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)