Studying archaeological bone is important to learning more about the historical biological record that artifacts alone cannot tell us. Christina Ryder, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, explains how to obtain the best collagen signals when studying archaeological bones.
There are numerous soft and technical skills spectroscopists need to have to serve as an analytical laboratory manager. Saikat Banerjee, who serves in this role at DuPont, explains what these skills are and why they are essential.
Top articles include an overview of the Artemis II mission, an interview with Christina Ryder about assessing collagen in archaeological bone, and a look at the importance of postdoctoral research.
What predictive modeling strategy works best for radiocarbon dating? According to Christina Macie Ryder, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, random forest (RF) models perform better than other modeling strategies such as partial least squares regression (PLSR).
Over the past two years, molecular spectroscopy has undergone a marked transformation from a predominantly laboratory-based analytical approach into a field-deployable, data-rich forensic toolkit. This evolution has been driven by three converging trends: (i) advances in vibrational spectroscopic instrumentation (Fourier transform infrared [FT-IR], Raman, and near-infrared [NIR], (ii) the integration of chemometrics and machine learning for extracting actionable information from complex spectra, and (iii) the emergence of portable and miniaturized devices suitable for in situ analysis. The ten papers reviewed here collectively demonstrate how spectroscopy is now addressing some of the most persistent challenges in forensic science—such as time since deposition (TSD), post-mortem interval (PMI), trace evidence discrimination, and rapid drug identification—while maintaining evidentiary integrity through non-destructive analysis. Importantly, these works also reflect a shift toward interpretability, validation, and legal defensibility, which are essential for courtroom acceptance.
Why is near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy a more useful technique when studying archaeological bone? According to Christina Macie Ryder, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, it comes down to the penetration depth.
Abstract submissions are open through April 15 as conference expands scope to include molecular methods.
In an upcoming episode of “Pathways in Spectroscopy,” we sit down with Brian Strohmeier, who has had an extensive career in analytical spectroscopy, to talk about planning a large scientific conference such as Pittcon.
Metrohm's new i-Raman Platform is designed for both researchers and industry professionals alike. This Q&A overview provides the necessary information users would want to know.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to have its first crewed lunar mission since 1972, barring any setbacks.
In this interview clip, Brian R. Strohmeier, who is serving as the President of Pittcon for 2027, discusses what he is seeing from the current job market for spectroscopists.
In this interview clip, Brian R. Strohmeier, who is serving as the President of Pittcon for 2027, discusses what social events are being planned for the conference.
In this “Pathways in Spectroscopy” episode, Saikat Banerjee, Senior Scientist and Analytical Lab Manager at DuPont, discusses the important role that his postdoctoral research experience played in preparing him to be an analytical laboratory manager.
In this interview clip, Brian R. Strohmeier, who is serving as the President of Pittcon for 2027, reacts to Pittcon’s return to Pittsburgh in 2027.
Top articles include insight into the job responsibilities and expectations of an analytical laboratory manager, an interview about scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM), and an overview of how vibrational spectroscopy can track Type 2 diabetes.
In this Q&A overview, we provide an inside look at how mass spectrometry (MS) and spectroscopy is helping us to learn more about the cosmos.
In this interview clip, Brian R. Strohmeier, who is serving as the President of Pittcon for 2027, reacts to Pittcon 2026 and offers his perspective on what made Pittcon 2026 successful.
In this Q&A overview, we explore how vibrational spectroscopy is set to help create a robust framework for identifying complex biomarkers that traditional blood tests might not be able to detect.
Pittcon concludes its 77th edition with Nobel winners, new ideas, and next-level experiences.
Pittcon 2027 will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, returning to where the conference was first held back in 1950. What does this mean for the Steel City?
In this feature on the state of forensic analysis following the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Conference, we explore how forensic scientists are using spectroscopy in their work, and what trends they are seeing play out in the industry.
Nobel laureates, a surge in student attendance, and a return to Pittsburgh mark milestones for the laboratory science community.
In this interview clip, Naihao Chiang of the University of Houston discusses how to better improve the performance of scanning ion-conductance microscopy–tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SICM-TERS).
This partnership will digitize spectra from more than 120,000 mineral specimens, opening reference data to researchers across geology, forensics, materials science, and related fields.
In this Q&A article, we explore C. V. Raman’s journey, the mechanics of his discovery, and his lasting impact on the global spectroscopic community.
In this interview clip, Lenka Halámková, an assistant professor of high-dimensional data analysis at Texas Tech University, explains the next steps needed in order for attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and machine learning to become a part of routine forensic and clinical toxicology workflows for opioid exposure.
In this episode of “Pathways in Spectroscopy,” Saikat Banerjee, a Senior Scientist and the Analytical Lab Manager at DuPont, talks about his typical day to day workflow at DuPont as an analytical lab manager.
In this interview clip, Lenka Halámková, an assistant professor of high-dimensional data analysis at Texas Tech University, explains the limitations of her team’s recent study.
Top articles include our coverage of the Pittcon 2026 conference and a new “Pathways in Spectroscopy” episode.
