Analytical Chemists Recognized for Excellence in Spectroscopy Research at EAS 2024

The 2024 Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) in Plainsboro, New Jersey, spotlighted cutting-edge innovations in analytical spectroscopy. This annual event attracts analytical scientists from across the globe and honors pioneers advancing research in fields such as vibrational spectroscopy and magnetic resonance.

Igor Lednev, Williams-Raycheff Professor of Chemistry and a SUNY Distinguished Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, was honored with the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievement in Vibrational Spectroscopy.

This year, Igor Lednev, Williams-Raycheff Professor of Chemistry and a SUNY Distinguished Professor at the University at Albany, State University of New York, was honored with the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievement in Vibrational Spectroscopy. Lednev also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and is a faculty member of the RNA Institute. Lednev is also the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of SupreMEtric, which is commercializing a universal method for identifying body fluid traces in forensic investigations. He also co-founded Early Diagnostics, a company focused on developing saliva- and blood-based tests for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

Read More: Identification of Body Fluid Traces for Forensic Purposes: An Interview with Igor Lednev

Lednev provided an overview of across a variety of areas including forensic science, biomedical applications, and biochemistry. His work established a new field of Raman spectroscopy dedicated to analyzing biological stains for forensic purposes. He also developed advanced methods for analyzing gunshot residue, hair, and other trace evidence from crime scenes. Lednev has also patented noninvasive screening tests for Alzheimer’s disease and Sjögren’s syndrome, offering transformative diagnostic tools. His recent breakthroughs include an in-situ test for assessing mRNA vaccine stability using deep ultraviolet (UV) Raman spectroscopy and a novel drug discovery method employing single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Rachel Martin, the winner of the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Magnetic Resonance, also presented her work developing specialized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes for studying semisolid biological materials. These are an important class of samples that include membranes, hydrogels, and condensates. Martin and her group at the University of California, Irvine, developed a switched angle spinning probe for dipolar recoupling in partially ordered systems, as well as multi-channel magic angle spinning probes for multinuclear NMR extensively deuterated samples.

Martin earned her BS in Chemistry from Arizona State University in 1997 and pursued graduate studies at Yale in Kurt Zilm’s lab, where she contributed to building a balanced triple resonance MAS probe for high-resolution protein NMR experiments. This innovation facilitated rapid protein crystallization methods and enabled the collection of some of the first high-resolution protein spectra. After completing her Ph.D. in 2002, Martin conducted postdoctoral research with Alex Pines at UC Berkeley, advancing NMR and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies for unconventional experimental setups. Her work included designing unique magnets and exploring NMR applications for oriented samples and biological semi-solids.

Jeanne Pemberton, Regents Professor and the John and Helen Schaefer Professor of Chemistry at the University of Arizona, is the 2024 winner of the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Analytical Chemistry. Pemberton earned a B.S. in Chemistry with Distinction and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Delaware in 1977, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981. Later that year, she began her academic career as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Arizona, eventually rising to Professor, and was appointed the John and Helen Schaefer Professor of Chemistry in 2001 and Regents Professor in 2005.

Her research focuses on surface and interfacial chemistry, particularly using molecular spectroscopic probes to study complex interfaces. Pemberton’s work has led to over 250 scientific publications, 10 patents and patent applications, and the creation of GlycoSurf, which provides industry and academic researchers with molecules that are high-purity, eco-friendly, and tailored for specific applications.