CV
Zachary A. Torrano
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
2020 Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, Arizona State University
2015 B.S. in Environmental Geosciences, cum laude, University of Notre Dame
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2022–Present Postdoctoral Research Associate, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group
2020–2022 Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory
Supervisors: Dr. Richard Carlson and Dr. Conel Alexander
• Isotopic analyses of meteorites and asteroid samples
2015–2020 Graduate Research Associate, Arizona State University
Advisor: Prof. Meenakshi Wadhwa
• PhD Dissertation: Early Solar System Processes and Parent Body Relationships Recorded by Cr and Ti Isotopes in Meteorites
2014 Intern, LPI Summer Intern Program in Planetary Science
Lunar and Planetary Institute and NASA Johnson Space Center
Advisor: Dr. David Mittlefehldt
2013–2015 Undergraduate Researcher, University of Notre Dame
Advisor: Prof. Antonio Simonetti
• Developing nuclear forensics methods for source attribution of nuclear devices
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2020 Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellowship, Carnegie Institution for Science
2019 Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology
HONORS AND AWARDS
2022 Elsevier Travel Award ($1,500)
2020 ASU The College Graduate Excellence Award
2020 Nininger Student Travel Award ($1,000)
2019 Planetary Studies Foundation Travel Award ($1,000)
2018 Honorable Mention, Nininger Meteorite Award
2018 ASU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Graduate Excellence Award
2018 Nininger Student Travel Award ($1,000)
2017 Barringer Crater Company Travel Award ($1,000)
2017 Nininger Student Travel Award ($1,000)
2015 Rev. Alexander Kirsch, C.S.C Award, University of Notre Dame
2014–2015 E. and M. Cantwell Scholarship, University of Notre Dame
2011–2014 University Scholarship, University of Notre Dame
LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
2021–present Peer Reviewer for Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Meteoritics and Planetary Science, JGR-Planets
2021, 2022 Panelist, NASA Review Panel
2021 Travel Awards Committee, 84th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society
2020-present External Reviewer, NASA Review Panels
2019 Executive Secretary, NASA Review Panel
2018 Executive Secretary, NASA Review Panel
2015–2016 ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration Graduate Student Council
INVITED TALKS
2022 Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory Seminar Series
“Isotopic Compositions of Refractory Inclusions in Meteorites: Tracers of Early Solar System Processes”
2022 Geological Society of Washington
“Refractory Inclusions in Meteorites: Tracers of Early Solar System Isotopic Reservoirs”
2021 The Open University, Cosmochemistry Research Group
“The relationship between CM and CO chondrites: Insights from Ti, Cr, and O isotopes”
2020 University of Maryland, Department of Geology Seminar
“Cr and Ti Isotopes as Tracers of Early Solar System Processes and Parent Body Relationships”
2020 Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration Colloquium
“Isotopic investigations of meteorites: using forensic tracers to unravel the mysteries of our early Solar System”
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2017 TA, Introduction to Geology II Lab, Arizona State University
2017 TA, Intro Geology II (Historical), Arizona State University
2016 TA, Introduction to Geology I Lab (solo taught 3 lab sections), Arizona State University
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Nie N. X., Wang D., Torrano Z. A., Carlson R. W., Alexander C. M. O’D., and Shahar, A. (2023) Supernova-Derived Potassium-40 Anomalies in Primitive Meteorites. Science, 379, 372–376.
Torrano Z. A., Schrader D. L., Davidson J., Greenwood R. C., Dunlap D. R., and Wadhwa M. (2021) The relationship between CM and CO chondrites: Insights from combined analyses of titanium, chromium, and oxygen isotopes in CM, CO, and ungrouped chondrites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 301, 70–90.
Torrano Z. A., Davidson J., and Wadhwa M. (2020) A reclassification of Northwest Africa 2900 from CV3 to CK3 chondrite. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 55, 2539–2550.
Torrano Z. A., Brennecka G. A., Williams C. D., Romaniello S. J., Rai, V. K., Hines R. R., Wadhwa M. (2019). Titanium isotope signatures of calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions from CV and CK chondrites: Implications for early Solar System reservoirs and mixing. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 263, 13–30.
Noviello J. L., Torrano Z. A., Rhoden A. R., Singer K. N. (2019) Mapping Europa’s microfeatures in regional mosaics: new constraints on formation models. Icarus, 329, 101–123.
Dustin M. K., Koeman E. C., Simonetti A., Torrano Z. A., Burns P. C. (2016). Comparative Investigation between In Situ Laser Ablation Versus Bulk Sample (Solution Mode) Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Analysis of Trinitite Post-Detonation Materials. Appl Spectrosc. 70(9):1446–55
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
Torrano Z. A., Jordan M. K., Mock T. D., Carlson R. W., Yokoyama T., Gautam I., The Hayabusa2 Initial Analysis Chemistry Team, The Hayabusa2 Initial Analysis Core (2023) Samarium and Neodymium Isotopic Compositions of C-Type Asteroid (162173) Ryugu. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 54, #1776 (Oral Presentation).
Torrano Z. A., Alexander C. M. O’D., Carlson R. W., and Bullock E. S. (2022) Chromium Isotopic Compositions of Amoeboid Olivine Aggregates from CV3 Chondrites: Implications for Early Solar System Isotopic Reservoirs. 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6315 (Oral Presentation).
Schrader D. L., McCoy T. J., Davidson J., Lunning N. G., Torrano Z. A., Windmill R., Nagashima K., Corrigan C. M., Greenwood R. C., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2022) IIAB Iron Meteorites: Formation and Relation to Other Meteorite Groups. 85th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6132.
Torrano Z. A., Desch S. J., Dunham E. T., Williams C. D., and Mane P. (2021) A Reassessment of the Titanium Isotopic Compositions of FUN CAIs. 84th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6262 (Oral Presentation).
Dunham E. T., Desch S. J., Torrano Z. A., Mane P., and Williams C. D. (2021) A Reassessment of Aluminum-26 in FUN CAIs. 84th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6273.
Desch S. J., Dunlap D. R., Williams C. D., and Torrano Z. A. (2021) Statistical Chronometry: Anchors Away! 84th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, #6231.
Torrano Z. A., Schrader D. L., Greenwood R. C., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2020) Evaluating the Relationship Between CM and CO Chondrites Using Chromium, Titanium, and Oxygen Isotopes. LPSC 51, #2524. (Oral Presentation – conference canceled)
Torrano Z. A., Davidson J., and Wadhwa M. (2020) The Reclassification of Northwest Africa (NWA) 2900 from CV3 to CK3 Chondrite. LPSC 51, #1748. (Poster Presentation – conference canceled)
Noviello J. L. and Torrano Z. A. (2020) An Investigation of the Relationships Between Double Ridges and Pits on Europa. LPSC 51, #1562. (Poster Presentation – conference canceled)
Torrano Z. A., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2019) Chromium Isotope Compositions of Refractory Inclusions: Implications for Isotopic Variability in the Early Solar System. MetSoc 82, #6104. (Oral Presentation)
Torrano Z. A., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2019) Titanium Isotope Compositions of Refractory Inclusions: Implications for Nebular Mixing. LPSC 50, #1501. (Oral Presentation)
Torrano Z. A., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2018) Combined Investigation of Chromium, Titanium, and Magnesium Isotope Compositions of Refractory Inclusions from a Variety of Carbonaceous Chondrites. LPSC 49, #2405. (Oral Presentation)
Noviello J. L., Torrano Z. A., Rhoden A. R., Manga M. (2017) The Inferred Distribution of Liquid Water in Europa’s Ice Shell: Implications for the Europa Lander Mission. AGU Fall Meeting, 232681.
Noviello J. L., Torrano Z. A., Rhoden A. R., Manga M. (2017) Microfeature Clustering on Europa: A Potential Clue to the Subsurface Structure. Europa Deep Dive I: Ice-Shell Exchange Processes, 7013.
Torrano Z. A., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2017) Titanium Isotopic Compositions of Refractory Inclusions from Several CV3 and CK3 Chondrites: Implications for Nebular Heterogeneity. MetSoc 80, #6318. (Oral Presentation)
Torrano Z. A., Rai V. K., and Wadhwa M. (2017) Magnesium, Titanium and Chromium Isotope Compositions of Refractory Inclusions from Several CV3 and CK3 Chondrites: Implications for Nebular Heterogeneity. LPSC 48, #3045. (Oral Presentation)
Mane P., Torrano Z. A., Romaniello S. J., Brennecka G. A., Shollenberger Q. R., Borg, L., and Wadhwa M. (2016) Zirconium and Chromium isotopic systematics of non-Allende CAIs. LPSC 47, #2778. (Poster Presentation)
Mittlefehldt D. W., Peng Z. X., and Torrano Z. A. (2015) Petrology and In Situ Trace Element Chemistry of a Suite of R Chondrites. MetSoc 78, #5338.
Torrano Z. A., Mittlefehldt D. W., and Peng, Z. X. (2015) Petrology and Cosmochemistry of a Suite of R Chondrites. LPSC 46, #1229. (Poster Presentation)
Krug M., Thomas R., Torrano Z., Cook N., Koeman E., and Simonetti A. (2015) Forensic Analysis of Trinitite Post-Detonation Materials at High Spatial Resolution: Developing Methods for Source Attribution. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. (Poster Presentation)
PUBLIC OUTREACH
• Represented the ASU Center for Meteorite Studies at over 25 public outreach events from 2015–2020 and presented interactive exhibits about meteorites and cosmochemistry to K-12 students, college students, and adults.
• Co-authored an article “Meteorites: Space Rocks!” for the Arizona State University Ask an Earth and Space Scientist website.
LABORATORY AND ANALYTICAL EXPERIENCE
• Handling and processing contamination-sensitive samples in a metal-free cleanroom
• Method development for chemical separation and purification of Cr, Ti, and Mg from various matrices including bulk meteorites, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions, and chromite grains
• High-precision Cr, Ti, and Mg isotopic measurements using the Thermo Neptune MC-ICPMS
• High-precision Cr and Pb isotopic measurements using the Thermo Triton TIMS
• Measurement of major and trace element concentrations using the Thermo iCAP-Q ICPMS
• Elemental mapping and quantitative spot analyses using the JEOL JXA-8530F Field Emission Electron Probe Microanalyzer
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Meteoritical Society, Geochemical Society