GIA Knowledge Sessions
DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025 @ 1PM EST / 10AM PST
LOCATION: Zoom
Diamonds are more than just beautiful gemstones. Their remarkable combination of properties gives the gemstone a wide range of technological uses – from abrasives and thermal management to quantum, electrochemical and biomedical applications. There are often strict requirements on diamond’s crystal quality, as well as extended and atomic-level defects.
Through decades of extensive research on natural, treated and laboratory-grown diamonds, GIA has developed an in-depth understanding of diamond defects that are relevant for technological applications. GIA is launching a pilot program to analyze diamonds synthesized for these technological applications, providing the industry an avenue to gain detailed knowledge of the materials they are producing.
In this webinar, we will review some of the key analytical techniques used at GIA for diamonds, exploring the features that dictate its suitability for targeted applications.
Dr. Ulrika D’Haenens-Johansson
Dr. Ulrika F.S. D’Haenens-Johansson is the Senior Manager of Diamond Research at GIA. Her area of research is the defect physics of natural, treated and laboratory-grown diamond materials, with particular focus on developing methods for identification and separation. Dr. D’Haenens-Johansson manages the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) lab at GIA, working towards creating reproducible growth procedures for the production of gem-quality diamonds. She joined the New York laboratory as a Research Scientist in 2011, following her master's and Ph.D. degrees in Physics at the University of Warwick, UK. She has published research articles in scientific journals including Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Physical Review B, Applied Optics, and Gems & Gemology.
Dr. Daniel Jones
Dr. Daniel Jones is a research scientist at GIA, developing state-of-the-art instruments for researchers involving multidimensional imaging and spectroscopy of photoluminescence. Dr. Jones joined GIA in 2022. He has a background in advanced spectroscopy and imaging of diamonds, in particular lab-grown (CVD), with an emphasis on instrument development for lab-grown diamonds. He holds a master’s degree in Physics from Aberystwyth University, UK; a master’s degree in diamond science and technology from Warwick University, UK; and a Ph.D. in Physics from Imperial College London, UK. He has published several research articles in scientific journals, both on instrument development and analysis on CVD diamond.
An independent nonprofit organization, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognized as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality.
Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewelry by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism.
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