Tirzah Abbott, MS
SEM Facility Manager
Office: Tech, #AG92
847-467-0789
Personal Statement
As the EPIC-SEM Facility Manager, Tirzah oversees operations in the SEM/FIB facilities, trains new users on instrumentation, maintains instruments, and works to keep new, cutting-edge tools available. She is also a PhD student in the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) department at Northwestern working with Prof. Steve Jacobsen. Tirzah is passionate about outreach and education and works to develop educational material for students and users at all levels on electron microscopy (K-12, up to graduate level). In 2021, Tirzah co-founded the annual Women in Microscopy Conference, a virtual conference that highlights trailblazing women in the field of microscopy, and early career professionals.
Research Objectives and Approach
Tirzah’s research focuses on using electron diffraction techniques in the SEM (EBSD/TKD) and FIB, specifically applied to problems in earth and planetary science. She is currently working on characterizing high-pressure mineral polymorphs formed in shocked meteorites as an analog for deep-earth mineral formation processes.
Educational & Research Background
| PhD Student, Northwestern University - Earth & Planetary Sciences-Mineral Physics |
| M.S. Northern Illinois University - Earth and Environmental Sciences – Geochemistry |
| B.S. Beloit College - Geology |