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Benjamin Gilbert

Discovery Geosciences Program Domain Lead

BES Geochemistry Program Lead

Senior Scientist

Building 074, Room 0312

M/S 74R316C

Phone: 510-495-2748

Fax: 510-486-5686

bgilbert@lbl.gov

Curriculum Vitae

  • Researcher ID
  • Google Scholar
  • Education
  • Experience
  • Awards
  • Scholarly Service
  • Research Funding

Biography

Benjamin Gilbert obtained a B.A. in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University in 1994 and a Ph.D. from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in 2000. His graduate research was based upon synchrotron x-ray spectromicroscopy studies at the Synchrotron Radiation Center of the University of Wisconsin – Madison, for which he received the SRC Aladdin Lamp Award. He performed post-doctoral research at UW – Madison and the University of California at Berkeley.

In 2004, he joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and founded (with colleagues Jill Banfield and Glenn Waychunas) the Berkeley Nanogeoscience Center. In April 2007, he was promoted to a career scientist position.

Dr. Gilbert has made important contributions to the rapidly evolving field of nanogeoscience – the study of the properties and geochemical interactions of natural nanoscale minerals. Much of his research involves the development and application of synchrotron x-ray experiments and analysis methods for the study of mineral nanoparticles. Research accomplishments include: the discovery of stable cluster formation by iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles; observation of structural transformations in ZnS nanoparticles associated with water binding; the identification of nanoscale silicate inclusions in zircons; and x-ray spectroscopic studies of the electronic structure of manganese oxides. More recently, his research has begun to apply ultrafast x-ray methods to study electron transfer to ferric iron oxide nanoparticles with sub-nanosecond temporal resolution. These studies are reported in more than 50 peer-reviewed publications that include collaborations with scientists from many disciplines.

Publications

  • Researcher ID
  • Google Scholar

Education

  • Leadership Program, UC-Berkeley Center for Executive Education, 2012
  • Ph.D. Biophysics, Swiss Federal Institute of Lausanne (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne), 2000
  • B.A. Hons (Cantab) Natural Sciences (Physics), Cambridge University, 1994

Experience

  • Senior Scientist (Career appointment), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) - Energy Geosciences Division (EGD), 2017-Present
  • Staff Scientist (Career appointment), LBNL - EGD (formerly Earth Sciences Division (ESD)), 2007-2017
  • Geological Scientist (Term appointment), LBNL-ESD, 2004-2007
  • Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of California – Berkeley, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Advisor: Jillian F. Banfield, 2002-2004
  • Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Department of Physics, Advisor: Gelsomina "pupa" De Stasio, 2000-2002
  • Graduate Student, Swiss Federal Institute of Lausanne, Department of Physics, Advisors: Giorgio Margaritondo and Gelsomina "pupa" De Stasio, 1996-2000
  • Scientific Consultant, Neotronics, Ltd. (UK), To construct prototype formaldehyde sensor, 1995
  • Research Assistant, Cambridge University, Institute of Biotechnology, Advisor: Elizabeth A.H. Hall, 1994-1995

Awards

  • Best Research Award from a National Lab at the DOE 2013 Geosciences Symposium, 2013
  • Mineralogical Society of America - Young Investigator Award, 2010
  • Aladdin Lamp Award for excellence in synchrotron radiation research, 1998-1999

Scholarly Service

  • Reviewer, Chemistry of Materials
  • Reviewer, Environmental Science and Technology
  • Reviewer, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
  • Reviewer, Geochemistry Transactions
  • Reviewer, Journal of Physical Chemistry
  • Reviewer, Journal of Nanoparticle Research
  • Reviewer, Langmuir
  • Reviewer, Physical Review Letters

Research Funding

  • The Effect of Salinity on Geochemical Processes in Confined Aqueous Fluids
    B. Gilbert (Lead PI, 8 co-PIs)
    DOE Basic Energy Sciences (Geochemistry) 3Yr (2015-17) $1.6M per year ($260k to B.G.)
  • The Mechanism of Fumarate Photoreduction on ZnS Nanoparticles
    J. Banfield (PI), B. Gilbert & T. Cuk
    National Science Foundation (Low-Temperature Geochemistry), 3Yr (2014-16) $300k per year
  • Center for Nanoscale Controls on Geologic CO2
    D. DePaolo (PI), B. Gilbert & co-PIs
    DOE Basic Energy Sciences (EFRC) 4Yr (2015-18) $3.4M ($275k to B.G. per year)
  • LBNL Sustainable Systems Scientific Focus Area 2.0
    S. Hubbard (PI) & co-PIs
    DOE Biological and Environmental Research, 3 Yr (2015-2017) ($180k to B.G. per year)
  • High-Pressure Soft-X-ray (HP-SX) Fluid Cells
    J. Guo (PI), B. Gilbert & co-PIs
    Laboratory Directed Research and Development proposal, 2Yr (2014-16) $160k
  • The Cytotoxicity of Imogolite and Ge-Imogolite Protected Silver Nanowires
    B. Gilbert (PI) and L. Charlet
    the French SERENADE network, 2 Yr (2015-2016) €40K.
  • NanoWIR2ES : NanoWire Intelligent Re-design and Recycling for Environmental Safety
    A. Hofmann (PI), B. Gilbert & co-PIs in US, France and Spain.
    EU SIINN Call, 3 Yr (2016-2019) approximately $300K in the US and €290 in Europe.
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