mpilogo4.gif (18819 bytes)The Mineral Physics Institute

           Staff Roster
 

Scientific Staff
Kenneth Baldwin (Senior Technical Associate) Manages the X-ray diffraction and computing facilities including software for the control and operation of the SAM-85 apparatus and other diffraction equipment.

 
Frederick Bejina (Collaborating Scientist: University of Toulouse, France) Study of atomic diffusion in mantle minerals in multi-anvil apparatus; use of nuclear microanalysis techniques to measure diffusion profiles.

 
Jiuhua Chen (Research Associate Professor). In-situ monochromatic x-ray diffraction studies with synchrotron radiations. Mechanism and kinetics of phase transitions. Phase equilibrium, crystallography and rheology of minerals at high pressures and temperatures.

 
Gabriel Gwanmesia (Adjunct Associate Professor Delaware State University) Synthesis and hot-pressing of polycrystalline aggregates of high-pressure phases of mantle minerals and characterization by optical and electron microscopy and ultrasonic techniques.

 
Jennifer Kung (Postdoctoral Research Fellow: Ph. D. Australian National University, 1998) In situ ultrasonic measurements of the elasticity of mantle minerals at simultaneous high pressures and temperatures in multi-anvil apparatus.

 
Baosheng Li (Research Assistant Professor). In situ ultrasonic measurements of the elasticity of mantle minerals at simultaneous high pressures and temperatures in multi-anvil apparatus.

 
Robert Liebermann (Distinguished Service Professor). Elasticity of high-pressure phases of mantle minerals Mechanisms and kinetics of phase transformations in silicates at high-pressures and temperatures using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Control and characterization of specimen environment in multi-anvil apparatus.

 
Donald Lindsley (Distinguished Professor). Pyroxene phase equilibria at high-pressures and temperatures and calibration of various geothermometers and geobarometers.

 
Hanna Nekvasil (Professor). Thermodynamic modeling of melts and solids integrated with experimental investigations of phase equilibria.

 
John Parise (Professor). Crystallography and synthetic solid-state chemistry of earth materials, particularly transition metal oxide, and silicate and sulfide framework structures X-ray and neutron diffraction studies at high pressures and temperatures.

 
Glenn A. Richard (Educational Coordinator) Develops interactive hands-on instructional tools and programs that focus on the nature of the Earth's interior for use in secondary school science programs and workshops on the use of these tools and programs for teachers.

 
Michael Vaughan (Research Associate Professor) In situ X-ray diffraction studies using synchrotron radiation at NSLS with multi-anvil, high-pressure apparatus (SAM85). Responsible for apparatus development and training and oversight of internal and external users of the SAM85 apparatus.

 
Donald J. Weidner (Professor and Director of CHiPR). Equations of state of solids at high pressures and temperatures using in situ X-ray diffraction at NSLS and multi-anvil apparatus Brillouin spectroscopy of high-pressure phases as a function of pressure and for temperature.

 
Jianzhong Zhang (Post-doctoral Fellow, Ph.D., Brooklyn College, CUNY, 1992). Melting of and subsolidus phase equilibria studies in multi-anvil apparatus. In situ X-ray diffraction studies using multi anvil-apparatus.

 

Administrative Staff
Ann Cox (Staff Assistant)Supervises undergraduate project aides in proper processing of mass mailings and collation of MPI publicity materials.  

 
Owen Evans (Administrative Coordinator) Oversees administrative and budget functions in the Center for High Pressure Research.

 
Shirley King (Administrative Assistant to Director of MPI) Responsible for daily operations in the administrative office of the Mineral Physics Institute.

 

Ann Lattimore (Administrative Assistant to Director of COMPRES) Responsible for daily operations in the administrative office of the COMPRES;  designs  MPI and COMPRES publicity posters and brochures, coordinates production of publicity materials with professional printers; edits and publishes newsletter and maintains MPI and CHiPR web sites.