Claire Marshall
- Associate Professor
- Geology
Contact Info
Ritchie Hall, room #154 C
Personal Links
Biography —
Claire Marshall, Associate Professor of Geospectroscopy, is a solid-state Raman spectroscopist, and astrobiologist. She has been involved in Raman spectroscopy of crystalline solids, and the application of Raman spectroscopy in astrobiology and planetary science research since 2002. Her interests are in Raman spectroscopy, astrobiology, and exploring the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a life detection technique, and design, fabrication, and development of spectroscopic instrumentation for life detection. She has been awarded and managed over $4 million in grants throughout her career.
Education —
Chemistry , Departments of Chemistry, Materials and Forensic Science and Geology, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), 1997, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Solid-state Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Forensic Science, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), 2001, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Research —
My research program is two-fold. Firstly, I am focusing on solid-state Raman spectroscopy to better understand the Raman spectra and phonon dynamics of crystalline solids such as hematite, dolomite, and graphite, which currently are poorly understood. My second area of research are in Raman spectroscopy, astrobiology, and exploring the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a life detection technique, design, fabrication, and development of spectroscopic instrumentation for life detection.
Research interests:
- Raman spectroscopy
- carbonaceous materials
- graphite
- hematite
- carbonate minerals of calcite structure
- astrobiology
Teaching —
My aims and practices in teaching in the geological sciences has been to utilize active learning strategies (either at the undergraduate or graduate level), using research data in undergraduate classes to foster further geological understanding, and finally, I have long been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and hence recognize the barriers faced by minorities in engaging in science, and in particular, in geoscience, and therefore, I am committed to the creation and maintenance of “inclusive learning” spaces. Currently, I teach at all levels, freshperson, sophomore, and senior undergraduate/ graduate level classes.
Teaching interests:
- GEOL 101 How the Earth works
- GEOL 311 Mineralogy
- GEOL 312 Optical mineralogy
- GEOL 511 Raman spectroscopy of crystalline solids
- GEOL 591/791 Ore deposits
Service —
I view service as a valuable and meaningful component of my academic responsibilities towards KU and my peer scientific community. With respect to my international peer scientific community, I have successfully contributed to my discipline as a Raman spectroscopist and astrobiologist through the role as associate editor of the journals: Journal of Raman spectroscopy and Astrobiology. Additionally, I am serving on the Network for Life Detection (NfoLD) Steering Committee which is a NASA Research Coordination Network (RCN) , NfoLD seminar committee, and on the GeoRaman International Science Advisory Committee.