In Conversation: Geraldine Richmond, Richard Russo, and More
We sat down with top researchers in analytical spectroscopy to discuss their work, insights, and the paths that brought them here.
In the month of June, Spectroscopy sat down with experts in the field conducting important research using analytical spectroscopy. Below is a compilation of some of our latest interviews, published this month, on everything from laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to isotopic analysis.
Geraldine Richmond Reflects on Her Research and NYSAS Gold Medal Win
Geraldine L. Richmond, Presidential Chair in Science and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon, will receive the 2025 NYSAS Gold Medal Award for her significant contributions to applied spectroscopy and her positive influence on others' careers. In this interview from Spectroscopy, Richmond discusses how her research, which uses laser-based spectroscopy to study molecular behavior at complex liquid interfaces (2). Richmond’s work uniquely addresses challenges in nanoemulsion interfaces, distinguishing surface-specific signals (2). Beyond research, as the founding director of COACh, she champions career development and equity for women in science globally (2). Her studies provide fundamental insights into surfactant behavior and interfacial stability, impacting areas like drug delivery and environmental remediation.
A joint study conducted by Applied Spectra (West Sacramento, California) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California) used laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to measure uranium with a detection limit as low as 1.3 picograms, achieving unprecedented sensitivity by optimizing the uranium emission line, system hardware, and light collection efficiency (1). Unlike traditional methods like ICP-MS, which require sample digestion and are not field-deployable, LIBS provides fast, direct analysis of solid samples in minutes, making it highly suitable for field use and environmental monitoring of trace uranium (1). In this interview, Richard Russo, who is the corresponding author for the paper that resulted from this research, spoke to Spectroscopy about his team’s research (1).
Previewing the Astrochemistry Mini-Symposia at the International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy
This week, the 78th International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy (ISMS) is taking place at the University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, from June 23rd–27th. This event gathers spectroscopists, academics, and industry professionals to discuss the latest advancements in molecular spectroscopy (3). In this interview previewing the ISMS conference, Brett McGuire, who is an assistant professor of chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), sat down with Spectroscopy to preview the “Astrochemistry–Laboratory, Computations, and Observations" mini-symposium that will take place at the conference. McGuire also discusses what attendees can look forward to at ISMS, highlighting the networking opportunities and the chances undergraduate students have to give talks and meet with industry professionals (3).
Pet Food in the United Arab Emirates: An Interview with Lucy Semerjian
The rise of pet ownership in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has coincided with the development of more high-rise apartments in several of the country’s major cities. As a result, this has brought an increased focus on the quality of pet food. In a recent interview with Spectroscopy, Lucy Semerjian, chair and associate professor at the University of Sharjah, discussed her study published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis on metal concentrations in commercial cat food sold in the UAE (4). The study analyzed 52 wet and dry samples, revealing that while 70% met U.S. and European safety standards, the remaining 30% exceeded limits for metals such as zinc, copper, and aluminum (4). Semerjian explained that dry foods generally had higher metal content due to low moisture, added premixes, and processing (4). She also emphasized the importance of rotating protein sources and food types to minimize health risks for pets (4).
Celebrating 40 Years of Spectroscopy with “Molecular Spectroscopy Workbench” Columnist Fran Adar
Our Raman issue published this month celebrated the 40th anniversary of Spectroscopy. As part of our coverage of our anniversary, we conducted an interview with “Molecular Spectroscopy Workbench,” columnist Fran Adar, who discussed some of the most important advancements in Raman spectroscopy, the technologies that are currently impacting the industry, and what those starting out in their career should consider (5).
References
- Chasse, J. Robust Uranium Isotopic Analysis with Optimized LIBS Detection: An Interview with 2024 Spectrochimica Acta Part B Best Paper Award Winner Richard Russo. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/robust-uranium-isotopic-analysis-with-optimized-libs-detection-an-interview-with-2024-spectrochimica-acta-part-b-best-paper-award-winner-richard-russo (accessed 2025-06-23).
- Workman, Jr., J. Geraldine Richmond Reflects on Her Research and NYSAS Gold Medal Win. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/geraldine-richmond-reflects-on-her-research-and-nysas-gold-medal-win (accessed 2025-06-23).
- Wetzel, W. Previewing the Astrochemistry Mini-Symposia at the International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/previewing-the-astrochemistry-mini-symposia-at-the-international-symposium-on-molecular-spectroscopy
- Wetzel, W. Pet Food in the United Arab Emirates: An Interview with Lucy Semerjian. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/pet-food-in-the-united-arab-emirates-an-interview-with-lucy-semerjian (accessed 2025-06-23).
- Wetzel, W. Celebrating 40 Years of Spectroscopy with “Molecular Spectroscopy Workbench” Columnist Fran Adar. Spectroscopy. 2025, 40 (5), 46–48. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/celebrating-40-years-of-spectroscopy-with-molecular-spectroscopy-workbench-columnist-fran-adar
The Role of ICP-OES in Analyzing the Metal Content in Pet Food
June 19th 2025Because the United Arab Emirates is seeing an increase in pet ownership, the quality of both dry and wet pet food is undergoing greater scrutiny to ensure its safety and efficacy. Lucy Semerjian, who works as a Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Science at the University of Sharjah in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, recently explored this topic in a recent paper
Pet Food in the United Arab Emirates: An Interview with Lucy Semerjian
June 18th 2025A recent study conducted in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis examined the concentrations of ten metals in 52 commercially available wet and dry cat food samples, assessing their compliance with U.S. and European pet food safety standards. The lead author of this study, Lucy Semerjian, recently sat down with Spectroscopy to discuss the findings of her study.
The Future of Neurodegenerative Disease Research and the Role of IR Imaging
May 21st 2025In the final part of this three-part interview, Ayanjeet Ghosh of the University of Alabama and Rohit Bhargava of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign talk about the key performance metrics they used to evaluate their model, and what the future of neurodegenerative disease research looks like.
