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Research Scientist with 20 years of experience in extraterrestrial sample analysis, advanced materials characterization, and scientific instrumentation. Currently analyzing samples from NASA and JAXA asteroid/comet return missions using electron microscopy, synchrotron techniques, and machine learning.
Gainsforth, Z., Dominguez, G., Amano, K., Matsumoto, M., Fujioka, Y., Kagawa, E., Nakamura, T., Tachibana, S., Morita, T., Kikuiri, M., Yurimoto, H., Noguchi, T., Okazaki, R., Yabuta, H., Naraoka, H., Sakamoto, K., Yada, T., Nishimura, M., Nakato, A., Miyazaki, A., Yogata, K., Abe, M., Okada, T., Usui, T., Yoshikawa, M., Saiki, T., Tanaka, S., Terui, F., Nakazawa, S., Watanabe, S., Tsuda, Y. & Hayabusa2 Initial Analysis Stone Team, Coevolution of phyllosilicate, carbon, sulfide, and apatite in Ryugu’s parent body. Meteoritics and Planetary Science (2024). doi:10.1111/maps.14161
Gainsforth, Z., Westphal, A. J., Butterworth, A. L., Jilly‐Rehak, C. E., Brownlee, D. E., Joswiak, D. J., Ogliore, R. C., Zolensky, M. E., Bechtel, H. A., Ebel, D. S., Huss, G. R., Sandford, S. A. & White, A. J. Fine‐grained material associated with a large sulfide returned from Comet 81P/Wild 2. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 54, 1069–1091 (2019).
Gainsforth, Z., Lauretta, D. S., Tamura, N., Westphal, A. J., Jilly-Rehak, C. E. & Butterworth, A. L. Insights into solar nebula formation of pyrrhotite from nanoscale disequilibrium phases produced by H2S sulfidation of Fe metal. American Mineralogist 102, 1881–1893 (2017).
Gainsforth, Z., Butterworth, A. L., Stodolna, J., Westphal, A. J., Huss, G. R., Nagashima, K., Ogliore, R., Brownlee, D. E., Joswiak, D., Tyliszczak, T. & Simionovici, A. S. Constraints on the formation environment of two chondrule‐like igneous particles from comet 81P/Wild 2. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 50, 976–1004 (2015).
Gainsforth, Z., et al. Stardust Interstellar Preliminary Examination VIII: Identification of crystalline material in two interstellar candidates. Meteoritics and Planetary Science 49, 1645–1665 (2013).
Brownlee, D., et al. Comet 81P/Wild 2 Under a Microscope. Science 314, 1711–1716 (2006).
Dominguez, G., McLeod, A. S., Gainsforth, Z., Kelly, P., Bechtel, H. A., Keilmann, F., Westphal, A. J., Thiemens, M. & Basov, D. N. Nanoscale infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive probe of extraterrestrial samples. Nature Communications 5, 1–10 (2014).
Flynn, G. J., et al. Elemental Compositions of Comet 81P/Wild 2 Samples Collected by Stardust. Science 314, 1731–1735 (2006).
Glavin, D. P. & Dworkin, J. P., et al. Abundant ammonia and nitrogen-rich soluble organic matter in samples from asteroid (101955) Bennu. Nat. Astron. 1–12 (2025). doi:10.1038/s41550-024-02472-9
McCoy, T. J. & Russell, S. S., et al. An evaporite sequence from ancient brine recorded in Bennu samples. Nature 637, 1072–1077 (2025).
Nakamura, T., et al. Formation and evolution of carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu: Direct evidence from returned samples. Science 379, 1–14 (2022).
Ogliore, R. C., Huss, G. R., Nagashima, K., Butterworth, A. L., Gainsforth, Z., Stodolna, J., Westphal, A. J., et al. Incorporation of a Late-forming Chondrule into Comet Wild 2. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 745:L19, 5. (2012). doi:10.1088/2041-8205/745/2/L19
Ogliore, R. C., Butterworth, A. L., Fakra, S. C., Gainsforth, Z., Marcus, M. A., & Westphal, A. J. Comparison of the oxidation state of Fe in comet 81P/Wild 2 and chondritic-porous interplanetary dust particles. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 296(3-4), 278–286. (2010). doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2010.05.011
Ogliore, R. C., Westphal, A. J., Gainsforth, Z., Butterworth, A. L., Fakra, S. C., & Marcus, M. A. Nebular mixing constrained by the Stardust samples. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, (2009). 44(10), 1675–1681
Srama, R., et al. SARIM PLUS—sample return of comet 67P/CG and of interstellar matter. Experimental Astronomy. (2012). doi:10.1007/s10686-011-9285-7
Westphal, A. J., Butterworth, A. L., Tomsick, J. A. & Gainsforth, Z. Measurement of the Oxidation State of Fe in the ISM Using X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy. The Astrophysical Journal 872, 66 (2019).
Westphal, A. J., et al. Evidence for interstellar origin of seven dust particles collected by the Stardust spacecraft. Science 345, 786–791 (2014).
Westphal, A. J., Fakra, S. C., Gainsforth, Z., Marcus, M. A., Ogliore, R. C., & Butterworth, A. L. Mixing Fraction of Inner Solar System Material in Comet 81P/Wild2. The Astrophysical Journal, 694, 18. (2009). doi:10.1088/0004-637X/694/1/18
Westphal, A. J., et al. Discovery of non-random spatial distribution of impacts in the Stardust cometary collector. Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 43, 415. (2008).
