from the University of Illinois, Professor Satish Myneni from Princeton University and Dr. Jeffrey Seewald from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. For their efforts on behalf of the investigators I thank them all. We are looking forward to an outstanding series of presentations. Nicholas B. Woodward Geosciences Research Program Office of Basic Energy Sciences U.S. Department of Energy * * * * * Table of Contents Agenda…………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Abstracts (listed in chronological order) Session 1 (June 5, A.M.)………………….……………………………………… 7 Session 2 (June 5, P.M.).………………………………………………………… 17 Session 3 (June 6, A.M.)…………………...........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Geochemical News the Geochemical News
    July 2005 1 TTHEHE GGEOCHEMICALEOCHEMICAL NNEWSEWS Newsletter of The Geochemical Society in cooperation with The European Association of Geochemistry The Goldschmidt Issue: Another Successful VMGC: Moscow, Idaho Preview: Melbourne, Australia in 2006 July 2005 Number 124 ISSN 0016-7010 Newsletter of the Geochemical Society 2 The Geochemical News EAG OFFICERS - 2005 PRESIDENT Bruce Yardley, Leeds, UK VICE-PRESIDENT Alex Halliday, Oxford, UK OUTGOING PRESIDENT Terry Seward, ETH, Zurich TREASURER Catherine Chauvel, Grenoble, France SECRETARY Eric Oelkers, Toulouse, France EAG COMMITTEE THE GEOCHEMICAL SOCIETY MIRA BAR-MATTHEWS, ISREAL Larryn Diamond, Switzerland Jérôme GAILLARDET, FRANCE Alex Halliday, Switzerland SUSAN STIPP, DENMARK Riccardo Vannucci, Italy The Geochemical Society is a nonprofit scientific society founded to en- GERHARD WORNER, GERMANY Bruce Yardley, UK courage the application of chemistry to the solution of geological and cosmologi- cal problems. Membership is international and diverse in background, encom- passing such fields as organic geochemistry, high- and low-temperature geochem- THE GEOCHEMICAL NEWS istry, petrology, meteoritics, fluid-rock interaction, and isotope geochemistry. The Society produces a Special Publications Series, The Geochemical News (this July 2005 quarterly newsletter), the Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry Series (jointly with the Mineralogical Society of America), the journal Geochimica et Editors Cosmochimica Acta (jointly with the Meteoritical Society), and co-publishes the Johnson R. Haas and Carla M. Koretsky electronic journal G3 (jointly with the American Geophysical Union: AGU); grants Department of Geosciences the V.M. Goldschmidt, F.W. Clarke and Clair C. Patterson Awards, and, jointly Western Michigan University with the European Association of Geochemistry (EAG), the Geochemistry Fel- Kalamazoo, MI 49008 lows title; sponsors the V.M.
    [Show full text]
  • Nanoscale Effects of Strontium on Calcite Growth: a Baseline for Understanding Biomineralization in the Absence of Vital Effects
    Nanoscale Effects of Strontium on Calcite Growth: A Baseline for Understanding Biomineralization in the Absence of Vital Effects Darren Scott Wilson Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geological Sciences Patricia M. Dove, Chair J. Donald Rimstidt James. J. De Yoreo May 8, 2003 Blacksburg, Virginia Keywords: Biomineralization, Calcite, Strontium, Growth, Atomic Force Microscopy Copyright 2003, Darren Scott Wilson Nanoscale Effects of Strontium on Calcite Growth: A Baseline for Understanding Biomineralization in the Absence of Vital Effects Darren Scott Wilson (ABSTRACT) This study uses in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) to directly observe the atomic scale effects of Sr on the monomolecular layer growth of abiotic calcite. These insights are coupled with quantitative measurements of the kinetics and thermodynamics of growth to determine the direction-specific effects of Sr on the positive and negative surface coordination environments that characterize calcite step edges. Low concentrations of strontium enhance calcite growth rate through changes in kinetics. A new conceptual model is introduced to explain this behavior. Higher concentrations of strontium inhibit and ultimately stop calcite growth by a step blocking mechanism. The critical supersaturation required to initiate growth (s*) increases with increasing levels of strontium. At higher supersaturations, strontium causes growth rates to increase to levels greater than those for the pure system. The step blocking model proposed by Cabrera and Vermilyea in 1958 does not predict the experimental data reported in this study because the dependence of s* upon strontium concentration is not the same for all supersaturations.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Fall Newsletter Department of Geosciences Welcome to the Techtonic!
    The TECHtonic 2019 Fall Newsletter Department of Geosciences Welcome to The TECHtonic! Dear Friends and Alumni of VT-Geosciences, Welcome to the latest issue of The TECHTonic, where you’ll find stories about the impact that our students, staff, faculty and alumni are having around the world. In this issue you’ll read about the department’s continued successes in research, learning, and engagement. You will meet new Assistant Professor Megan Duncan (p. 4), who strengthens our petrology and planetary science groups; reacquaint yourself with Maddy Schreiber, a professor of hydrology celebrating her 20th year on the faculty (p. 2); say “happy trails” to long-time faculty member Mike Hochella, who retired this year (p. 9); and bid farewell to Research Professor Bob Lowell, who sadly passed away this year (p. 8). You’ll read about our award-winning faculty and students, including Shuhai Xiao (p. 1), who was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and our many student scholarship winners. Of particular note in this issue are some opportunities for TABLE OF CONTENTS alumni and friends to stay involved in the life of the department. These include participation in the upcoming Switzerland Study Abroad trip this fall (p. 10), as well as the annual Spring Banquet 1 Dr. Shuhai Xiao - AAAS Fellow and Alumni Dinner (p. 11). The department — and especially 2 Dr. Madeline Schreiber Leader in our students — are benefitting greatly from increasing involvement of our alumni, from our new alumni-student Geohydrolgogy mentoring program to an upswing in philanthropic giving.
    [Show full text]
  • Theg Eochemicaln
    TTNumberHEHE 121, GG OctoberEOCHEMICALEOCHEMICAL 2004 NNEEWWSS 1 Newsletter of The Geochemical Society in cooperation with The European Association of Geochemistry NUMBER 121 ISSN 0016-7010 OCTOBER 2004 • Goldschmidt 2003: A Copenhagen Retrospective • A Preview of Goldschmidt 2004: A Voyage of Discovery •Roland Wollast, Remembered Newsletter of the Geochemical Society 2 The Geochemical News EAG OFFICERS - 2004 PRESIDENT Terry Seward, ETH, Zurich PRESIDENT ELECT Bruce Yardley, Leeds, UK OUTGOING PRESIDENT Francis Albarede, Lyon, France TREASURER Catherine Chauvel, Grenoble, France SECRETARY Mark Hodson, Reading, UK EAG COMMITTEE THE GEOCHEMICAL SOCIETY MIRA BAR-MATTHEWS, ISREAL Larryn Diamond, Switzerland Jérôme GAILLARDET, FRANCE Alex Halliday, Switzerland SUSAN STIPP, DENMARK Riccardo Vannucci, Italy The Geochemical Society is a nonprofit scientific society founded to en- GERHARD WORNER, GERMANY Bruce Yardley, UK courage the application of chemistry to the solution of geological and cosmologi- cal problems. Membership is international and diverse in background, encom- passing such fields as organic geochemistry, high- and low-temperature geochem- THE GEOCHEMICAL NEWS istry, petrology, meteoritics, fluid-rock interaction, and isotope geochemistry. The Society produces a Special Publications Series, The Geochemical News (this October 2004 quarterly newsletter), the Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry Series (jointly with the Mineralogical Society of America), the journal Geochimica et Editors Cosmochimica Acta (jointly with the Meteoritical Society), and co-publishes the Johnson R. Haas (Dept of Geosciences) electronic journal G3 (jointly with the American Geophysical Union: AGU); grants Carla M. Koretsky (Dept of Geosciences) the V.M. Goldschmidt, F.W. Clarke and Clair C. Patterson Awards, and, jointly Western Michigan University with the European Association of Geochemistry (EAG), the Geochemistry Fel- Kalamazoo, MI 49008 lows title; sponsors the V.M.
    [Show full text]
  • Scientists Uncover Speedometer for Crystal Growth Controlled by Biomolecule Properties 4 December 2006
    Scientists uncover speedometer for crystal growth controlled by biomolecule properties 4 December 2006 From gemstones to transistors, crystals are the findings result in a speedometer that predicts everywhere in our daily lives. Crystals also make the type of molecules that will speed up (or not) up the mineralized skeletons of all organisms, crystal growth. including seashells and our own teeth and bones. Perhaps the most widely used biominerals are The new insights predict the growth enhancing found in the calcium carbonate family. abilities of amino acids, peptide chains and also Understanding how this mineral forms is of explain recent reports of very large growth particular interest because of its widespread enhancing effects by natural proteins extracted occurrence over geologic history and its close from the shells of abalone. relation to the calcium phosphate found in the bones and teeth of all mammals. Their findings add to intrigue of how proteins and other biomolecules rearrange local water to affect One ongoing question is how organisms form many different aspects of biological systems. To these mineralized structures, or biominerals, at a now show that this restructuring also influences the controlled rate, sometimes very rapidly until growth of crystals adds new momentum to this attaining the prescribed size. For reasons not well research area. understood, this process can also go astray, leading to underdevelopment or unwanted growth In addition to better understanding how organisms such as kidney stones. The speed of mineral can form biominerals with sophisticated shapes, formation in both normal and pathological insights to the roles of biology in crystal formation development can sometimes be surprisingly fast.
    [Show full text]
  • GN 127 Take2
    April 2006 1 TTHEHE GGEOCHEMICALEOCHEMICAL NNEWSEWS Newsletter of The Geochemical Society in cooperation with The European Association of Geochemistry INSIDE: Geochemistry Down Under: Meeting Details and Information The Waste Tire Problem: A Solution Through Combustion? April 2006 Number 127 ISSN 0016-7010 Newsletter of the Geochemical Society 2 The Geochemical News EAG OFFICERS - 2006 PRESIDENT Bruce Yardley, Leeds, UK VICE-PRESIDENT Alex Halliday, Oxford, UK OUTGOING PRESIDENT Terry Seward, ETH, Zurich TREASURER Catherine Chauvel, Grenoble, France SECRETARY Eric Oelkers, Toulouse, France EAG COMMITTEE THE GEOCHEMICAL SOCIETY MIRA BAR-MATTHEWS, ISREAL Larryn Diamond, Switzerland Jérôme GAILLARDET, FRANCE Alex Halliday, Switzerland The Geochemical Society is a nonprofit scientific society founded to encourage SUSAN STIPP, DENMARK Riccardo Vannucci, Italy the application of chemistry to the solution of geological and cosmological prob- GERHARD WORNER, GERMANY Bruce Yardley, UK lems. Membership is international and diverse in background, encompassing such fields as organic geochemistry, high- and low-temperature geochemistry, petrol- ogy, meteoritics, fluid-rock interaction, and isotope geochemistry. The Society THE GEOCHEMICAL NEWS produces a Special Publications Series, The Geochemical News (this quarterly newsletter), the Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry Series (jointly with April 2006 the Mineralogical Society of America), the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (jointly with the Meteoritical Society), and co-publishes the electronic jour- Editors nal G3 (jointly with the American Geophysical Union: AGU); grants the V.M. Johnson R. Haas and Carla M. Koretsky Goldschmidt, F.W. Clarke and Clair C. Patterson Awards, and, jointly with the Department of Geosciences European Association of Geochemistry (EAG), the Geochemistry Fellows title; Western Michigan University sponsors the V.M.
    [Show full text]
  • Establishing the Physical Basis for Calcification by Amorphous Pathways
    Establishing the Physical Basis for Calcification by Amorphous Pathways Christina R. Blue Dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Geosciences Patricia M. Dove, chair J. Donald Rimstidt Michael F. Hochella, Jr. Shuhai Xiao May 2, 2014 Blacksburg, Va Keywords: ACC, magnesium, pH, partitioning, mixed flow reactor, calcite, polymorphs © Christina R. Blue, 2014 ESTABLISHING THE PHYSICAL BASIS FOR CALCIFICATION BY AMORPHOUS PATHWAYS Christina R. Blue ABSTRACT The scientific community is undergoing a paradigm shift with the realization that the formation of carbonate minerals with diverse compositions and textures can be understood within the framework of multiple pathways to mineralization. A variety of common minerals can form via an amorphous pathway, where molecules or clusters aggregate to form a metastable amorphous phase that later transforms to one or more crystalline polymorphs. Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is now recognized in a wide variety of natural environments. Recent studies indicate the chemical signatures and properties of the carbonate polymorphs that transform from an ACC pathway may obey a different set of dependencies than those established for the “classical” step-growth process. The Mg content of ACC and calcite is of particular interest as a minor element that is frequently found in ACC and the final crystalline products of calcified skeletons or sediments at significant concentrations. Previous studies of ACC have provided important insights into ACC properties, but a quantitative understanding of the controls on ACC composition and the effect of mineralization pathway on Mg signatures in calcite has not been established.
    [Show full text]