Justin Park

Justin Park is a PhD student from coastal York, Maine. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an undergraduate, where he completed a dual major in Applied Physics and Geology with concentrations in Planetary Science and Astrobiology. During his time as an undergraduate, Justin competed on the Track and Field Team. He enjoyed the throwing events, especially the javelin. Justin decided to continue his graduate studies at RPI, where he is currently co-advised by Profs. Morgan Schaller and Jacob Shelley. His current research involves reconstructing the molecular and isotopic composition of ancient atmospheres with measurements from fluid inclusions.

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Fluid inclusions are microscopic cavities of mineral-forming fluid trapped at the time of formation. These fluids represent a direct glimpse into environmental conditions of the past. Certain minerals, like halite (NaCl), can trap atmosphere withing their inclusions as they form at or near the air-water interface. The chemistry trapped within these inclusions can be probed with many methods, including Raman spectroscopy, laser ablation, and mass spectrometry. In our work we crush samples containing fluid inclusions under high vacuum, volatilizing the contents and passing them directly into either a quadrupole mass spectrometer or a dual inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometer. These analyses allow us to provide direct measurements of the ancient atmosphere, informing us of its evolution and the processes that shape the evolving planet.