Innocent Ezenwa

Innocent C. Ezenwa

Earth and Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science

Education

Ph.D. in Geophysics (2017): University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

Thesis Title: Experimental Studies of Electrical Resistivity Behavior of Cu, Zn, and Co Along Their Melting Boundaries: Implications for Heat Flux at Earth's Inner Core Boundary.

MSc in Geophysics: University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

Project Title: Software Design of Data Acquisition, Analysis, and Logging of Experimental results at High Pressure and High Temperature Using LabView Programming Language

MSc in Network System Engineering: University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

Project Title: Design of Satellite Budget Link Analysis Using Visual Basic Programming Language

BSc in Physics and Astronomy: University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria Thesis Title: Review and Analysis of Acquired Data from NigSat1

Training and Certifications


  • The Teaching Assistant Training Program, Western University


  • WHMIS – Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, University of Western Ontario


  • Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste Management, Western University


  • Worker Health and Safety Awareness Training, Western University


  • Education and Training for Radiation Workers, Okayama University


  • Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA)


  • Cisco Certified Network Administrator (CCNA)


  • Nigerian Institute of Management Chartered


  • Training in Public Speaking


  • Training in LabView, Visual Basic, and MatLab programming


  • Training in SolidWorks and Fusion 360 Autodesk 3D design
    Published/Accepted Journal Articles

  • Ezenwa, I. C*., and Yoshino, T. (2021). Martian core heat flux: Electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of liquid Fe at Martian core P-T conditions. Icarus, 114367


  • Ezenwa, I. C*., and Yoshino, T. (2020). Electrical resistivity of solid and liquid Pt: Insight into electrical resistivity of ε-Fe. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 544, 116380.


  • Ezenwa, I. C*., and Yoshino, T. (2020). Technique, cell assembly, and measurement of T-dependent electrical resistivity of liquid Fe devoid of contamination at P, T conditions. Review of Scientific Instruments, 91(2), 023903.


  • Ezenwa, I. C., and Secco, R. A. (2019). Fe Melting Transition: Electrical Resistivity, Thermal Conductivity, and Heat Flow at the Inner Core Boundaries of Mercury and Ganymede. Crystals, 9(7), 359.


  • Ezenwa, I. C., and Secco, R. A. (2017). Invariant electrical resistivity of Co along the melting boundary. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 474, 120-127.


  • Ezenwa, I. C., Secco, R. A., Yong, W., Pozzo, M., and Alfè, D. (2017). Electrical resistivity of solid and liquid Cu up to 5 GPa: Decrease along the melting boundary. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 110, 386-393


  • Ezenwa, I. C., and Secco, R. A. (2017). Constant electrical resistivity of Zn along the melting boundary up to 5 GPa. High Pressure Research, 37(3), 319-333.


  • Ezenwa, I. C., and Secco, R. A. (2017). Electronic transition in solid Nb at high pressure and temperature. Journal of Applied Physics, 121(22), 225903.
    Laboratory Research Experience

  • Postdoctoral fellow, Earth and Planets Laboratory Carnegie Institution for Science

  • Postdoctoral fellowship: Assistant Professor- Special Appointed. (April 2018-date), Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Japan.

Conducting experimental research to understand the transport properties of planetary core and mantle materials at pressure and temperature conditions using the multi-anvil technique. Hands-on fabricating and machining cell parts using varieties of tools (including Laser cutting) as well as performing microscopic analysis (SEM and EPMA) on recovered commercial and in-house synthesized samples. Writing technical reports and scientific journal papers while presenting findings at a local and international conference.

Help with attenuation and elastic wave velocity measurements of planetary materials at Synchrotron facilities in Spring-8, Japan.

Synthesizing high pressure and temperature mantle minerals for reflectance spectroscopy investigation.

  • Graduate Research Assistant: Earth Sciences Department, University of Western Ontario.

Conducted experiments for the understanding of electrical and heat transport properties of solid and liquid metals with filled or partially unfilled d-band. Fabricated and machined samples and cell parts using varieties of tools. Wrote a thesis, published articles and presented findings at conferences.

Conducted pressure and temperature-induced phase transformation experiments (Quartz- Coesite, Bismuth I-II, Cu and Ba) for the calibration of 200ton multi-anvil press at high pressure and high-temperature laboratory at Earth sciences department at the University of Western Ontario.

Field Work Experience

Lead Geophysicist (Summers: 2010-2012) ClearView Geophysics Inc, Toronto, Canada. Work locations- Northern Ontario and Arctic regions (Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Geraldton, Nunavut...)

Spectral induced polarization and resistivity survey- Measurement of chargeability and apparent resistivity profile of target sites to create a 2D inversion model with the integration of previous information on targets to create a more complete picture of the area under geophysical exploration.

Deep time-domain electromagnetic survey (TDEM): Used Protem receiver with 3D receiver coil for data acquisition alongside TEM57 and TEM67 power module for making extra-large transmitter loop. This technique is useful for detecting good and bad conductor sulfide minerals. This receiver can also be deployed in a Borehole survey in connection with Geonics downhole probs.

Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Earth Sciences Department, University of Western Ontario. Prepared and marked assignments, proctored and marked examinations and held office hours. As the lead TA, I was responsible for making sure the equipment used for demonstration is in good working conditions before and during sessions.

Courses taught: Earth Sciences 1023/2123: Planet Earth: Shaken and Stirred/Dynamic earth. Earth sciences 1022A/B: Earth Rocks.

Originality and Innovation

First successful measurement of the electrical resistivity of liquid metals with filled d- bands at high-pressure conditions using a new designed 4-wire measurement technique. The technique was first tested and established on Cu and further experiments were done on Ag and Au by other students working with Prof. Secco.


  • First to implement current reversal technique in the measurements of electrical resistivity of solid and liquid metals.


  • Provided an explanation for the decrease in the resistivity of filled d-band liquid metals (Cu, Ag and Cu) along their melting boundaries. This is contrary to the thermodynamic prediction of their constancy in value along their melting boundaries.


  • Currently, the widely held view is that the electrical resistivity of liquid Fe is low in value which creates a conundrum to the geodynamo power and inner core age. This is due to experiments on Fe performed in DAC by the Japanese group. My very recent experiments on a non-contaminated Fe sample in the multi-anvil press suggest otherwise.Explanations were provided in conference presentations and will be published soon.


  • First to design a technique for the measurement of electrical resistivity of unfilled d-band late transition metals (such as Pt) to test the concept of electrical resistivity saturation.


  • Conceptualized the effect of pressure-induced decreasing magnon scattering on the electrical resistivity of Fe, Co, and Ni on their melting transition. This work was recently published in Crystals
    Talks and Presentations


  • Ezenwa I.C (2021) The d-band physics of the transition metals at high P: With a focus on the electrical and heat transport. Invited talk. Global Summit on Condensed Matter Physics (CONMAT2021), October 2021, Valencia, Spain.


  • Ezenwa I.C (2021) The effect of loss of magnetism in solid and liquid Fe electrical transport at high P. Invited talk, online Seminar: University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. March 04 2021.


  • Ezenwa I.C. (2019) Invariant electrical resistivity of liquid Fe melting from γ-phase: Constraint on heat flux and magnetic diffusivity at the cores. Hector Seminar: Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University


  • Ezenwa I.C., * and T. Yoshino. (2019). Measurement of T -dependent electrical resistivity of solid and liquid Fe and Pt at fixed P. Joint Symposium of Misasa & Core-mantle Coevolution, Japan: Origin, evolution & Dynamics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors


  • Ezenwa I.C.,* and T. Yoshino. (2019). Measurement of temperature-dependent electrical resistivity of solid and liquid Fe and Pt at various P conditions: Japan Geophysical Union JPGU, Makuhari- Chiba, Japan.


  • Silber, R. E., Secco, R., Ezenwa, I.C, Yong, W., Littleton, J. (2017) Fe, Co, Ni: Electrical Resistivity Along their Melting Boundaries, AGU Fall Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 10-15 December 2017, abstract # 218453.


  • Secco, R., Silber, R. E., Ezenwa, I.C, Yong, W., Littleton, J. (2017) Electrical Resistivity of Fe, Co and Ni along their melting boundaries, 55th EHPRG Meeting, Poznan, Poland, 3– 8 September 2017.


  • I.C Ezenwa, R. A Secco* and W.Yong, (2016) Electrical Resistivity of Solid and Liquid Zn along their Pressure Dependent Melting Boundary, American Geophysical Union Meeting (AGU), San Francisco, CA, USA. Dec 12-16, 2016.


  • Secco, R. A*., Ezenwa, I. C., Silber, R. E., Littleton, J. A. H. and Yong W. (2016) Is Electrical Resistivity Constant on the Pressure Dependent Melting Boundary?, The 54th European High Pressure Research Group (EHPRG) International Meeting on High Pressure Science and Technology, 4 – 9 September 2016, Bayreuth, Germany.


  • Secco, R. A., Ezenwa, I.C, and Yong, W. (2016, December). Electrical Resistivity Measurement of Cu and Zn on the Pressure-Dependent Melting Boundary. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts.


  • Secco, R. A., Ezenwa, I. C., Silber, R. E., Littleton, J. A. H. and Yong W. (2016) Resistivity of Liquid Transition Metals on the Pressure-Dependent Melting Boundary, 2016 COMPRES Annual Meeting, 19 – 23 June 2016, New Mexico, USA.


  • Ezenwa, I.C.,* and Secco, R.A. (2015) Investigating the Possibility of Invariance in Electrical Resistivity in Transition Metals along their Pressure Dependent Melting Boundary. American Geophysical Union AGU, May 2-7, 2015, Montreal, Canada.


  • Secco, R.A., Yong W, Kiarasi, S. and Ezenwa, I.C., (2013) Large Volume High-Pressure Facilities at the University of Western Ontario. Geophysical. Union Meeting, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, May 25-30,2013.
    Volunteer and Activities


  • Facilitated weekly small group discussions with other international students from diverse backgrounds to lessen the challenges international students face in coping with studies.


  • Representation of Earth Science department at Society of Graduate Students in 2012 and 2013 academic year.


  • Participated in raising fund for the less privilege through St Michael's Parish, London, Ontario.


  • Actively involved in the establishment of research collaboration between the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and the University of Western Ontario through Prof. Secco (Assoc. Dean of Science), Prof. Fanchini and Dr. Ezugwu of UWO physics department.

Awards

2018: The most popular author (Thesis): Mineral Physics Commons

2018: Prof. Secco research group award on a significant number of journal publications

2012 Canada region imperial barrel award competition: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)

2011-2017: University of Western Ontario research and teaching award

2011 and 2012: The Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society (KEGS) award

2011: University of Western Ontario international field trip travel expenses award: Western Anatolia, Turkey.