Dr Natasha Almeida

Dr Natasha Almeida

Curator, Meteorites

Department: Earth Sciences
Division: ES Mineral and Planetary Sciences Division

Summary

My research focuses on the use of micro-computed tomography in the study of extraterrestrial material, including a variety of meteorites, as well as NASA Apollo samples. I am interested in how this non-destructive technique can be applied to provide new insights into the processes of the early Solar System through 3D imaging in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy and other techniques.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • Ph.D., Natural History Museum & Birkbeck College, London, London, 2013 - 2017
  • MA Museum Studies, University College London, United Kingdom, 2011 - 2012
  • MSci Planetary Science, University College London, United Kingdom, 2004 - 2008

Employment history

    Non-academic

    Curator, Meteorites, Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences, United Kingdom, 2018 - ongoing

    Postdoctoral Researcher, Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences, United Kingdom, 2018 - 2018

    Meteorites Curator, Natural History Museum, 2017 - 2018

    Curation Assistant, Meteorites, Natural History Museum, 2014 - 2017

Publications

Almeida NV, Schofield PF, Geraki K, Russell SS (2019) RELICT FORSTERITE IN UNEQUILIBRATED ENSTATITE CHONDRITES. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 54 :

Krzesińska AM, Almeida NV (2019) Evidence of shock-induced vaporization of matrix to form porosity in Baszkówka, a porous L5 chondrite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 54 (1) : 54 - 71. doi: 10.1111/maps.13190

Allender EJ, Orgel C, Almeida NV, Cook J, Ende JJ, Kamps O, Mazrouei S, Slezak TJ, Soini A-J, Kring DA (2019) Traverses for the ISECG-GER design reference mission for humans on the lunar surface. Advances in Space Research, 63 (1) : 692 - 727. doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2018.08.032

Krzesinska AM, Schofield PF, Smith CL, Salge T, Almeida NV, Russell SS (2017) VOLATILE METAL-BEARING PHASES ASSOCIATED WITH CUMULUS PIGEONITE IN CHASSIGNY - INDICATIONS FOR THE PETROGENESIS. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 52 : A184 - A184.

Krzesinska AM, Schofield PF, Smith CL, Salge T, Almeida NV, Russell SS (2017) Volatile Metal-bearing Phases Associated with Cumulus Pigeonite in Chasisgny – Indications for the Petrogenesis. 80th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Soceity, Meteoritics and Planetary Science S1 (52) : Wiley : 6238 - 6238.

Almeida NV, Krzesinska AM, Smith CL, Downes H, Russell SS (2016) A Three-Dimensional Survey of Metal Grain Size Distribution in Ordinary Chondrites: Effects of Metamorphism. 79th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, Meteoritics and Planetary Science S1 (51) : Meteoritical Society : 6230 - 6230.

Almeida NV, Smith CL, Sykes D, Downes H, Ahmed F, Russell SS (2015) QUANTIFYING THE DEFORMATION OF LEOVILLE CHONDRULES IN 3D: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE POST-ACCRETIONAL HISTORY OF THE CV3 PARENT BODY. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 50 :

Almeida NV, Smith CL, Sykes D, Downes H, Ahmed F, Russell SS (2014) FINDING "PEBBLES" IN BARWELL WITH X-RAY MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (mu CT). METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 49 : A15 - A15.

Almeida NV, Smith CL, Sykes D, Downes H, Ahmed F, Russell SS (2014) LOCATING POROSITY IN CHONDRITES WITH X-RAY MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (mu CT). METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 49 : A16 - A16.

Smith CL, Sykes D, Almeida N, Ahmed F (2013) X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY OF MARTIAN METEORITES - CURRENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH/CURATION APPLICATIONS. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 48 : A321 - A321.

Almeida NV, Downes H, Smith CL, Greenwood RC, Hellmann JL, Kleine T, Franchi IA, Russell SS (2017) IGNEOUS INCLUSIONS IN THE BARWELL L6 CHONDRITE. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 52 : A3 - A3.

Supervision

Doctorate (PhD) Adviser to zenie L
Co supervisor(s): Schofield P
The Evolution of Material in the Inner Solar System: Elucidating the History of Enstatite Chondrites.

Funding: STFC
1/10/2019 - on going.

Invited and keynote speaker

On the use of X-ray μ-CT for curation and conservation of cultural heritage artefacts, ToScA North America Symposium 2019: University of Florida, 6/3/2019.

Introduction

Summary

My research focuses on the use of micro-computed tomography in the study of extraterrestrial material, including a variety of meteorites, as well as NASA Apollo samples. I am interested in how this non-destructive technique can be applied to provide new insights into the processes of the early Solar System through 3D imaging in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy and other techniques.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • Ph.D., Natural History Museum & Birkbeck College, London, London, 2013 - 2017
  • MA Museum Studies, University College London, United Kingdom, 2011 - 2012
  • MSci Planetary Science, University College London, United Kingdom, 2004 - 2008

Employment history

    Non-academic

    Curator, Meteorites, Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences, United Kingdom, 2018 - ongoing

    Postdoctoral Researcher, Natural History Museum, Earth Sciences, United Kingdom, 2018 - 2018

    Meteorites Curator, Natural History Museum, 2017 - 2018

    Curation Assistant, Meteorites, Natural History Museum, 2014 - 2017

Publications

Publications

Almeida NV, Schofield PF, Geraki K, Russell SS (2019) RELICT FORSTERITE IN UNEQUILIBRATED ENSTATITE CHONDRITES. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 54 :

Krzesińska AM, Almeida NV (2019) Evidence of shock-induced vaporization of matrix to form porosity in Baszkówka, a porous L5 chondrite. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 54 (1) : 54 - 71. doi: 10.1111/maps.13190

Allender EJ, Orgel C, Almeida NV, Cook J, Ende JJ, Kamps O, Mazrouei S, Slezak TJ, Soini A-J, Kring DA (2019) Traverses for the ISECG-GER design reference mission for humans on the lunar surface. Advances in Space Research, 63 (1) : 692 - 727. doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2018.08.032

Krzesinska AM, Schofield PF, Smith CL, Salge T, Almeida NV, Russell SS (2017) VOLATILE METAL-BEARING PHASES ASSOCIATED WITH CUMULUS PIGEONITE IN CHASSIGNY - INDICATIONS FOR THE PETROGENESIS. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 52 : A184 - A184.

Krzesinska AM, Schofield PF, Smith CL, Salge T, Almeida NV, Russell SS (2017) Volatile Metal-bearing Phases Associated with Cumulus Pigeonite in Chasisgny – Indications for the Petrogenesis. 80th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Soceity, Meteoritics and Planetary Science S1 (52) : Wiley : 6238 - 6238.

Almeida NV, Krzesinska AM, Smith CL, Downes H, Russell SS (2016) A Three-Dimensional Survey of Metal Grain Size Distribution in Ordinary Chondrites: Effects of Metamorphism. 79th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, Meteoritics and Planetary Science S1 (51) : Meteoritical Society : 6230 - 6230.

Almeida NV, Smith CL, Sykes D, Downes H, Ahmed F, Russell SS (2015) QUANTIFYING THE DEFORMATION OF LEOVILLE CHONDRULES IN 3D: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE POST-ACCRETIONAL HISTORY OF THE CV3 PARENT BODY. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 50 :

Almeida NV, Smith CL, Sykes D, Downes H, Ahmed F, Russell SS (2014) FINDING "PEBBLES" IN BARWELL WITH X-RAY MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (mu CT). METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 49 : A15 - A15.

Almeida NV, Smith CL, Sykes D, Downes H, Ahmed F, Russell SS (2014) LOCATING POROSITY IN CHONDRITES WITH X-RAY MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (mu CT). METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 49 : A16 - A16.

Smith CL, Sykes D, Almeida N, Ahmed F (2013) X-RAY MICROTOMOGRAPHY OF MARTIAN METEORITES - CURRENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH/CURATION APPLICATIONS. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 48 : A321 - A321.

Almeida NV, Downes H, Smith CL, Greenwood RC, Hellmann JL, Kleine T, Franchi IA, Russell SS (2017) IGNEOUS INCLUSIONS IN THE BARWELL L6 CHONDRITE. METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 52 : A3 - A3.

Teaching and students

Supervision

Doctorate (PhD) Adviser to zenie L
Co supervisor(s): Schofield P
The Evolution of Material in the Inner Solar System: Elucidating the History of Enstatite Chondrites.

Funding: STFC
1/10/2019 - on going.

Impact and outreach

Invited and keynote speaker

On the use of X-ray μ-CT for curation and conservation of cultural heritage artefacts, ToScA North America Symposium 2019: University of Florida, 6/3/2019.