Jamie Lucarelli

Current Position:

Earth Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Nuclear Chemistry Team

Bio:

As a child, I moved frequently and attended five high schools throughout Arizona and Illinois. After high school, I obtained a cosmetology license and worked as a hair stylist in Arizona and California. I began attending Los Angeles City College while working full time and completed the necessary courses to transfer to UCLA. At UCLA, I received my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Master of Science in Geochemistry, and Ph.D. in Geochemistry. While at UCLA, I have received awards for research and teaching including the Cota-Robles Fellowship, Office of the President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship, and an Excellence in Teaching Award. My doctoral thesis focused on the ultra-low abundance molecules of carbonate (CO₃) that contain at least two heavy isotopes. I used the abundance of these ultra-rare molecules for paleoclimate reconstructions, to understand how carbonate minerals transform from amorphous phases into crystals, and to examine kinetic isotope effects caused by CO₂ hydration and hydroxylation. As an IRACDA Fellow, I will continue to use cutting-edge applications of this method by examining the effects of increasing CO₂ concentrations on coral skeletons, geologic sites of interest for permanent storage of CO₂, and the potential to use speleothems for temperature reconstructions.

My long-term career goals include continuing to push the limits of mass spectrometry in multi-isotope systems. I hope to obtain a faculty position that allows me to provide research mentorship to budding scientists from diverse backgrounds.