Dr. Jemma Davidson is an isotope geochemist and petrologist in the Center for Meteorite Studies. Her expertise lie in the petrology and isotope chemistry of primitive astromaterials, including martian meteorites, carbonaceous chondrites and interplanetary dust particles (and their organic and presolar grain components). She also studies ordinary chondrites and Hayabusa-returned particles from asteroid Itokawa. Her research aims to identify and characterize primitive early solar system samples to aid understanding of the material from which small bodies formed, and then to trace changes in this material as a result of pre- and post-accretionary processes to understand asteroidal evolution in the early solar system. In collaboration with SESE's Dr. Meenakshi Wadhwa and Dr. Rick Hervig, she also studies magmatic volatiles in a variety of extraterrestrial materials, including martian meteorites and Icelandic basalts. This work aims to understand the origin, distribution, and evolution of magmatic volatiles in planetary bodies.
In addition to advanced sample-preparation techniques, Dr. Davidson's analytical specialties include SIMS (Secondary Ionization Mass Spectrometry; including NanoSIMS, ims-1280, and ims-6f), EPMA (Electron Probe Microanalysis), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), microRaman spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (XANES).
To learn more about Dr. Davidson's research visit her website by clicking here.
Dr. Davidson holds a first class honours MSci undergraduate degree in Geoscience from Durham University (2006) and a Ph.D. in Planetary Science and Cosmochemistry from the Open University (2009).
As an isotope geochemist and petrologist, Dr. Davidson uses a combination of techniques to tackle her research objectives. She correlates isotopic analyses (primarily H and O via secondary ion mass spectrometry; SIMS) with petrological and chemical characterization (by optical and electron microscopy techniques and various spectroscopies). Her research is broadly divided into the study of primitive astromaterials (interplanetary dust particles and chondritic meteorites) and samples from more evolved planetary bodies (including the Earth and Mars).
Dr. Davidson has performed research on a whole host of different sample types – from micrometeorites in ancient salt deposits, presolar grains in chondrites and interplanetary dust particles, volatiles in martian meteorites, and lunar basalts returned by the NASA Apollo missions. She has also worked on two missions; ESA’s European Student Moon Orbiter and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission.
To read more about her research interests click here.
Asteroid 117595 Jemmadavidson (formerly 2005 EG62) (2017)
Visiting Investigator, Carnegie Institution of Washington (2015–2018)
NASA Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award (2014–2015)
Visiting Research Fellow, Open University, UK (2011–2014)
Meteoritical Society Student Travel Grant (2009)
CEPSAR Research Grant (2009)
Lunar and Planetary Institute Career Development Award (2008)
Open University Research School Film Competition – 1st Place (2008)
Kobe International School of Planetary Sciences Scholarship (2007)
Open University Postgraduate Student Poster Competition – 1st Place Judge’s Choice (2007)
Open University Postgraduate Student Poster Competition – People’s Choice (2007)
Open University Festival of Research Essay Competition (2007)
Network for Early Solar System Investigation Student Travel Grant (2007)
F. A. Paneth Meteorite Trust Internship (2006)
North East Geological Society Dissertation Award (2006)
John W. Most Fieldwork Award (2005)
Dr. A. E. Hart Trust Fieldwork Bursary (2004)
Hull Compact University Award (2002)
The Meteoritical Society
The Geochemical Society
American Geophysical Union