CANDIDATES FOR CHAIR-ELECT
Christopher D. Chouinard, Clemson University
Over the last decade, I have been highly involved with ACS at both the local section and regional levels. I would like the opportunity to combine my experience with analytical chemistry and ACS leadership to the national level to serve the ANYL division.
James Grinias, Rowan University
I am honored to have the opportunity to run for the position of Chair-Elect of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. I firmly believe that analytical chemistry and measurement science play a central role in the scientific endeavor, providing the tools, methods, and techniques that many other branches of research need to operate. Similarly, I believe that the Division can play a central role in helping coordinate activities and programming between members of the analytical chemistry community across the globe. As part of my leadership term, I will help stimulate these types of collaborations by growing existing relationships that the Division has with various groups (Pittcon, SciX and the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies, Eastern Analytical Symposium, etc.) and strengthen our outreach to other analytical communities (Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry, American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Society for Applied Spectroscopy, etc.). Outside of the standard fields, our connections to applied fields that rely heavily upon analytical chemistry should also be developed. I plan on helping build relationships with communities in these areas as well, including (but not limited to) the Society of Forensic Toxicologists, the Association for Mass Spectrometry & Advances in the Clinical Lab, and the Gulf Coast Conference. Within the ACS, I am motivated to develop co-programming (both technical and networking) with other technical divisions (Agricultural & Food Chemistry, Chemical Health & Safety, Chemistry & the Law, etc.) and national committees (Analytical Reagents, Education, Environment & Sustainability, etc.). During my leadership term in the Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry, we helped coordinate such activities with various separation science groups and I look forward to expanding these strategies across the many other areas of chemical analysis.
My other primary goal as the Chair-Elect of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry is to increase overall membership levels by enhancing the membership experience, from the undergraduate level all the way through our retired chemist community. I have been a part of successful fundraising efforts within the Division over the past several years and will build upon this success by developing a small fund to support programming activities conducted by our members, whether technical programming, networking, or scientific outreach. Additionally, in coordination with the Education, Membership, and Younger Chemist subcommittees, I will develop a formal mentorship program with both virtual and in-person activities so that our long-time members can help pass on their knowledge and experience to the newest members of our analytical chemistry community.Â
For the past several years, I have been extremely committed to the Division of Analytical Chemistry, and hope to have the opportunity to further expand the support of our community as the next Chair-Elect.
Yehia Mechref, Texas Tech University
Analytical chemistry continues to play a transformative role in addressing major scientific, biomedical, environmental, and technological challenges. Advances in instrumentation, artificial intelligence, molecular analysis, data science, and translational research are rapidly reshaping the scope and impact of our discipline. The ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts by fostering scientific innovation, supporting emerging researchers, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and strengthening engagement across academia, industry, government laboratories, and international scientific communities.
If elected, I would work to further expand the visibility and impact of the division by promoting cutting-edge scientific programming, strengthening mentorship and career development initiatives, enhancing opportunities for students and early-career investigators, and fostering stronger interactions among analytical chemists working across diverse scientific areas. I also strongly believe in increasing the division’s engagement in emerging areas including translational omics, artificial intelligence-driven analytics, advanced separations, imaging, clinical applications, and environmental and biomedical analytical chemistry.
Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to building collaborative research environments, advancing analytical science through interdisciplinary partnerships, and supporting the next generation of scientists. My experience in research leadership, center development, instrumentation infrastructure, scientific program organization, and national service has provided me with a broad perspective on both the opportunities and challenges facing our field.
Equally important, I would work to strengthen inclusivity, collaboration, and community engagement within the division while maintaining the scientific excellence that has long defined ACS ANYL. Analytical chemistry is central to innovation across the chemical sciences, and I would be honored to contribute to advancing the division’s mission and supporting its continued leadership within ACS and the broader scientific community.
CANDIDATES FOR TREASURER
Wendy C. Flory, Dow, Inc. (Retired)
My passion for analytical chemistry traces back to my undergraduate days, where I collaborated with an Analytical group as a researcher. What captivated me was the practical application of measurement science, which empowers individuals with knowledge. Consequently, my entire chemistry career has been dedicated to the analytical field.
For years, I’ve actively participated in the Midland local section because I firmly believe that advocating for our field is the best way to inspire our communities. By fostering local experiences, we can retain members and significantly enhance the value that ACS membership provides. I continue to serve as an alternate councilor to the board as well as mentor our newer board members.
Recently, I have increased my volunteer involvement at the national level following my retirement. The opportunity to continue serving as the treasurer for the Analytical Division remains deeply fulfilling. Drawing from my experience as the local section Treasurer and my current role as the Financial Committee chair, I am well-positioned to benefit the division. During my first term, I established the Finance Committee to strengthen financial and guide investments that support the division’s long-term stability and growth.
Ljiljana Paša-Tolić, Pacific Northwest National Lab
I would be honored to serve the ACS Analytical Division as Treasurer. My prior experience as Treasurer of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry provided extensive preparation in financial management, including developing responsible budgets, coordinating audits, and guiding strategic investment decisions. I welcome the opportunity to apply this experience to help ensure the Division’s fiscal strength and long-term sustainability. ACS plays a vital role in advancing analytical chemistry, supporting scientific innovation, and developing the next generation of researchers. As new omics technologies, advanced measurement approaches, and interdisciplinary collaborations reshape our field, the Division must remain responsive, inclusive, and forward looking. I am committed to supporting programs that strengthen member engagement, expand opportunities for collaboration, and maintain the Division’s leadership in promoting cutting edge analytical science. If elected, I will prioritize transparent data driven financial decisions that sustain high quality programming, student support, and community building initiatives. I will work collaboratively with Division leadership and listen actively to member needs to ensure the Analytical Division remains a vibrant, supportive, and impactful home for our scientific community. It would be a privilege to serve in this role.
CANDIDATES FOR COUNCILOR
Jin Jia, University of South Florida
I am honored to be a candidate for Councilor of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry. As an assistant professor in Analytical Chemistry at the University of South Florida, I value the Division as both a scientific community and a professional support network, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to represent our members’ perspectives in ACS.
My research program centers on using Raman spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and nanofabrication as complementary tools for single-entity biosensing. I am motivated by a measurement-science mindset: when we build better analytical tools, we enable new questions to be asked and answered with greater chemical specificity, sensitivity, and real-world relevance.
My connection to the Division of Analytical Chemistry has been shaped strongly through conference participation and mentorship experiences. I was grateful to receive a Postdoctoral Conference Travel Award from the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry, which supported my professional development and engagement with the community at the Midwestern Universities Analytical Chemistry Conference (MUACC). Through MUACC, I met many analytical chemistry faculties who are active in the Division and exceptionally supportive of early-stage analytical chemists. Their candid advice about research direction, job applications, and professional growth was not only practical but encouraging, and it reinforced how valuable Division programming can be in creating spaces where people can meet, exchange ideas, and build collaborations that last beyond a single meeting.
If elected, I will serve as a practical link between the Division and the broader ACS Council. My goal is to represent Division members thoughtfully in Council discussions and votes, and then share back, in a clear and timely way, what those decisions mean for our community. I take that responsibility seriously and will actively seek member input so that the priorities and concerns of analytical chemists are heard and reflected. As Councilor, I would prioritize efforts that strengthen early-career support, expand access to mentoring and professional development, and sustain high-quality scientific programming that reflects the full spectrum of analytical chemistry across academia, national laboratories, and industry. I am especially interested in supporting the kinds of Division-organized events that make it easier for students, postdocs, and new faculty to find community, receive frank career guidance, and build the collaborations that drive excellent analytical science.
I would be honored to serve the Division of Analytical Chemistry as Councilor and respectfully ask for your vote.
Kashif Hussain Mangi, QUEST University
Analytical chemistry is a foundational discipline that bridges fundamental science with transformative real-world applications from environmental monitoring and energy systems to pharmaceutical analysis and advanced materials characterization. As a chemical engineer with a Ph.D. in solar photobioreactor thermal modelling, a proven record of international academic leadership, and more than five years of sustained ACS service, I am deeply committed to advancing analytical science and expanding the global reach of the ACS Analytical Division. As Secretary of the ACS Pakistan International Sciences Chapter (2024–2025), I guided multiple student chapters including ACS-SALU, ACS-GC, and ACS-MUET and initiated the ACS-Pakistan National Leadership Summit, the first national forum to unite student chapter leaders across Pakistan. I designed and executed the ACS-Sindh Chemical Festival series at QUEST Nawabshah (2020–present), a multi-year ACS-funded outreach initiative that brought analytical and chemical sciences to broader regional audiences. The international student chapter programs I established encompassing DEIR, professional engagement, research competitions, poster presentations, technical seminars, and sustainability initiatives have earned Outstanding recognition from ACS every year since 2019. At BSBI Berlin, I engage graduate learners from 60+ nationalities, reinforcing my conviction that chemistry thrives when it is inclusive and globally connected.Â
I offer the Analytical Division a unique combination of hands-on ACS governance experience, internationally recognized research expertise, and a demonstrated capacity to translate vision into programs that earn sustained recognition and I am eager to put that record to work in service of this Division.
Robin McCarley, Virginia Tech
I would be privileged to continue my life-long commitment to serving and promoting the field of analytical chemistry by being a proactive, creative, and aggressive proponent of the Division and its 6000+ members who would benefit from my seasoned leadership in and contributions to the ACS, the NSF, the GRC, the Electrochemical Society, the Society of Electroanalytical Chemistry, and two major R1 universities, and importantly, the Division for which I have been a member since 1989. Acknowledging the existential threats to science and its funding, as your Councilor, I will devote myself to collaborating with others and making best use of the lessons learned and powerful networks built while previously serving the analytical chemistry community in the Division, as Program Director for four years in the Chemical Measurement and Imaging, Chemistry of Life Processes, and Centers for Chemical Innovation Programs at the NSF, and Chair of the Bioanalytical Sensors Gordon Research Conference. Â
I will collaborate with Division Members and Leadership and interface with senior leadership counterparts in the ACS and at diverse higher education institutions to build a coalition focused not just on sustaining but vastly improving research and educational funding at all levels. While doing this, we will also leverage relationships with communication experts to enact approaches to turn the tide with our country’s science literacy decline – all with an eye toward demonstrating the value of analytical chemistry and its global impact. Our coalition will engage federal and state representatives, influencers in the private sector and at national laboratories, policymakers, foundation and agency staff, and non-profits to develop strategies and opportunities to elevate chemical education, research, and outreach. Â
I owe much to the Division, but at its foundation, my drive to serve as Councilor goes back to when I was awarded a Summer Division Fellowship to fund a crucial portion of my PhD studies. On that point, I will partner with students and postdoctoral associates and work with industrial and national lab partners to develop experiential learning opportunities co-funded by the Division.Â
I am grateful for your vote to serve as your Division Councilor.
Raj Shah, Koehler Instrument Company
I would be honored to serve the ACS Analytical Division as Councilor. My professional work has centered on analytical testing, petroleum and lubricant characterization, ASTM method development, instrumentation, technical education, and the connection between laboratory science and practical industrial use. Through my service with ACS, ASTM, STLE, NLGI, GCC, and other scientific organizations, I have tried to support strong technical programming, student involvement, professional development, and meaningful collaboration between industry, academia, and standards organizations. If elected, I would bring an industry-based analytical perspective, a long record of volunteer service, and a strong commitment to helping the Division remain active, practical, inclusive, and valuable to its members.
Yongchao Su, Merck & Co., Inc.
Analytical chemistry continues to evolve as a central driver of discovery and innovation, with exciting opportunities emerging from new and evolving modalities in modern medicine, pharmaceutical development, and broader measurement science. These advances highlight the importance of strengthening bridges between analytical chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences, particularly in identifying real-world measurement challenges, enabling academic–industrial collaboration, and preparing the next generation of scientists with translational skills. This vision aligns closely with the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry’s mission to strengthen the global chemical measurement community, enhance professional opportunities, educate members and society, and foster connections. With over two decades of academic and industrial experience, leadership across scientific communities, and joint industrial-academic appointments that support mentorship and academia-industry collaboration, I am committed to helping ANYL expand its connections with pharmaceutical, biotech, and broader measurement science communities. As Councilor, and if needed as Treasurer, I would be excited to support innovative programming, career development, membership engagement, and strategic partnerships that connect fundamental analytical chemistry with real-world scientific impact. Importantly, as an analytical community leader, I also hope to contribute to shaping graduate training and research programs that are more translational, connected to real-world challenges, and supportive of sustainable career pathways, thereby broadening the impact of analytical chemistry and measurement science.
Rebecca Zangmeister, National Institute of Standards and Technology
I am honored to be nominated for the position of councilor. Having served on our executive board and as membership committee chair, I am eager to transition this experience into national ACS governance, where I can directly advocate for our division’s growth, membership diversity, and global impact. I view the role of councilor as an essential conduit between our division and the national society, dedicated to ensuring our community’s priorities shape national governance while effectively bringing institutional resources, policy updates, and strategic insights back to our membership. As Acting Division Chief for Biomolecular Measurement at NIST, I bridge innovative research with strategic leadership. My experience leading CHIPS for America workforce strategies and managing evaluations within the NIST Director’s Office gives me a deep understanding of the government, industry, and academic ecosystem. As Councilor, I will leverage this perspective in national committees to break down silos, foster cross-sector partnerships, and advance our division’s global impact. Our division’s long-term vitality depends on supporting early-career members. Having directed and mentored in the NIST SURF and NRC postdoctoral programs, I know the value of providing emerging researchers with targeted professional development and leadership paths. On the Council floor, I will actively advocate for national policies that support young professionals and expand global collaborations, leveraging my strategic experience to shape a vibrant, inclusive future for our division. I appreciate your consideration!
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