PHY 2330
John S. Toll Physics Building
4150 Campus Drive
College Park, MD 20742

bfarcy [at] umd [dot] edu

M-CLASS Laboratory

OrcID

My research is focused on in situ geochemical measurements of planetary surfaces, and the instrumentation used in these applications. Here, I am constructing and testing a miniature prototype Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) and characterizing its ability to perform as an instrument for spaceflight. The physics of the plasma, the geochemical systems that can be measured, and the overall instrument and mission architecture are all part of my Ph.D work. I have also previously worked on characterizing the heat producing element (K, Th, and U) content of the Earth and Moon.

Prior to joining the UMD geology department, I worked at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center developing mass spectrometry techniques for detecting organic molecules on planetary surfaces, and studying the formation of prebiotic molecules on the early Earth.