Motoo ITO, PhD in Chemistry

My primary interests in geochemistry and cosmochemistry are the formation processes and evolutionary timescales of early solar system materials. I have approached these topics by investigating chemical and isotopical zoning patterns in minerals in extraterrestrial materials (i.e., meteorites, returned samples, micrometeorites) and by constraining major and trace elements diffusion kinetics in silicate minerals. In these endeavors, I have become proficient at using various Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) instruments over the past 25 years, including IMS-3f, 6f, IMS-1270, and NanoSIMS 50L (JSC and JAMSTEC). I have helped to develop and refine new techniques for high-quality isotopic measurement on the micro-scale level, isotope mapping with high precision and depth profiling for diffusion studies.

I have worked on a wide range of research topics, including: (1) timescales of formation of the first solar system solids (i.e., Ca, Al-rich Inclusions), (2) thermal and alteration histories of primitive meteorite parent bodies (3) determination of diffusion kinetic parameters, (4) studies of asteroidal and cometary samples returned by the JAXA Hayabusa and NASA Stardust missions, (5) extraterrestrial organics (i.e., insoluble organic matter) in primitive meteorites, and (6) Planetary exploration mission of the OKEANOS (in-situ isotope/organic molucules measurements utilizing the MULTUM, multi-turn time-of-flight mass spectrometer).

I will participate to the Hayabusa2 mission as a leader of Phase2 Curation "team Kochi" for analyzing return samples by the mission. The team “Kochi” consist of members from the Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, JAMSTEC (KOCHI), JASRI/SPring-8, UVSOR Synchrotron/National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Institute for Molecular Science, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) and Tokyo Metropolitan University, Marine Works Japan, Osaka University, Aichi Synchrotron Radiation Center). We will conduct an in-depth analysis of grains by the state-of-the-artinstruments/techniques and nationwide collaborative research activities.

<Professional Societies>

• Japan Society for Research Policy and Innovation Management

• The Meteoritical Society

• The Geochemical Society of Japan

• The Japanese Society of Planetary Sciences

• Japan Geoscience Union

• The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry

<Employment>

2011-Present Senior research scientist, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology

2009–2011 Research Scientist, NASA Johnson Space Center ARES, and the Lunar and Planetary Institute - USRA

2006-2009 NASA Postdoctoral Program for Senior Research Fellow at Johnson Space Center

(Supported by Oak Ridge Associated Universities)

2005–2006 Lecturer for Fundamental Chemistry Class at Meiji University

2004–2006 Postdoctoral Fellow, Radio Isotope Centre, University of Tokyo

(Supported by JSPS Research Fellowships)

2001–2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona

(Supported by JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research Abroad and JSPS Research Fellowships)

2000–2001 Research Fellow, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology

1999–2000 Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Gakushuin University

1993–1999 Teaching assistant (Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry Experiment)

Department of Chemistry, Gakushuin University

<Contact>

E-mail:motoo(at)jamstec.go.jp ※ Please replace the at with @.