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Dr. Paul Gaines

Paul Gaines, Ph.D. / Chairman of the Board of Directors

Dr. Paul Gaines has nearly four decades of spectroscopic experience. After earning his Ph.D. in chemistry at Iowa State University, Paul worked in the laboratories of Exxon Research and Engineering and Union Carbide. Today, Paul is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Inorganic Ventures, as well as an accomplished web author of many popular guides and papers for fellow spectroscopists.

Paul's extensive background includes:

  • Atomic spectroscopy (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, XRF, flame and GFAA);
  • Ion chromatography;
  • Micro-elemental analysis;
  • And various electrochemical, wet chemical, and separation techniques.

Recognized as an innovator and troubleshooter within the chemical community, Paul continues to design high quality custom standards for the inorganic market. He's currently researching contamination and reliability issues as they pertain to trace elemental analysis.

Dr. Brian Alexander

Brian Alexander, Ph.D. / Chief Technical Officer, CTO

Dr. Brian Alexander is an earth scientist specializing in geochemistry. His research has focused on radiogenic  isotope and rare earth element studies of natural waters and chemical sediments, as well as trace metal analyses using ICP techniques. A native of southwest Virginia, Brian received his B.Sc. in geology from Virginia Tech, and a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in geochemistry from Penn State and Jacobs University Bremen, respectively.

Dr. Lesley Owens

Lesley Owens, Ph.D. / Manager, Technical Support

Dr. Lesley Owens is an analytical chemist with research specialties including chromium speciation, environmental sample design, elemental spectroscopy, and metal contamination in food products. Dr. Owens graduated from Emory & Henry College with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. Owens, a Cunningham Fellow, received her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Virginia Tech.

James King

James King, M.Sc. / Director, Production

James King is an inorganic chemist with experience in synthesis and purification. His research has focused on the synthesis and characterization of organometallic compounds to be used as molecular magnets. A native of Hampton, Virginia, James received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from North Carolina A&T State University and Virginia Tech, respectively.

Thomas Kozikowski

Thomas Kozikowski / Manager, Stock Production

Thomas Kozikowski is a chemist with expertise in the manufacturing, quality control, technical support, stability, and homogeneity of inorganic metals standards. His experience covers many areas including reagent synthesis and purification, trace metals analysis using ICP techniques, transpiration studies, and container cleanliness. Thomas has a B.S. degree in Chemistry and a B.S. degree in Forensic Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Michael Booth

Michael Booth / Director, Technical

Mike Booth is a chemist with expertise in quality control and instrumentation. His experience covers areas including ICP-OES, ICP-MS, Ion Chromatography and various titration techniques. Today Mr. Booth is the Technical Director at Inorganic Ventures. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from West Virginia University Institute of Technology.

Tyler Farnsworth

Tyler Farnsworth, Ph.D. / Head of Product Development, Merge Chemistry Division

Dr. Tyler Farnsworth is a materials chemist by training with a research background that spans inorganic nanomaterial synthesis and characterization, applied polymer design, and innovative coatings technologies. Dr. Farnsworth, an NSF GRFP Fellow, received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina Upstate and holds a Ph.D. in Polymer and Materials Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.