Staff Scientists

Reinhard (Reini) Boehler works on a broad range of problems in high pressure science and technology, particularly those related to major energy challenges.. He will work on a broad range of problems in high pressure science and technology, particularly those related to major energy challenges. His research interests include the thermal properties of metals at very high pressure, the adiabatic gradient, thermal expansivity of simple metals, as well as Earth mantle and core materials. He obtained a Ph.D and MS in mineralogy, and a BS in chemistry and physics from Universität Tübingen, Germany in 1974, 1970 and 1968.

George D. Cody specializes in chemical-structural analyses of solid phase organics. His research is focused on determining the diagenetic reactions that define organic sediment maturation. Other interests include examining the molecular structure of extraterrestrial organic solids contained within carbonaceous chondritic meteorites and more recently, comets. He received a Ph.D in geosciences from Pennsylvania State University in 1992, and a BSc in geology from University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1982.

Ronald E. Cohen's primary focus is the study of materials through first principles research including properties of materials under extreme conditions such as high pressure and temperature. His research is applied to topics and problems in geophysics and technological materials. He obtained a Ph.D in geology from Harvard University in 1985, and a BSc in geology from Indiana University in 1979.

Yingwei Fei examines materials at high pressure and temperature. He is interested in phase transitions, element partitioning, melting relations, chemical reactions and physical properties with applications to geophysics, petrology, mineral physics, geochemistry and planetary sciences. He obtained a Ph.D in geochemistry from City University of New York in 1989 and a BSc in geochemistry from Zhejiang University, China in 1982.

Marilyn L. Fogel's research revolves around the stable isotopic biogeochemistry of modern and fossil ecosystems. She uses stable isotopes to trace biochemical and geochemical processes. She received a Ph.D in botany from the University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute in 1977 and a BSc in biology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1973.

Alexander F. Goncharov's research concentrates on analyzing materials under extreme conditions such as high pressure and temperature using optical spectroscopy and other techniques. He received a Ph.D in physics from the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Spectroscopy in 1983, and a combined MA and MSc in physics from the Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology in 1979.

Robert M. Hazen's research encompasses the origins of life and emergence of pre-biotic chemical complexity. Topics of particular interest include the interactions between crystalline solids and organic molecules and the co-evolution of geo- and biospheres. he obtained a Ph.D in mineralogy and crystallography from Harvard University in 1975, and a BSc and SM in earth science from Massachusetts Institute for Technology in 1970 and 1971.

Russell J. Hemley is the director of the Geophysical Laboratory. His research examines the properties of materials at high-pressures and its applications to geophysics, geochemistry and planetary science, as well as to theoretical condensed-matter physics and chemistry. He uses optical spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and diamond-cell techniques to conduct high-pressure experimental and theoretical studies in condensed-matter physics, earth and planetary science and materials science. He obtained a Ph.D and MA in physical chemistry from Harvard University in 1983 and 1980, and received a BA in chemistry and philosophy from Wesleyan University in 1977.

Wesley T. Huntress, Jr. is director emeritus of the Geophysical Laboratory. His research examines the chemical processes occurring within the interstellar medium, comets, and planetary atmospheres. He received a Ph.D in chemical physics from Stanford University in 1968, and a BSc in chemistry from Brown University in 1964. He served as project scientist for planetary flight missions at Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1980s and at NASA as Director of Solar System Exploration and Associate Administrator for Space Science in the 1990s.

T. Neil Irvine is a staff member emeritus at the Geophysical Laboratory. His areas of interest include field, analytical and experimental studies of petrology, ore deposits, tectonic settings and layered igneous intrusions. He obtained a Ph.D in economic geology and geochemistry from California Institute of Technology in 1959, and a BSc and MS from University of Manitoba, Canada in 1953 and 1956.

Ho-kwang Mao's research centers on ultra-high pressure physics, chemistry, material sciences, geophysics, geochemistry and planetary sciences using diamond-anvil cell techniques that he has pioneered. He received a Ph.D and MSc from University of Rochester in 1968 and 1966, and a BSc in geology from National University in Taiwan, China in 1963.

Bjørn O. Mysen's areas of research include experimental high-temperature and pressure analyses, investigations into the properties and processes of rock-formation and related materials with an emphasis on melting. He is also interested in examining the phase relations of mantle materials, fluids in melting processes, the properties and structure of melts and glasses, element partitioning between minerals, fluids and melts at high-pressures and temperatures. He obtained a Ph.D in geochemistry from Pennsylvania State University in 1974, and a BSc and MA from University of Oslo in 1969 and 1971.

Douglas Rumble III uses the stable isotopes of oxygen and sulfur to explore the evolution of Earth's atmosphere by analyzing ancient rocks and to understand the origin of the Solar System through study of meteorites. He obtained a Ph.D in geological sciences from Harvard University in 1969, and a BA in geology from Columbia University in 1964.

Anat Shahar's research focuses on stable isotope geochemistry at high pressure and/or temperature. She conducts high P/T experiments and traces the isotopes to answer questions that span from the formation of the first solids in the solar system to the formation of the cores of planets. She obtained a Ph.D. in geochemistry from UCLA in 2008, and a M.Eng. and B.S. from Cornell University in 2003 and 2002.

Andrew Steele uses traditional and biotechnological approaches for the detection of microbial life in astrobiology and solar system exploration. He received a Ph.D in biotechnology from the University of Portsmouth, U.K. in 1996, and a BSc in microbiology and biochemistry from the University of Central Lancashire, U.K. in 1992.

Viktor V. Struzhkin focuses on experimental research at high pressures. He undertakes transport and magnetic measurements, and applies optical and synchrotron spectroscopy techniques to geophysics, planetary science and condensed-matter physics research. He obtained a Ph.D in solid-state physics from Institute for High Pressure Physics, Russian Academy of Science in 1991 and a combined BSc and MSc in physics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia in 1980.