Chair-Elect
Emanuela Gionfriddo, University of Toledo, ACS Member Since 2001
Election Statement: It is an honor for me to ask for your support as a candidate for Chair Elect of the Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. Since my first research experience in analytical chemistry and separation science during my undergraduate studies, I have always been fascinated by the ability to detangle complex chemical mixtures to shed light on the intriguing composition of the matter. This sparked my interest in separation science applied to chromatography and extraction technologies and encouraged me to build a research group that focuses on providing convenient analytical solutions for characterization of complex samples using microextraction and not only. Aside from research, I am particularly interested into educational outreach, and I especially wish to serve the Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry by establishing and promoting engaging activities for undergraduates and high school students, aimed to highlight the importance that separation science has in our everyday life. Moreover, as a woman in STEM, I am strongly devoted to serving as a role model to encourage women and other underrepresented minorities in science. To achieve this and through my service to the Subdivision of Chromatography and Separation Science, I hope to engage young scientists, especially belonging to underrepresented minorities, in the art of scientific investigation and inspire them to pursue scientific careers.
Secretary
Katelynn Perrault Uptmor, College of William and Mary
Election Statement: I am an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the College of William & Mary. My research specializes in the development of multidimensional separations for the comprehensive characterization of odors of forensic relevance and is supported through several federal grants, foundation grants, and industry support. One of the biggest joys of my career thus far has been mentoring numerous undergraduate researchers as part of my integrated teaching and research program. I am strongly interested in curriculum development for multidimensional separations in undergraduate classes, as well as culturally-sustaining pedagogy for minority students. I have also coordinated and participated in several events aimed at highlighting gender disparity for women and girls in STEM and specifically in analytical chemistry. I have been a member of SCSC since 2019 and after being awarded the Satinder Ahuja Award in 2020, I felt compelled to get involved in the growth of SCSC and have been delighted to be on the Executive Committee for the past two years. As part of SCSC, I have been contributing by serving on award review committees, contributing to the rotating authors of the LCGC blog, promoting SCSC on social media, and attending general meetings of the subdivision. However, I feel that it is time for me to take on further responsibility in the subdivision and to assist my colleagues in a more dedicated way through the role of secretary. I believe that I can bring a perspective on separation science, undergraduate needs, outreach activities, and diversity and inclusion to the SCSC that will assist in generating meaningful and impactful programming in the years to come. The secretary role is especially important in that it is a support role to many of the other committee members, and I look forward to hopefully providing that support to my colleagues through the secretary position.
Treasurer
Jonathan Edelman, Fawn Hall LLC
Election Statement: Jonathan began his career as an analytical chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. He then moved into a sales and marketing capacity finding his love of science was easily and effectively combined with strategic business expansion goals. Since then, he has worked in business development in the chromatography field.
Executive Committee Member
André M. Striegel, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Election Statement: How best to promote chromatography and separations chemistry? How best to make the field welcoming to minorities and women? How best to promote education in this under-funded area? How best to attract industrial scientists into our Subdivision and to encourage them to assist in its governance, to learn from them and to avoid being perceived as an academic bailiwick? All these questions are intimately interrelated; there is no way to effectively answer the first one without also addressing those which follow it. My professional career has spanned the chemical industry, academia, and government. I have seen firsthand through my own involvement as, first, a bench scientist and, then, a lab supervisor, how separation science, while essential, doesn’t operate in a vacuum in the real world, and I’ve lived the challenges created by moving deadlines, shifting budgets, downsizings, and “messy” samples. I’ve taught and mentored graduate and undergraduate students in academia, while also developing innovative separations courses, and tried to inculcate in all my students that integrity and inclusivity walk hand-in-hand with a scientist’s day-to-day activities – in and out of the lab. At NIST, our mission is to promote “innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.” Here, I’ve developed novel separations and detector couplings across various areas of macromolecular separation science, while also performing extensive industrial outreach; serving as co-director of the Material Measurement Laboratory’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, as part of which several hundred undergrads come to NIST for paid fellowships each summer, to learn from our scientists and to contribute to our mission; and serving as part of my Division’s diversity, equity, and inclusivity team. All these activities and experiences, combined with the numerous symposia I’ve organized across various fields, the separations meetings and journals I advise, and the chromatography journal for which I’m editor, have taught me that the only answer to our original question regarding how best to promote chromatography and separations chemistry is an “All of the above” approach. I don’t have all the answers, nor can I do it all (far from it!). I do believe, however, that I can contribute to the amazing team that is the SCSC, to further its mission to amplify awareness of our field while simultaneously increasing its already welcoming status among the greater scientific community.
Executive Commitee Member
Muhammad Qamar Farooq, PPD
Election Statement: I am passionate and eager to contribute towards the advancement of analytical chemistry through the platform of ACS Analytical Chemistry subdivision of Chromatography and Separation Chemistry. My goal is to increase the connection and communication between professional separation scientists and young emerging students with interest in Chromatography and Separation Chemistry. I would also like to increase the activities of subdivision in the Mid-West region.