Professor Mary J. Wirth, W. Brooks Fortune Distinguished Professor Emerita at Purdue University, has been named the winner of the 2023 EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Separation Science. This award is presented in recognition of significant individual contributions in the advancement of separation science by superior work in developing theory, techniques, or instrumentation. The award is to be presented at a special symposium, arranged in honor of the awardee, at the 2023 Eastern Analytical Symposium on Monday, November 13, at 9 am.
Professor Wirth received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Northern Illinois University, where she became fascinated by separation science while taking a graduate course from Joseph Pesek. She received her Ph.D. from Purdue University, working under the direction of Fred Lytle, where she learned to invent new instrumentation to investigate chemical phenomena. Wirth’s research interests have focused on understanding silica interfaces to advance chromatography, electrophoresis, and optical spectroscopy, for which she employed tools such as optical microscopy, atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), and single-molecule spectroscopy.
Her research has been recognized with awards that include the Spectrochemical Analysis Award from the ACS Analytical Division, the Gold Medal Award from the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, the Dal Nogare Award from the Chromatography Forum of the Delaware Valley, the Jubilee Award from the Chromatography Society (Europe), and the EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Fields of Analytical Chemistry.
The program for the award ceremony is as follows:
New Study Provides Insights into Chiral Smectic Phases
March 31st 2025Researchers from the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences have unveiled new insights into the molecular arrangement of the 7HH6 compound’s smectic phases using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy.
Exoplanet Discovery Using Spectroscopy
March 26th 2025Recent advancements in exoplanet detection, including high-resolution spectroscopy, adaptive optics, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data analysis, are significantly improving our ability to identify and study distant planets. These developments mark a turning point in the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system.
Using Spectroscopy to Reveal the Secrets of Space
March 25th 2025Scientists are using advanced spectroscopic techniques to probe the universe, uncovering vital insights about celestial objects. A new study by Diriba Gonfa Tolasa of Assosa University, Ethiopia, highlights how atomic and molecular physics contribute to astrophysical discoveries, shaping our understanding of stars, galaxies, and even the possibility of extraterrestrial life.