Candidates for Chair-Elect
Bryant Nelson, NIST, ACS Member Since 1997
Election Statement: In my professional capacity as a staff chemist at NIST for the past 24 y, I have come to deeply appreciate the importance of having well-defined “standards” when developing reference methods and reference materials that will be used by clinicians to accurately diagnose diseases, when developing guidance documents that may directly influence decision-making in relation to international trade agreements, when making the necessary decisions regarding the appropriate funding levels for new projects and programs and when faced with the decision to go forward with a personnel recruitment or replacement. A proper understanding of how standards are developed, implemented, and used for the betterment of humanity is a critical component of modern society. After all, the use and implementation of standards was directly written into the US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8 “The Congress shall have the power … to coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin … and fix the standard of weights and measures … (1788)”.
I have been extremely involved in outreach to STEM students and professional scientists and engineers to advance the status and understanding of the chemical sciences, and in particular, the many roles that standards in chemistry play in facilitating the translation of ideas and experimental data into innovative applications and solutions to real world problems. In my 5 years as a Councilor for the Analytical Chemistry Division, I was able to thoughtfully advise the Governing Board and the Division members (including ACS members outside of the Division) on the key challenges directly related to new member recruitment and new member engagement (volunteering). I have actively contributed to the strategic goals of the Division by (1) participating as a Member of Project SEED (serving on the Scholarship subcommittee and as co-Chair of the Awards subcommittee), (2) representing the Division on the Multidisciplinary Program Planning Group of the Divisional Activities Committee (providing input to the planning of National Meeting programming from the Analytical Chemistry Division’s perspective) and (3) serving as the Volunteer Coordination Chair (assisting in the recruitment and/or placement of Division members and non-members on one of the Division’s ten service committees). Based on my recent Division service activity, my vision for serving as the Chair of the Division can be summarized as follows: In an era of declining ACS membership in general, I intend to revitalize our Division by leveraging the Division’s strengths to create a more engaging and impactful experience for its current members and for its new members. My vision includes the following key ideas:
- Prioritize member engagement. Rather than simply retaining members or recruiting new members, The Division needs to strive to create more opportunities for members to connect with each other, share their research and insights, and collaborate on projects and initiatives. In other words, the Division needs to focus on clarifying and communicating a clear value proposition for membership. This will involve potentially redesigning or enhancing some of our existing programs and events (such as the development of mini-conferences and hosting more webinars showcasing outstanding national and international research), as well as exploring new channels for member engagement (such as virtual networking platforms) and making available more tangible resources (by establishing direct contacts in industry, government and academia) for career development.
- Embrace innovation. The Division needs to invest in the development of innovative programming and technical outputs that are designed to meet the needs and interests of an astute and intellectually driven membership. This will involve investing in new digital tools that are designed to promote networking and collaboration among members, exploring emerging trends and areas of research in the chemical sciences (such as biotechnology, materials science, or sustainability), or pursuing new partnerships and collaborations with chemists and chemical researchers in other parts of the world to expand the Division’s global reach and impact.
- Foster diversity, equity, and inclusivity. To ensure that all members feel welcome and valued in our Division, I suggest that the Division needs to be proactive by prioritizing initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the chemical sciences. This might include creating innovative programs or resources for underrepresented groups in the chemical sciences, increasing the representation of diverse groups in leadership positions within the Division, or providing training or support to Division members on issues related to diversity and inclusion.
In conclusion, as part of the Division’s Executive Committee, I advocated and promoted innovative ideas for recruiting and retaining young analytical chemists in the Division. And I will continue to endeavor to establish educational programs and learning tools targeted toward our newest members (STEM students and young professionals) that will facilitate a deep appreciation for exacting standards in the chemical enterprise. I believe that the new scientists entering our profession are critical to the stability and long-term growth of the Society and if we develop in them an understanding of how and why standards are necessary for good decision-making, both in the practice of chemistry and in the setting of good chemical sciences policy, then our Division will continue to make a positive impact on the chemical enterprise and create a more dynamic, inclusive, and impactful community for chemists and chemical engineers.
Jeffrey R. Gilbert, Corteva Agriscience, ACS Member Since 1985
Jeff joined the Dow Chemical Company in 1990 in the Research Assignments program (RAP), where he pursued several of 6-month research projects in research and manufacturing sites across the country. Jeff then spent 4 years developing novel bioanalytical approaches in the Dow Health and Environmental Laboratory in Midland Michigan, before joining Dow AgroSciences Indianapolis in 1995. Since then, he has established a cutting-edge mass spectrometry (MS) facility which develops and applies novel MS-based techniques in the discovery, development, registration, and defense of new crop protection technologies. His lab performs a wide range of analyses, supporting projects ranging from natural product discovery, metabolite and impurity identification, to proteomics, protein characterization, lipidomics, and metabolomics. In this role, Jeff has authored dozens of patents, publications, and presentations, and mentored numerous scientists across both industry and academia. Throughout his career, Jeff has been extensively involved with undergraduate chemical education, regularly lecturing at regional universities on career opportunities in chemistry. He has served as an adjunct faculty at Butler University for over 20 years, teaching special topics courses in mass spectrometry. Jeff is currently a Distinguished Fellow and the Technical Leader of the Mass Spectrometry Center at Corteva Agriscience.
The ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry serves as a critical link between the public and both the academic and industrial scientific communities. By establishing scientifically and socially-relevant programming and recognition at the local, regional, and national level, it provides a unique forum for the scientific development of current and future generations of analytical chemists. If elected as a Chair-Elect, I will serve as an advocate for advancing these industry and academic collaborations in the field of Analytical Chemistry to the betterment of science and society
Ljiljana Paša-Tolić, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, ACS Member Since 1995
Election Statement: Thank you for considering me for Chair-elect of the ACS Analytical Division. ACS plays a critical role in promoting chemistry and science and providing a framework for advances in the field. It would be a great honor and joy to serve in this role as the Society and Division continue to evolve to benefit its broad and diverse membership and build cooperative relationships with other scientific organizations across academia, industry, and government. Interdisciplinary science is critical for the development of new analytical capabilities, which drive and support innovative solutions for human health, energy, and global environmental challenges. I would welcome the opportunity to serve the Division by engaging and diversifying our membership, and actively creating opportunities to inspire and encourage interdisciplinary teamwork for breakthrough science. If elected, I will enthusiastically execute the vision of advancing the science of chemical characterization and measurement, embrace the mission of developing a vibrant and inclusive community that supports individual career advancement and analytical chemistry as a whole, and continue the legacy of advocating on behalf of analytical chemistry and science.
Candidates for Secretary
Jonathan Shackman, Bristol Meyers Squibb, ACS Member Since 2001
Election Statement: I am fortunate to have been elected to the Executive Committee of the ACS Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry for three terms. Over the past several years, the Subdivision as a whole has been highly active, administering the Young Investigator’s award and symposia, rolling out a new grant program, partnering with CHROMacademy, modernizing our logo and internet presence, blogging in LCGC Magazine, hosting a career building panel at Pittcon, and several more endeavors. Beyond my time spent with the Subdivision, I believe I can bring my unique perspective to the Division level, having served in three major arenas during my professional career (government, industry, and academics), and can present a viewpoint across a breadth of professional analytical chemists. Additionally, if elected, I offer my commitment to provide a high-energy capacity to meet all the Analytical Division’s directives.
Michelle Rivard, Dow, Inc., ACS Member Since 2005
Election Statement: I like to think that my love of chemistry is infectious, and nothing brings me greater joy than translating that passion into real impact at Dow, ACS, and in my local community. For me, being an Analytical Chemist isn’t just a ‘day job.’ When I’m not in the lab, I love to be an advocate for chemical technology to the next generation. Using my passion, connections and solutionist mind set, I have been able to advance and promote The Division of Analytical Chemistry (ANYL) vision to a diverse group of next generation scientists. As Secretary, I would continue to support and maintain the efforts of ANYL.
Candidates for Councilor
Amit Vaish, Amgen, ACS Member Since 2006
Election Statement: I am proud to be a candidate for Councilor of ACS Analytical Division (ANYL). I have been involved with ANYL in successfully organizing two different symposiums with invited speakers from different backgrounds ranging from biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and analytical instrument companies to National Institutes of Health (NIH) and academic institutions. I believe that my industrial background will bring a different perspective to ANYL. My goal would be to work with ANYL Executive Committee to incorporate few industry-focused programs, which would provide a good platform for academia-industry collaboration and create an opportunity for professional development of young scientists.
Fabiany Cruz, State University of Southwestern Bahia, ACS Member Since 2022
Election Statement: The current moment in society has shown us how different regions, even if miles apart, are connected. However, being in a developing country, with political and economic instability still imposes distance on the sharing of research and ideas that can bring solutions for the chemical science of the future. My goal in applying for this position is to cooperate with one more voice from Latin America, more precisely from Brazil, to show and discuss realities to achieve more and more contributions in the construction of this science that can collaborate a lot to improve quality of life and establish a better world for all with contributions from all corners.
Jacquelyn Jhingree, Pfizer, ACS Member Since 2021
Election Statement: My scientific expertise is in biological mass spectrometry and analytical method development. My current role (in industry) is in the development and application of methods to characterize candidate vaccines and biotherapeutics. I am fortunate to have a science education in three countries in three continents thereby offering a diverse perspective. Throughout my time as a student and in my professional career thus far (in both academia and industry) I have been involved in various roles that sought to communicate science to the public, bring awareness to equity and diversity issues and serve various bodies aimed at improving the professional development of members they represented. I would be honored to take up the role of councilor for the Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society and further serve the analytical science community.
Jeffrey Dick, Purdue University, ACS Member Since 2016
Election Statement: I am looking forward to serving the broader analytical chemistry community if called to serve. My passions are in the creative pursuit of new knowledge and communicating that knowledge to peers, students, and the broader public. While my background is in electroanalytical chemistry, I am a firm believer that the development of new measurement science tools enables new discoveries. I also have a passion for diversity and inclusion and have worked to make changes at my institutions (e.g., advocating for getting rid of GRE requirements and graduate school application fees) to enhance the diversity of the graduate student body.