CV

Last updated May 2026

Contact Information

Name Nan Liu
Professional Title Senior Research Scientist
Email nanliu@bu.edu
Location 725 Commonwealth Avenue Office 416c, Boston, MA 02215
Website https://nan-liu.com

Professional Summary

Cosmochemist studying nuclear astrophysics through isotope analyses of presolar grains — tiny ancient stardust grains that formed before the Sun. The goal is to constrain stellar nucleosynthesis, the origin of the solar system, and Galactic chemical evolution.

Experience

  • 2023 -

    Boston, MA

    Senior Research Scientist
    Boston University
    Institute for Astrophysical Research
  • 2026 - 2026

    Princeton, NJ

    Visitor
    Institute for Advanced Study
    Spring 2026 visit at the School of Natural Sciences
  • 2018 -

    Washington, D.C.

    Visiting Investigator
    Carnegie Institution for Science
    Earth & Planets Laboratory
  • 2018 - 2022

    St. Louis, MO

    Research Assistant Professor of Physics
    Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2014 - 2017

    Washington, D.C.

    Postdoctoral Associate
    Carnegie Institution for Science

Education

  • 2009 - 2014

    Chicago, IL

    Ph.D.
    The University of Chicago
    Cosmochemistry
  • 2005 - 2009

    Hefei, China

    B.E.
    University of Science and Technology of China
    Environmental Science

Awards

  • 2021
    Nier Prize
    Meteoritical Society

    Awarded for outstanding research in meteoritics and closely allied fields by an early-career scientist.

  • 2019
    JINA-CEE Travel Award (p-Process Workshop)
    Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics
  • 2017
    Travel Award (Meteoritical Society Meeting)
    Meteoritical Society
  • 2016
    JINA-CEE Travel Award (Torino Workshop)
    Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics
  • 2016
    Travel Award (Meteoritical Society Meeting)
    Meteoritical Society
  • 2012
    Travel Award (Meteoritical Society Meeting)
    Meteoritical Society
  • 2011 – 2014
    NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship
    NASA

Skills

Microanalytical Techniques (Expert): NanoSIMS, Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry (RIMS), Micro-Raman spectroscopy, FIB-TEM, SEM-EDX
Stellar Nucleosynthesis (Expert): Core-collapse supernovae, Asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, Type Ia supernovae, s-process and neutron-burst nucleosynthesis, Galactic chemical evolution
Computational (Advanced): Python (NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib), Statistical analysis, Machine learning (PCA, clustering)

Languages

English : Fluent
Mandarin : Native

Interests

Research: Presolar grains, Isotopes, Origin of the solar system, Stellar nucleosynthesis