
Dr Isaac Onyett
BSc, MSc, PhD
Expertise
I'm an isotope geochemist studying the origins of terrestrial planets and other celestial bodies. I use high-precision isotope measurements of terrestrial and extraterrestrial samples to understand their formation.
Current positions
Senior Research Associate
School of Earth Sciences
Contact
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Research interests
My research delves into the early stages of the solar system, particularly the formation of terrestrial planets, asteroids, and their building blocks. By examining the mass-independent isotope composition of solar system materials, I aim to uncover the origins of these celestial bodies and understand the transport and processing of material during the initial few million years of the protoplanetary disk's evolution. I have a keen interest in silicon isotopes and have dedicated recent years to developing methodologies that utilize them as mass-independent tracers.
Currently, my work centers on studying the mass-independent isotopic composition of silicon and chromium in chondrules—early-formed silicate melt spherules. This research aims to trace their origins within the disk and is complemented by short-lived radiometric dating (Al-Mg) to provide additional temporal insights.