Authors
Oskar Hagelskjaer is the CEO and Founder of Microplastic Solution.
Lenka Halámková is an assistant professor at Texas Tech University. Her research focuses on applying machine learning and multivariate statistical methods to vibrational spectroscopic data for forensic and biomedical applications. Her work includes developing techniques to detect and classify biological stains, gunshot residue, and other trace evidence, as well as using enzymatic sensors and biochemical computing to analyze biological markers associated with characteristics such as sex and ethnicity.
Thomas G. Mayerhofer earned his diploma in chemistry from the University of Regensburg in 1996 and his PhD in physical chemistry from Friedrich Schiller University Jena in 1999. He completed his habilitation in 2006, specializing in the optics and infrared spectroscopy of polydomain materials. Since 2007, he has been a researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, where he has worked to unify and advance infrared spectroscopy by integrating wave optics and dispersion theory. More recently, his research has focused on refining the theoretical foundations of Attenuated Total Reflection and pioneering the introduction of complex-valued chemometrics in spectroscopy. Mayerhöfer has published over 120 peer-reviewed papers—more than half as first author—primarily on spectroscopic theory. He is also the author of Wave Optics in Infrared Spectroscopy: Theory, Simulation, and Modeling.
Robert Lascola is an Advisory Scientist in the Environmental & Legacy Management Directorate of Savannah River National Laboratory and Team Lead for the Online Monitoring group. Lascola’s work involves developing process and laboratory analytical methods using absorption, Raman/IR, X-ray, and fluorescence spectroscopies, including the development of chemometric analysis in support of those methods.
Prof. Dr. Palaniappan Lakshmanan is presently the Head of the Department of Physics at Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu, India. In the field of education and research since 1989, he has gained commanding expertise in almost all branches of physics, with 100+ peer reviewed publications, 200+ conference presentations, organized 25+ academic events, completed 3 major research projects, and served three years in Malaysia.
Eoghan Dillon, originally from Dublin, Ireland, earned his BSc in physics from TU Dublin and completed his PhD in Chemistry at Rice University in 2012, focusing on CO₂ capture using functionalized nanocarbons. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented at major U.S. conferences including ACS, MRS, and BPS. Eoghan began his career at Anasys Instruments, specializing in AFM-based techniques like nanoscale IR and thermal analysis. He is currently the worldwide manager of applications and business development at Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp, where he leads efforts in advancing O-PTIR and simultaneous Raman spectroscopy across life sciences, polymers, and contamination analysis.
Principal Data Scientist and Software Developer, Eigenvector Research, Inc.
Nate Watson holds BS, MS and PhD degrees in analytical chemistry and other applied disciplines earned between 1999 and 2017. He has nearly three decades of experience using chemometric methods to answer analytical questions.
His research interests are varied. He particularly enjoys bridging complicated scientific and mathematical concepts into language that is easily understood by end users and technicians.
He is married and has four children. He currently resides in Western Montana.
Tom Metz is a Laboratory Fellow and Chief Science Officer of the Biological Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Prashant Jain is a G. L. Clark Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Jain earned his PhD at Georgia Tech and held research appointments at Harvard and UC Berkeley, focusing on ultrafast spectroscopy, magneto- and chiro-optics, and quantum dots. His research explores nanoscale light–matter interactions, plasmonic phenomena, and photocatalysis. A prolific author and widely cited scientist, he serves on major journal editorial boards, leads nanoDDSCAT tool development, and is an award-winning educator and academic leader at UIUC.
Chloe Wheeler is a PhD candidate in Analytical Chemistry at Queen’s University, working under the supervision of Dr. Diane Beauchemin. Her research focuses on forensic applications with an emphasis on greener method development and improved forensic interpretation. She earned her Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in 2022, completing an undergraduate thesis on forensic solder analysis.
Serge Gambarelli is a research director and EPR spectroscopy expert at CEA-IRIG.
Martin Isabelle, Ph.D., CMgr, is a Senior Principal Scientist in Applications Development at Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp., specializing in O-PTIR and Raman spectroscopy for biological applications, including microplastic detection in tissue and multimodal imaging. Prior to joining PSC, he served as an Associate Director in tumour profiling within the biopharmaceutical sector at Adaptimmune and GSK, where he led translational research in immunotherapy and immuno-oncology programs. Earlier in his career, he was a Senior Applications Scientist at Renishaw, where he led life science applications and established expertise in Raman spectroscopy.
Renee Romano is a graduate student at The Ohio State University.
Nishadi Nadeeshani Moragoda Liyanage is a graduate student at The Ohio State University.