Happy National Postdoc Appreciation Week!
We’re proud to highlight our postdocs and share a glimpse of the people behind the research.
Dr. Qi Chen
Affiliation: Advanced Photon Source – Argonne National Laboratory
Mentor: Dr. Yanbin Wang (GSECARS)
Research Focus: I study the chemical and physical properties of aqueous fluids and silicate melts at depth—and how these processes concentrate metals into mineral deposits. Method-wise, I integrate high-pressure/temperature experimental petrology with isotope geochemistry, in-situ synchrotron X-ray techniques, and ex-situ chemical analyses. I’m especially interested in how volatiles and noble gases behave in the deep Earth. Right now I’m developing in-situ falling-sphere measurements to track the viscosity of fluids and melts directly under crust-mantle relevant conditions. What excites me is turning our measurements into constraints that actually move geodynamic and ore-forming models forward.
Highlight: I built an in-situ viscosity–structure pipeline across complementary systems. For aqueous fluids, I used a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell (HDAC) to measure viscosity and collect spectroscopic constraints over oceanic-crust P–T conditions. For dry and hydrous silicate melts, I combined a multi-anvil press with synchrotron X-ray diagnostics and in-situ falling-sphere tracking: (i) diopside compositions at mantle pressures and temperatures, and (ii) an andesite project spanning crustal–upper-mantle conditions. Together, these datasets sharpen constraints on volatile transport and melt mobility at depth.
Outside the Lab: Trail running
Dr. Edwin Rivas Meraz
Affiliation: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities & Advanced Light Source – Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Mentors: Dr. Brandy Toner (UMN) & Dr. David Shapiro (ALS-LBL)
Research Focus: My research investigates how iron sulfide mineral oxidation in Prairie Pothole Region pond sediments interacts with natural organic matter to generate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Highlight: I had the opportunity to travel and share my research July 2025 at the Goldschmidt International Geochemistry Conference in Prague, Czechia. I was able to meet and connect with geochemists from around the world and learn about research that is going on at the forefront of our field.
Outside the Lab: While I very much enjoy traveling to different cities and countries or hiking as time (and budget) allows, a lot of my time outside of the lab is spent cooking or baking something I find online and suddenly start craving.
Dr. Maksim Yakovlev
Affiliation: Advanced Photon Source – Argonne National Laboratory
Mentor: Dr. Mark Rivers (GSECARS)
Research Focus: I use synchrotron micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to generate 3D datasets of geological samples under extreme pressures and temperatures. By correcting motion artifacts, my work makes it possible to better visualize and analyze processes related to magma formation and evolution. I also develop semi-automated segmentation pipelines based on random forest classifier machine learning models for complex geological micro-CT images, allowing easier visualization and quantitative analysis of datasets that are challenging to analyze manually. Other user support I perform includes design and integration of various components for triaxial cells and the micro-CT apparatus, as well as providing instruction and assistance for user groups coming to GSECARS to acquire micro-CT data.
Highlight: When my motion artifact correction pipeline was applied to high pressure and temperature micro-CT scans taken at GSECARS for the study of degassing in magma forming processes, we were able to resolve features that were previously unseen due to the amount of unintended motion in the system during scans. Although GSECARS and the user group had already seen volumes within the images that appeared to be the gas bubbles of interest, the newly observed features were less absorbing than the volumes originally investigated, indicating that these new features were actually most likely to be gas. This finding has shifted the volumetric analysis to these new gas volumes, which, as expected, increase in number and volume as pressure is taken off the system.
Outside the Lab: I enjoy many things, but some of my favorites are running, reading medieval Norse literature, lifting weights, hiking, archery, brewing mead, and rock climbing.
Dr. Bin Zhao
Affiliation: Advanced Photon Source – Argonne National Laboratory
Mentor: Dr. Dongzhou Zhang (GSECARS)
Research Focus: My research focuses on the physical properties of minerals, such as structure, phase transition, and electrical conductivity. With these properties, we can better understand how the Earth has evolved so far, and what is happening in the deep interior.
Highlight: At GSECARS, we successfully determined Si isotope fractionation among mantle minerals and used the results to discuss the source of natural ocean island basalts that contain isotropically lighter Si.
Outside the Lab: I love reading and hiking when I have free time.