Rebecca A. Fischer
Rebecca Fischer
Graduate Student
Email: rfischer at uchicago.edu
Office: Hinds 525
Research interests:
My research focuses on the redox state of the Earth's interior and the composition of the core, particularly the light element component, by investigating phase diagrams of iron alloys, redox processes at high pressures, and the chemistry of planetary accretion. Using diamond anvil cells and laser-heating to experimentally recreate the high pressures (up to >100 GPa) and high temperatures (several thousand K) of the Earth’s deep interior, I study the physical and chemical properties of minerals and melts at these conditions.
Mineral Physics Laboratory at Chicago
Publications:
Fischer, R.A., Campbell, A.J., Caracas, R., Reaman, D.M., Dera, P., and Prakapenka, V.B. (submitted) Equation of state and phase diagram of Fe-16Si alloy as candidate component of Earth’s core.
Fischer, R.A., Campbell, A.J., Lord, O.T., Shofner, G.A., Dera, P., and Prakapenka, V.B. (2011) Phase transition and metallization of FeO at high pressures and temperatures. Geophysical Research Letters (38), L24301. [article]
Fischer, R.A., Campbell, A.J., Shofner, G.A., Lord, O.T., Dera, P., and Prakapenka, V.B. (2011) Equation of state and phase diagram of FeO. Earth and Planetary Science Letters (304), 496-502. [article]
Fischer, R.A. and Campbell, A.J. (2010) High pressure melting of wüstite. American Mineralogist (95), 1473-1477. [article]
Cottrell, E., Kelley, K.A., Lanzirotti, A.T., and Fischer, R.A. (2009) High-precision determination of iron oxidation state in silicate glasses using XANES. Chemical Geology (268), 167–179. [article]
Lin, J.F., Scott, H.P., Fischer, R.A., Chang, Y.Y., Kantor, I., and Prakapenka, V.B. (2009) Phase relations of Fe-Si alloy in Earth’s core. Geophysical Research Letters (36), L06306. [article]
Jacobsen, S.D., Holl, C.M., Adams, K.A., Fischer, R.A., Martin, E.S., Bina, C.R., Lin, J.F., Prakapenka, V.B., Kubo, A., and Dera, P. (2008) Compression of single-crystal magnesium oxide to 118 GPa and a ruby pressure gauge for helium pressure media. American Mineralogist (93), 1823-1828. [article]
Education:
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Chicago (Geophysical Sciences)
2009 B.A., Northwestern University (Earth and Planetary Sciences; Integrated Science Program)
Experience:
2010-present Graduate Student, Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago
2009-2010 Graduate Student, Department of Geology, University of Maryland
2008-2009 Laboratory Assistant, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University
2008 Laboratory Assistant, Department of Geology, University of Maryland
2007 Summer Intern, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution and Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington
Honors:
2012-2013 Illinois Space Grant Consortium Graduate Research Fellowship
2011 Outstanding Student Paper Award, MRP, AGU
2009-2012 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2009-2010 Flagship Fellowship, University of Maryland
2009 Seymour Schlanger Undergraduate Award for Outstanding Research Accomplishments and Potential, Northwestern University
2008-2009 Seager Fellowship in Geological Sciences, Northwestern University
