Dr. Joseph Sears has more than 25 years of professional experience in chemical characterization and analysis and method development. As Technical Director at the Pasco, WA, laboratory, he is the lead on method development and implementation of new methods to increase the diversity of services offered by RJLG's Center for Laboratory Sciences (CLS). Dr. Sears came to CLS from Montana State University, where he managed the university's mass spectrometry (MS) facility for 20+ years. In that position, he was responsible for the operation of eight research grade mass spectrometers that included high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution MS measurements, liquid chromatography/MS analyses, and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization MS. While at Montana State University, he gained a wealth of experience in the analysis of a wide range of chemical systems that stem from a research environment and conducted and directed a wide variety of research projects. He was the co-principal investigator (PI) on a 5-year National Science Foundation sponsored summer course in MS and NMR for professors from small 4-year colleges and directed the research efforts of undergraduate, masters, and doctoral candidates. In the early part of his career, Dr. Sears spent several years performing forensic narcotics, toxicology, and alcohol analyses and providing court room testimony on the results. At that time, he was a certified instructor at the Wyoming Police Academy in the area of chemical analysis. He was awarded a Northwest College and University Association for Science Fellowship in 1991-1994. He is a member of the American Chemical Society and American Society for Mann Spectrometry. |