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Dr. Martha Morton, director of research instrumentation and research professor in the department of chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a chemist who specializes in using instrumentation to solve problems. Her lab has a wide range of analytical instruments including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), mass spectrometer, ultra violet-visible spectrophotometer and fluorimetry, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
Q&A
Why are you interested in supporting national security?
Every national security problem must be diagnosed, and remedies must be tested. Analytical instruments play a part in the diagnostics and testing of any remediation that might be useful. Designing the diagnostics is my specialty. No one diagnostic test fits every problem.
What national security challenges do you think you could help solve with your expertise?
I've been working on projects in the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) space. This includes remediation of chemical warfare agents. This work might extend to biological warfare agents. I'm also part of the metabolomic studies of radiation effects.
A broad use of instrumental methods is necessary to solve problems and challenges to our national security. Participating in ongoing research to solve research problems and move projects forward is one of my specialties.
Read more about Dr. Morton’s research on research instrumentation in chemistry:
What do you see in the next five to ten years in your space that you think is important for national security leaders to consider?
Diagnostic instruments are needed to develop sensor tests. Small sensors can be deployed in the field where larger instruments are restricted. Sensors could be deployed in space and in locations that might not have electricity.
What are you working on now that excites you?
Remediation including bioremediation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), chemical warfare agents, nuclear waste repositories, coal ash, and other contaminated sites are all challenges that I look forward to contributing information and input on.
Learn more about Dr. Morton via her UNL Bio.
