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