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Jemma Davidson

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Center for Meteorite Studies
Asst Research Scientist (FSC)
Academic Professional, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 6004
Biography: 

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.

Education: 

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).

Research Website URL: 
http://www.cosmochemist.com/jemma
Google Scholar URL: 
Google Scholar Profile
Research Interests: 

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.

Publications: 
  1. Davidson J., Schrader D. L. , Alexander C. M. O’D., Nittler L. R., and Bowden R. (2019) Re-examining thermal metamorphism of the Renazzo-like (CR) carbonaceous chondrites: Insights from pristine Miller Range 090657 and shock-heated Graves Nunataks 06100. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 267, 240–256.
  2. McCoy T. J., Corrigan C. M., Dickinson T. L., Benedix G. K., Schrader D. L., and Davidson J. (2019) Grove Mountains (GRV) 020043: Insights into acapulcoite-lodranite genesis from the most primitive member. Geochemistry 79(4), 125536.
  3. Davidson J., Alexander C. M. O’D., Stroud R. M., Busemann H., and Nittler L. R. (2019) Mineralogy and petrology of Dominion Range 08006: A very primitive CO3 carbonaceous chondrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 265, 259–278.
  4. Nittler L. R. , Stroud R. M. , Trigo-Rodríguez J. M., De Gregorio B. T., Alexander C. M. O’D., Davidson J., Moyano-Cambero C. E. and Tanbakouei S. (2019) Reply to: GEMS and the devil in their details. Nature Astronomy 3, 606.
  5. Nittler L. R., Stroud R. M., Trigo-Rodríguez J. M., De Gregorio B. T., Alexander C. M. O’D., Davidson J., Moyano-Cambero C. E. and Tanbakouei S. (2019) A cometary building block in a primitive asteroidal meteorite. Nature Astronomy 3, 659–666.
  6. Schrader D. L., Fu R. R., Desch S. J. and Davidson J. (2018) The background temperature of the protoplanetary disk within the first four million years of the Solar System. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 504, 30–37.
  7. Nittler L. R., Alexander C. M. O'D., Davidson J., Riebe M. E. I., Stroud R. M. and Wang J. (2018) High abundances of presolar grains and 15N-rich organic matter in CO3.0 chondrite Dominion Range 08006. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 226, 107–131.
  8. Schrader D. L., Nagashima K., Waitukaitis S. R., Davidson J., McCoy T. J., Connolly Jr. H. C. and Lauretta D. S. (2018) The retention of dust in protoplanetary disks: Evidence from agglomeratic olivine chondrules from the outer Solar System. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 223, 405–421.
  9. Schrader D. L. and Davidson J. (2017) CM and CO chondrites: A common parent body or asteroidal neighbors? Insights from chondrule silicates. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 214, 157–171.
  10. Alexander C. M. O’D., Nittler L. R., Davidson J. and Ciesla F. J. (2017) Measuring the level of interstellar inheritance in the solar protoplanetary disk. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 52, 1797–1821.
  11. Schrader D. L., Davidson J. and McCoy T. J. (2016) Widespread evidence for high-temperature formation of pentlandite in chondrites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 189, 359–376.
  12. Burton A. S., McLain H., Glavin D. P., Elsila J. E., Davidson J., Miller K. E., Andronikov A. V., Lauretta D. S. and Dworkin J. P. (2015) Amino acid analyses of R and CK chondrites. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 50, 470-482.
  13. Schrader D. L., Connolly Jr. H. C., Lauretta D. S., Zega T. J., Davidson J. and Domanik K. J. (2015) The formation and alteration of the Renazzo-like carbonaceous chondrites III: Towards understanding the genesis of ferromagnesian chondrules. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 50, 15–50.
  14. Davidson J., Schrader D. L., Busemann H., Franchi I. A., Connolly Jr. H. C., Lauretta D. S., Alexander C. M. O’D., Verchovsky A. and Greenwood R. C. (2014) Petrography, stable isotope compositions, microRaman spectroscopy and presolar components of Roberts Massif 04133: A reduced CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 49, 2133-2151.
  15. Schrader D. L., Davidson J., Greenwood R. C., Franchi I. A. and Gibson J. M. (2014) A water-ice rich minor body from the early Solar System: The CR chondrite parent asteroid. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 407, 48-60.
  16. Davidson J., Krot A. N., Nagashima K., Hellebrand E. and Lauretta D. S. (2014) Oxygen isotope and chemical compositions of magnetite and olivine in the anomalous CK3 Watson 002 and ungrouped Asuka-881595 carbonaceous chondrites: Effects of parent body metamorphism. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 49, 1456-1474.
  17. Davidson J., Busemann H., Nittler L. R., Alexander C. M. O'D., Orthous-Daunay F.-R., Franchi I. A. and Hoppe P. (2014) Abundances of presolar silicon carbide grains in primitive meteorites determined by NanoSIMS. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 139, 248-266.
  18. Schrader D. L., Connolly Jr. H. C., Lauretta D. S., Nagashima K., Huss G. R., Davidson J., and Domanik K. (2013) The formation and alteration of the Renazzo-like carbonaceous chondrites II: Linking O-isotope composition and oxidation state of chondrule olivine. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 101, 302-327.
  19. Davidson J., Busemann H. and Franchi I.A. (2012) A NanoSIMS and Raman spectroscopic comparison of interplanetary dust particles from comet Grigg-Skjellerup and non-Grigg Skjellerup collections. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 47 (11), 1748-1771.
Honors / Awards: 

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)

Professional Associations: 

The Meteoritical Society

The Geochemical Society

American Geophysical Union

Expertise Areas: 
Planetary Geochemistry
Planetary Geoscience
Planetary Mineralogy
Planetary Sciences