Professor Emerita Jill D. Pasteris retired in December 2020, after 41 years at Washington University. She was a committed and well-respected member of the teaching faculty in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences (or Earth and Planetary Sciences, as it was known previously). During her teaching career she was revered by students and faculty alike. Longtime colleague, Scott Rudolph Professor Emeritus Bradley Jolliff, says 

“Her dedication to teaching and to her students through her courses on mineralogy and Earth materials made a huge impression on the students. Not only was she a pioneer in the use of Raman spectroscopy in the geosciences, but she mentored many, many students. Her legacy will be split between her research record and the preparation of her students to be scientifically well educated citizens who are literate in - if not working in - the geosciences.”

Much of her research involved the application of laser Raman spectroscopy to geological materials. Over the course of her career, she was involved in many multi-disciplinary collaborations across the fields of economic geology, mineralogy, environmental geochemistry, and more. A full bibliography of Professor Pasteris’ papers can be found by visiting this link.

The Geochemical Society and European Association of Geochemistry bestow the honorary title of Geochemistry Fellow to outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of geochemistry. This title recognizes the scientific excellence and impact of Professor Pasteris’ work. To read more about this award and the 2026 recipients please visit the web page, here.