Jeanette Grasselli Brown is undoubtedly an icon of spectroscopy. Brown forged a path for herself, and many other women, at a time when few were able to get ahead in science.
The child of Hungarian immigrants, Grasselli Brown grew up in Cleveland Ohio. She can trace her interest in learning and chemistry all the way back to her childhood. In 1950, Grasselli Brown earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Ohio University. After college, she took a job as a research chemist at BP, formerly Standard Oil, eventually becoming the director of Corporate Research and Analytical Science.
Grasselli Brown's expertise includes vibrational spectroscopy, combined instrumental techniques, computerized spectroscopy, process analysis and control, and environmental spectroscopy. Today, she holds 13 honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Ohio University, her alma mater. The university offers an undergraduate research award in her honor. Grasselli Brown also holds one patent and has published 80 papers and nine books in the field of infrared and Raman spectroscopy. She was the editor of the journal Vibrational Spectroscopy from 1989-1995.
As part of Spectroscopy’s Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate Series, associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich sat down with Jeanette Grasselli Brown to discuss her career in spectroscopy. In the second of this multi-part interview, Grasselli Brown talks about the accomplishments that have made her most proud throughout her decorated career.
Watch the first interview here
The 2024 Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy Award
October 7th 2024This year’s Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy Award recipient is Joseph P. Smith of Merck, whose research is significantly influencing pharmaceutical process development through his work in various spectroscopic techniques, biocatalysis, protein engineering, vaccine production, and advanced data analysis methods.