PROF. DAUPHAS, NICOLAS
Chair Professor,
Member of the National Academy of Sciences.
3917 1084
JL409
Nicolas Dauphas is a planetary scientist and geochemist who investigates the origin and evolution of the solar system and planetary environments. He uses high-precision mass spectrometry, synchrotron techniques such as nuclear resonant inelastic x-ray scattering, laboratory experiments, and theoretical modeling. His discoveries include establishing the radiometric age of the Galaxy, demonstrating that Mars is a stranded planetary embryo, showing that Earth and Moon have nearly identical isotopic compositions (challenging traditional models of lunar formation), and discovering supernova-derived nanospinels that explain isotopic anomalies in extraterrestrial materials. In terrestrial geochemistry, he has traced the felsic nature of Earth’s continental crust back 3.5 billion years and advanced our understanding of the iron biogeochemical cycle. Dauphas founded the Origins Laboratory and has published more than 200 papers. He serves on the Board of Reviewing Editors for Science and contributes to major sample return missions such as Hayabusa2 and MMX. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.