Curriculum Vitae Ashley N. Martin

 

Scientific Career

2022-present: Postdoctoral researcher, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.

Project: Natural variations of the 51V/50V isotope composition: A new redox tracer?

PI: Dr. Stephan Schuth

2018-2022: Postdoctoral researcher, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany.

Project: Stromatolites as archives for metal mobilization and early life metabolism? Uranium and Molybdenum isotope studies of modern and Archean carbonates.

PI: Prof. Stefan Weyer

Key skills and experiences:

  • In-situ trace element analyses of carbonates by fs-LA-ICPMS with Element 2
  • High-precision analyses of Mo and U isotopes by MC-ICPMS
  • Preparing and calibrating a Mo double spike for isotopic analyses

2016-2017: Postdoctoral researcher, UNSW Sydney, Australia.

Project: Unlocking the secrets of the groundwater cycle using Si and Li isotopes

PI: Prof. Andy Baker

ARC-funded postdoc as part of a Linkage project between UNSW, ANSTO, ANU, and the Rottnest Island Authority using Li and Si isotopes to study groundwater processes at Rottnest Island, Western Australia.

Key skills and experience:

  • Groundwater and surface water sampling techniques for trace metal analysis
  • Establishing column chromatography for Li and Si for isotope analyses
  • High-precision isotopic analyses of Li and Si using MC-ICPMS

2011-2015: Postgraduate researcher, University of Wollongong, Australia.

Thesis: Uranium Series Isotopes to Reconstruct Past Variations in Erosion and Sediment Transport

Supervisors: A/Prof. Anthony Dosseto, Prof. Allan Chivas and Dr. Jan-Hendrik May.

Key skills and experiences:

  • Radiometric age models for 234U depletion in fine-grained silicate minerals
  • Acid dissolution of geological samples using HF/HNO3/HClO4.
  • Separation of U/Th by column chromatography using ion-exchange resins.
  • High-precision isotopic analyses of U and Th using MC-ICPMS and quadrupole-ICPMS.
  • BET surface area analysis of silicates by nitrogen gas sorption
  • Spatial analysis of hydrological systems using ArcGIS

2010-2011: Masters thesis, RWTH Aachen.

Thesis: Biodegradable Polymers from Renewable Feedstocks: Stereoselective Catalysts for Lactide Monomers

Supervisors: Prof. Jun Okuda and Dr. Jean-Charles Buffet.

Key skills and experiences:

  • Synthesis of air-sensitive organometallic complexes using Schlenk-line and glove box techniques.
  • Polymer reactions, and characterisation by gel permeation chromatography.

Characterisation of compounds by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

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Funding and awards

German Research Council (DFG), 2018-2021: Stromatolites as archives for metal mobilization and early life metabolisms? (€260,070; PI Prof. Stefan Weyer)

INQUA 2015 Early-career research travel award ($2100 AUD)

University of Wollongong, 2013:  SEES GeoQuEST small grant ($4000 AUD)

University of Wollongong, 2013 and 2014: International travel grants ($2000 AUD)

RWTH Aachen, Germany: Erasmus scholarship (2010-2011)

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Teaching experience

2021, Guest lecturer in the Isotope Geochemistry module.

2021-2020, Leibniz Universität Hannover. Instructor for Masters level module MM-19: Laser ablation practical course.

2015-2011, University of Wollongong. Teaching assistant for EESC103: Physical Geography and Climatology (first-year undergraduate).

2013-2011, University of Wollongong. Laboratory demonstrator for Introduction to Marine Science, (third-year undergraduate).

Supervised Batchelor Theses

Variations of redox-sensitive metals in modern and Archean stromatolites (C. Unruh, 2020)

Master Theses

Uranium and molybdenum isotopic fractionation in modern stromatolites (C. Unruh, 2021)