Dr. Benjamin Gilbert

Biography

Benjamin Gilbert has made significant contributions to the rapidly evolving field of nanogeoscience, which focuses on the study of the properties and geochemical interactions of natural nanoscale minerals. His research involves the development and application of synchrotron x-ray experiments and analysis methods to study mineral nanoparticles. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University in 1994 and completed his Ph.D. at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in 2000. His graduate research was based on synchrotron x-ray spectromicroscopy studies at the Synchrotron Radiation Center of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he received the SRC Aladdin Lamp Award. After post-doctoral research at UW – Madison and the University of California at Berkeley, he joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2004 and founded the Berkeley Nanogeoscience Center with colleagues. In April 2007, he was promoted to a career scientist position. His research accomplishments include the discovery of stable cluster formation in iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles, observations of structural transformations in ZnS nanoparticles associated with water binding, and studies identifying nanoscale silicate inclusions in zircons. He has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, collaborating with scientists across various disciplines.

Research Interests