Home
Research
Publications
Teaching
Experience
Education
Personal

EPMA facilityElectron Microprobe Facility
EAPSEarth, Amospheric & Planetary Sciences
MITMIT Home

 Nilanjan Chatterjee
Professional Experience

special accomplishments | publications | courses taught | computer related

2/08-Present Principal Research Scientist/Electron Microprobe Facility, Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA.

  • Supervised and maintained the MIT Electron Microprobe Facility and trained students and faculty in the operation of the electron microprobe.
  • Taught courses in Electron Microprobe Analysis, Analysis of Geological Materials, and Petrology.
  • Applied new and innovative sample analysis and imaging techniques on minerals, ceramics, metals, superconductors and semiconductors (bulk and thin film) to solve a variety of Materials and Earth Science problems.

Following are some details of my research experience at MIT (more details) since November, 1993:

  • complete micrometer-scale quantitative chemical analysis of elements with atomic number > 5 (including B, C, O and F).
  • routine oxygen analysis with synthetic pseudo-crystals for long wavelength X-ray diffraction to accurately calculate the H2O content of hydrous phases.
  • full quantitative analysis of zircon and monazite and accurate rare earth element (REE) and U-Th-Pb analysis.
  • cathodoluminescence and high-resolution, large-area (8 x 8 cm) compositional imaging showing distribution of elements in composite samples.
  • devised an image analysis technique to analyze large-area images pixel-by-pixel to determine spatial relationships between phase-pairs.
  • developed automation that allows the electron microprobe to be programmed for chemical analysis and imaging over an indefinite period (several days) without user intervention; remote control is possible, if necessary.
  • devised analytical protocols for
    • silicate and asbestos contamination in tobacco
    • fluorine-diffusion in human tooth
    • hydroxy-apatite and quantum dot analysis in medical applications
    • chemical weathering in concrete
    • Pb-content of industrial paints
    • Ge-As-Se-Te contents of optical fiber in laser application

11/93-1/08 Research Scientist/Electron Microprobe Facility, Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.

  • Maintained the MIT Electron Microprobe Facility consisting of two JEOL JXA-733 Superprobes equipped with Wavelength and Energy Dispersive Spectrometers (WDS and EDS), and Backscattered and Secondary Electron Detectors (BE and SE imaging); a sample preparation facility including polishing equipment and a Denton carbon evaporator.
  • Taught courses in Electron Microprobe Analysis (to MIT students and researchers, JEOL trainees and other industrial users), Analysis of Geological Materials and Petrology, and trained users in the operation of the Electron Microprobe.
  • Conducted original research and analyzed a variety of minerals, ceramics metals, semiconductors, and other inorganic material.

11/91-10/93 Research Scientist/Electron Microprobe Laboratory, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.

  • Maintained an ARL-SEMQ2 Electron Microprobe equipped with WDS, EDS and BE and SE imaging systems; and a Denton carbon evaporator.
  • Trained faculty and students in the operation of the Electron Microprobe.
  • Conducted geochemical and petrological research and analyzed a variety of bulk and thin film materials.

9/90-10/91 Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Department of Mineral Sciences, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY.

  • Studied the chemistry of meteorites through an ARL-SEMQ Electron Microprobe equipped with WDS and EDS quantitative analytical, and BE and SE imaging capabilities.

6/91-10/91 Computer Technical Support Consultant, Information Systems Department, Nabisco Brands, Parsippany, NJ.

2/85-5/91 Adjunct Lecturer/Graduate Fellow (Geology), City University of New York, New York, NY.

  • Taught undergraduate Historical and Physical Geology Laboratory at Brooklyn College, Hunter College and College of Staten Island and organized field trips.

2/84-5/89 Research Assistant, Department of Geology, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY.

  • Developed and systematized a thermodynamic database on oxides and silicates for phase equilibria calculations through multiple regression, optimization and other numerical methods.

Special Accomplishments

  • In February, 2008, appeared in a special interview with Nature-India; doi:10.1038/nindia.2008.131.
  • In January, 2002, appeared on BBC World Service/Discovery: "Lost Continents, Vanished Oceans" with Martin Redfern.
  • In 1991, appeared in an American Museum of Natural History (New York) short film about meteorites.
  • Reviewed research award applications for
    • National Science Foundation
    • Americal Chemical Society/Petroleum Research Fund
    • City University of New York
    • National Environment Research Council (UK)
  • Reviewed Ph.D. dissertation submitted to University of Gauhati, India
  • Reviewed manuscripts submitted to
    • Journal of Geodynamics
    • Journal of Geology
    • Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology
    • Earth and Planetary Science Letters
    • Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta

Last Revised 03/28/2008. E-mail: nchat@mit.edu