BUMSOO KIM, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
Brown University
bumsoo_kim@brown.edu


I am an organic geochemist, paleoceanographer, and planetary scientist with a deep-seated passion for studying a variety of scientific disciplines, ranging from marine biogeochemistry, (paleo)climatology to astrobiology. I am currently a science team member of NASA OSIRIS-REx, focusing on studying complex molecular compounds on returned asteroid “Bennu” samples.

My research centers on using advanced geochemical and isotopic approaches on geological samples, from Earth’s sedimentary archives (e.g., lake/marine sediments) to extraterrestrial material (e.g., meteorites, asteroid material), to study the fundamental biogeochemical processes on Earth and evolution of life on planetary systems.

I love playing with analytical instruments - gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and isotope ratio mass spectrometry - for hunting molecular fossils and measuring their compound-specific stable isotopes.
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Aside from research, I enjoy scuba diving (PADI Rescue Diver), watching movies, and traveling with my wife and kids (Ryan and Rosalind). 
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Education
Ph.D. Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 2022
M.S. Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, 2016
B.S. Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, 2014