Dr. Ke Zhu

Time periods: November – December, 2020; and April 2021 – Present

About Me

After defended my PhD thesis on isotope cosmochemistry in Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Universite de Paris in France, I work as a Humboldt postdoc fellow in Freie Universität Berlin. I used Cr isotope measurements which valuably include a stable isotope ratio (⁵³Cr/⁵²Cr, to study processes), a radiogenic daughter of ⁵³Mn (⁵³Cr, to study timing) and nucleosynthetic anomalies ⁵⁴Cr (to study stellar origin). I combine these three approaches by using both thermal ionization mass-spectrometry (TIMS) and multi-collector, inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (MC-ICPMS), unspiked (radiogenic and nucleosynthetic anomalies) and double spiked (stable isotopes).

Currently, I mainly concern the following projects:

1. Cr isotopic anomalies in meteorites.

   I have measured by both TIMS and MC-ICP-MS the mass-independent Cr isotope variations produced by both radiogenic ingrowths to study the timing (e.g. ⁵³Mn-⁵³Cr chronometry) and nucleosynthetic anomalies to study the origin (⁵⁴Cr) of primitive meteorites, their main components (chondrules) and planetary bodies (including Earth, Moon, Mars, Angrite, Ureilite, and Aubrite parent bodies).

    
2. Cr stable isotopic compositions (mass-dependent fractionation) in meteorites.

   I use an original approach by measuring Cr stable isotope variations (using double spike approach coupled with a MC-ICP-MS) to study the origin of chondrites and volatile loss, magmatic evolution, and core-mantle differentiation of terrestrial planets (Mars, Vesta, Angrite, Ureilite, and Aubrite parent bodies).

    
3. Other isotopic systems.

   After my PhD study, I also started to touch the isotopes of other elements. For example, 1) Ni is a siderophile element that can be used to trace the planetary core formation; 2) Ca isotope compositions of chondrites and planets and the implications for their genetic relationships and differentiation.
    

4. Terrestrial samples.

   I am also expanding my expertise of isotopes from meteorites to terrestrial samples, including Archean samples, tektites, oceanic island basalts, Fe-Mn nodules and banded iron formation.
    

Awards

1. Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for Postdoc Researcher
2. Student Sponsorship from European Association of Geochemistry
3. Aide à la MOBILITE INTERNATIONALE des doctorants de l’IPGP
4. Richard Norton Award (travel grant in MetSoc 2019)
5. Wiley Award (outstanding presentation award in MetSoc 2019)
6. Oral Presentation Award in Geoscience Symposium in USTC, 2016