Research Interests

My research focuses on the chemical evolution of the solar system and the accretion and differentiation history of asteroids and planets. More precisely, I am working on the origin and the nature of the planetary raw materials, the timescales of planetary accretion and the evolution of the chemical composition of planetary bodies during their accretion and differentiation history. To address these questions, I use high-precision isotope ratio and trace element studies of different types of planetary materials, such as terrestrial rocks, meteorites, lunar samples, and impact rocks.

Analytical Expertise

Isotope geo- and cosmochemistry

• Radiogenic isotopes (Re-Os, Pd-Ag, Hf-W, Sm-Nd)
• Mass-independent stable isotopic variations (Ru, Mo)
• Mass-dependent stable isotopic variations (Ru, Mo; double spikes)
• Secondary neutron capture-induced isotope shifts (Pd, Ag, Pt)
• Isotope dilution concentration determination (HSE: Re, Os, Ir, Ru, Pt, Pd; Ag, W, Hf)

Mass spectrometry

• Multi collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS): Neoma, NeptunePlus, Isoprobe
• Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS): Triton
• Single collector quadrupole and sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS): Element2, X-Series2, iCap

Development of novel analytical procedures for

• Precise isotope ratio measurements
• Low-blank trace element concentration determination

Selected Publications

• Fischer-Gödde M., Tusch J., Goderis S., Bragagni A., Mohr-Westheide T., Messling N., Elfers B.-M., Schmitz B., Reimold W. U., Maier W. D., Claeys P., Koeberl C., Tissot F. L. H., Bizzarro M. and Münker C. (2024). Ruthenium isotopes show the Chicxulub impactor was a carbonaceous-type asteroid. Science 385, 752-756.
  Link for free access: https://www.science.org/stoken/author-tokens/ST-2052/full
• Fischer-Gödde M., Elfers B.-M., Münker C., Szilas K., Maier W. D., Messling N., Morishita T., Van Kranendonk M. and Smithies H. (2020). Ruthenium isotope vestige of Earth’s pre-late veneer mantle. Nature 579, 240-244.
• Fischer-Gödde M. and Kleine T. (2017). Ruthenium isotopic evidence for an inner solar system origin of the late veneer. Nature 541, 525-527.

Teaching

University of Cologne:

• Isotope geochemistry, lectures and laboratory course (MSc)
• Formation and evolution of the solar system (MSc)
• Cyprus field excursion (MSc)
• Siebengebirge field excursion (BSc)

Former:

• Formation and evolution of the solar system (MSc, University of Münster)
• Planetology laboratory course (MSc, University of Münster)
• Interdisciplinary seminar (MSc, University of Münster)
• Optical microscopy of rock forming minerals (BSc, University of Münster)
• Field excursion Harz Mountains (BSc, University of Münster)
• Introduction to plasma source mass spectrometry (MSc, Freie Universität Berlin)
• Laboratory methods in geo- and hydrogeochemistry (BSc, Freie Universität Berlin)