Celebrating Women in Spectroscopy

Today, the United Nations General Assembly is celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science at the UNESCO headquarters (1). The day promotes full and equal access to science for women and girls, recognizing the critical role that women have played in advancing science and technology.

To mark this day, Spectroscopy is showcasing the vital contributions of women in the field, highlighting their impact on forensic analysis, environmental science, optical engineering, and beyond.

Female doctor using a microscope and examining glass beakers during research in a hospital laboratory, scientist working with modern technology in a clinical lab. Generated by AI. | Image Credit: © CinimaticWorks - stock.adobe.com

The Future of Forensic Analysis: An Interview with Brooke Kammrath

Brooke Kammrath, a forensic science professor at the University of New Haven, transitioned from teaching to forensic chemistry, earning an MS in forensic science and a PhD in criminal justice. Her research focuses on microscopy-spectroscopy integration, trace evidence analysis, and portable instrumentation (2). A certified criminalist, she has co-authored multiple books and serves in leadership roles across forensic and spectroscopy organizations (2). In this interview, Kammrath discusses her career, collaborations, and spectroscopy’s evolving role in forensic analysis.

Measuring Microplastics in Remote and Pristine Environments

Aleksandra Karapetrova of the University of California, Riverside, recently teamed up with Win Cowger of the Moore Institute to study microplastic (MP) pollution, focusing on its atmospheric transport. Using µ-FTIR spectroscopy and Open Specy software, Karapetrova and Cowger analyzed MPs in remote snow along the U.S. West Coast (3). Their research highlights how MPs travel long distances via wind and precipitation, reaching even isolated regions (3). In this interview, they discuss their findings, emphasizing the environmental and human health risks posed by airborne microplastics.

EAS 2024: Interviewing Rachel Martin, Winner of the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Magnetic Resonance

Rachel Martin is a chemistry professor at UC Irvine. Last year at the Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) conference, she received the 2024 EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Magnetic Resonance (4). With a Ph.D. from Yale, Martin’s research focuses on solid-state and solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), protein structure, and membrane proteins (4). At EAS, she sat down with Spectroscopy to discuss her award, current research, and the future of NMR (4). Martin’s contributions continue to shape the field of magnetic resonance, advancing analytical science and molecular understanding.

SciX 2024: An Interview on Mentorship with Anita Mahadevan-Jansen

Anita Mahadevan-Jansen is the director of Vanderbilt’s Biophotonics Center and SPIE President. She specializes in optical diagnostics, neurophotonics, and image-guided surgery. She has reviewed for nearly two dozen journals and served as an editor for Journal of Biomedical Optics, Neurophotonics, and Applied Spectroscopy (5). In 2002, she founded the Biomedical Vibrational Spectroscopy conference at Photonics West BiOS. Her work advances optical techniques for pathology diagnosis and neuromodulation, shaping the future of biophotonics (5).

In this interview, Mahadevan-Jansen talks about mentorship in analytical science while touching on her background and experience.

SciX 2024: An Interview on Mentorship with Ellen Miseo

Ellen Miseo is a key opinion leader in the field of vibrational spectroscopy. She is trained as a physical chemist and has spent her career working for instrument companies or running laboratory operations (6). She also previously served as president of the Coblentz Society and the Society for Applied Spectroscopy (6).

In this interview conducted by assistant editor Aaron Acevedo and associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich, Miseo answers several questions related to mentorship in analytical science (she also expands on this topic here).

Inside the Laboratory: The Calhoun Laboratory at the University of Tennessee

Tessa Calhoun is an associate professor of biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology and chemistry at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Her research contributions to biological and clinical analysis involve using optical techniques, such as second harmonic scattering (SHS), to probe how living bacterial membranes uptake and transport small molecules, including antibiotics (7). In this interview, Calhoun dives deeper into her laboratory’s work and why it is important.

Artificial Intelligence’s Potential in Microscopy: An Interview with Ana Doblas of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Ana Doblas is a principal investigator at UMass Dartmouth. Her research focuses on exploring the role of AI in micrscopy, particularly digital lensless holographic microscopy (DLHM) (8). With 40+ publications, 80+ conference presentations, and three patents, she integrates research and education to shape future optical technologies (8). At SPIE Photonics West 2024, she discussed deep learning’s impact on reconstruction algorithms and microscopy imaging advancements.

Clara Craver: An Icon of Vibrational Spectroscopy

In this feature article, associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich documents the impact that Clara Craver had on vibrational spectroscopy. Craver is credited with establishing the foundation for modern IR spectroscopy (9).

Icons of Spectroscopy: An Interview with Jeanette Grasselli Brown, Part I

Jeanette Grasselli Brown is an expert in vibrational spectroscopy, instrumental techniques, computerized spectroscopy, process analysis, and environmental spectroscopy. She holds 13 honorary degrees, including one from Ohio University, which offers a research award in her honor (10). Brown has authored 80 papers, nine books, and holds a patent in infrared and Raman spectroscopy (10). From 1989 to 1995, she served as editor of Vibrational Spectroscopy (10). Her contributions span spectroscopy advancements and academic recognition, solidifying her impact on the field. This interview was conducted in three parts. You can view parts two and three here.

Non-Invasive Methods for Studying Papyrus from Ancient Egypt

Spectroscopic techniques are enhancing the analysis of ancient papyrus manuscripts, a paper-like material used from 3100 BC to the 11th century AD across Egypt, southern Italy, the Mediterranean, and the Roman Empire. Arzak Mohamed, a PhD researcher at Macquarie University, employs XRF spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry, Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to study ancient papyri and ink (11). Spectroscopy interviewed Mohamed on how spectroscopy advances aid this research.

References

1. UNESCO, 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science. UNESCO.org. Available at: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/2025-international-day-women-and-girls-science#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20the%20United%20Nations,anniversary%20together%20at%20UNESCO%20Headquarters. (accessed 2025-02-06).
2. Wetzel, W. The Future of Forensic Analysis: An Interview with Brooke Kammrath. Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy Suppl. 2025, 39 (s10), 13–17. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/the-future-of-forensic-analysis-an-interview-with-brooke-kammrath
3. Wetzel, W. Measuring Microplastics in Remote and Pristine Environments. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/measuring-microplastics-in-remote-and-pristine-environments (accessed 2025-02-06).
4. Acevedo, EAS 2024: Interviewing Rachel Martin, Winner of the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Magnetic Resonance. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/eas-2024-an-interview-with-rachel-martin-winner-of-the-eas-award-for-outstanding-achievements-in-magnetic-resonance (accessed 2025-02-06).
5. Hroncich, C.; Acevedo, A. SciX 2024: An Interview on Mentorship with Anita Mahadevan-Jansen. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/scix-2024-an-interview-on-mentorship-with-anita-mahadevan-jansen (accessed 2025-02-06).
6. Hroncich, C.; Acevedo, A. SciX 2024: An Interview on Mentorship with Ellen Miseo. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/scix-2024-an-interview-on-mentorship-with-ellen-miseo (accessed 2025-02-06).
7. Wetzel, W. Inside the Laboratory: The Calhoun Laboratory at the University of Tennessee. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/inside-the-laboratory-the-calhoun-laboratory-at-the-university-of-tennessee (accessed 2025-02-06).
8. Acevedo, A. Artificial Intelligence’s Potential in Microscopy: An Interview with Ana Doblas of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/artificial-intelligence-s-potential-in-microscopy-an-interview-with-ana-doblas-of-the-university-of-massachusetts (accessed 2025-02-06).
9. Hroncich, C. Clara Craver: An Icon of Vibrational Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy 2024, 39 (3), 30–34. DOI: 10.56530/spectroscopy.rx2766r4
10. Hroncich, C. Icons of Spectroscopy: An Interview with Jeanette Grasselli Brown, Part I. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/icons-of-spectroscopy-an-interview-with-jeanette-grasselli-brown-part-i(accessed 2025-02-07).
11. Hroncich, C. Non-Invasive Methods for Studying Papyrus from Ancient Egypt. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/non-invasive-methods-for-studying-papyrus-from-ancient-egypt(accessed 2025-02-07).