Joseph G. Barabe

Instructor

22+ Years Experience

Joe has been with McCrone Associates as a photographer, Director of Scientific Imaging, and Research Microscopist since 1989. He mentored under the tutelage of Dr. Walter C. McCrone where he learned the special skills necessary to analyze artist’s pigments and sample works of art.

His duties include the analysis and authentication studies of art objects (especially paintings) and historical and archeological artifacts using a variety of analytical tools including polarized light microscopy, scientific imaging, x-ray spectrometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and others as appropriate; and forensic document examinations including forged and altered documents; paper, ink, typewriter and toner comparisons; writing sequence determinations; and altered image studies.

Prior to joining McCrone, Joe was Senior Scientific Photographer at the University of Chicago.

B.A., Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 1967.

Richard E. Bisbing

Instructor

35+ Years Experience

Dick is Executive Vice President and Director of Services at McCrone Associates responsible for managing the technical and operations groups while consulting on a variety of projects in analytical light microscopy and the forensic sciences.

He has been with McCrone since 1987 consulting in ultramicroanalysis and microscopy applied to manufacturing problems, contamination control, pollution, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, art, archaeology, and forensic science, which includes consumer safety, medical malpractice, patent infringement, industrial security, fraud, environmental law, and criminal investigations.

For eighteen years prior, he was with the State of Michigan Department of Public Health and Department of State Police crime laboratories. Duties included crime scene investigation, chemical analyses, serological identifications, footwear identifications, microscopical comparison of trace evidence, research, teaching, expert court testimony, and supervision.

He has authored chapters on trace evidence for: Forensic Science Handbook (Prentice-Hall, 1982); Proceedings of the International Symposium on Forensic Hair Comparisons, (Superintendent of Documents, 1985); Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences, (Academic Press Ltd., London, 2000); Mute Witnesses: Trace Evidence Analysis (Academic Press, 2001); Forensic Science Handbook, Volume I, 2nd edition (Prentice-Hall, 2002); Forensic Science Review (2005); Spitz and Fisher’s Medicolegal Investigation of Death, 4th Edition (Charles C. Thomas, expected 2005); and Handbook of the Real Crime Labs (Humana Press, expected 2005).

B.S., Michigan State University, 1968

Barbara E. Blaum

Instructor

15+ Years Experience

Barbara is Vice President, Director of Quality Assurance for McCrone Associates. She is also Director of Light Microscopy for McCrone Associates where she manages the Light Microscopy, Cleanroom, and Scientific Photography Groups. She has been with McCrone since 1992 and over that time has been responsible for microchemical, microscopical, and microspectroscopical identification of small particles and microtraces. She is adept at fine particle manipulation, mounting of particles for instrumental analysis and cleanroom applications.

M.S., Criminalistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1993
B.S., M.T., cum laude, Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1989

William L. Chapin

Instructor

28+ Years Experience

Following a 20-year career with the Johnson County Criminalistics Laboratory, Bill joined McCrone in 1998 as a Senior Research Microscopist. He currently is a consultant in ultramicroanalysis and microscopy applied to manufacturing problems, contamination control, pollution, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, art, archaeology, and forensic science, which includes consumer safety, medical malpractice, patent infringement, industrial security, fraud, environmental law, and criminal investigations. His clients are from manufacturers of vehicles (automobiles, trucks, boats, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, etc.), chemicals, computers, cosmetics, foods, glasses, paints, pharmaceuticals, fibers, papers, plastics, steels, and tires. Legal clients include law enforcement agencies, prosecution and defense criminal attorneys, plaintiff and defense civil attorneys, and judges (“friend of the court” appointments).

As a Forensic Chemist (Trace Evidence) with the Johnson County Criminalistics Laboratory, Mission, Kansas, 1978-1998, he was responsible for crime scene analysis including blood spatter interpretation; fire scene debris analysis; trace evidence analysis including paint, glass, fibers, explosive residue, and miscellaneous particle identification; courtroom testimony.

B.A. Biology, Sterling College, Sterling, Kansas, 1973.

Peter M. Cooke

Adjunct Instructor

23+ Years Experience

Peter has more than 20 years experience teaching microscopy to over 7,000 students worldwide. Peter is an advisor to and instructor for the College of Microscopy, he is also the principal of and instructor for Microscopy Instruction, Consultation & Analysis (MICA), specializing in asbestos identification instruction and consultation. Peter has an engaging teaching style and a keen ability to explain complex ideas at introductory through advanced levels. Before founding MICA in 1999, Peter was an instructor and research microscopist at McCrone Research Institute for 14 years. He has consistently been recognized by students, laboratory directors, and industry experts for his pedagogical and technical expertise.

Kristie J. Diebold

Instructor

11+ Years Experience

Kristie has been a Research Microscopist with McCrone Associates since 1998. Kristie came to McCrone Associates from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. There she gained experience in microscopy in a cancer research laboratory and was certified as a Medical Technologist in Immunology. Her current work involves microscopical analysis of particles in micrometer and sub-micrometer size ranges including: manipulation, characterization and preparation for instrumental ultramicroanalysis. Her current research interests have focused on glass delamination in pharmaceutical products (view a recent article at www.modernmicroscopy.com). Kristie also assists in McCrone's Quality Assurance Unit.

B.A. Biology, Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois 1996
Certified Immunologist, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois 1997

Carol Injerd

instructor

Richard F. Karuhn

Adjunct Instructor

45+ Years of Experience

Richard holds 8 patents, has been published 35 times, provides expert witness services and presents lectures regarding the subject of fine particle technology. He has also co-authored a book on the subject with Dr. Keith Beddow of Iowa State University.

In 1992 Richard founded Particle Technology, Labs, Ltd. as the first known independent fine particle laboratory. Over the past 15 years PTL has grown to be the leading independent service laboratory for particle characterization in the United States. The company offers analytical solutions to many of the top pharmaceutical, environmental, food, health, beauty and industrial companies worldwide.

Prior to PTL Richard was engaged for many years in synthetic and analytical organic chemistry for Velsicol Chemical Corporation. After that position Richard held the position of Laboratory Director for Particle Data Laboratories for 15 years.

B.S. Chemistry, DePaul University, Chicago Illinois 1971

Dan E. Kile

Adjunct Instructor

35+ Years Experience

Dan has been teaching optical mineralogy at the U.S. Geological Survey since 1995. Students included private consultants, and museum and government employees working in the fields of geology, paleontology, palynology, and archeology, as well as graduate students at the Colorado School of Mines. He was a faculty adjunct at the Colorado School of Mines in 2004, teaching a full-semester class in optical mineralogy to students enrolled in the geology program. He has given numerous lectures on the subjects of mineralogy and optical mineralogy over the past 20+ years to local earth sciences groups, colleges, and at the U.S. Geological Survey.

He has an extensive publication record in the fields of mineralogy, geology, and environmental chemistry since 1984, with nearly 100 journal articles and abstracts published in peer-reviewed journals, including the American Mineralogist, Canadian Mineralogist, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, and Mineralogical Record. He wrote an extensive monograph on the evolution of the petrographic microscope, which was published by the Mineralogical Record in 2003. Dan is the editor (since 2002) of the Journal of the Microscope Historical Society, an international publication on historical and applied aspects of light microscopy.

B.A., Microbiology, Magna cum Laude, University of Minnesota, 1969
B.S., Chemistry, With Distinction, University of Minnesota, 1969

Kathleen A. Martin, Ph.D.

Instructor

20+ Years Experience

Kate has been with McCrone Associates since 2004, where she employs infrared and Raman spectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, light microscopy and wet chemical methods in the course of analytical problem-solving for a wide variety of clients.

Prior to joining McCrone Associates, Kate worked at Unilever / Helene Curtis, Inc. for 15 years where she used spectroscopic techniques to support product claims, conduct ex-vivo and in-vivo performance testing, address consumer complaints and assist manufacturing facilities in the development and production aspects of a variety of personal care products.

Kate’s current interests include the application of Raman spectroscopy to minerals and carbon materials, including carbon nano-tubes.

Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, Loyola University of Chicago, 1985
B.S. Chemistry, Northeastern Illinois University, 1979

Dina K. Mattes

Instructor

20+ Years Experience

Dina has been with McCrone Microscopes & Accessories since 1986. Her experience and specialties include onsite demonstrations, complete laboratory setups, installations, maintenance, and training for forensic laboratories, first responders, environmental labs, and pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, Dina has been informing government and private forensic DNA labs about new technologies available for sperm detection in criminal sexual assault cases.

B.A. Communications, Northern Illinois University, 1986

Jeffrey D. McGinn

Instructor

5+ Years Experience

Jeff joined McCrone's sales division over two years ago. Initially working as a specimen preparation specialist, he currently focuses his time in technical sales, on-site training, and course instruction. His areas of interest include microchemical and spot tests for organic/inorganic analysis, and microanalytical methods.

Jeff is responsible for developing and teaching the microchemical test sections for many of the College of Microscopy's courses. His enthusiastic teaching style and hands-on approach allow the students to practice inexpensive methods utilized for over two hundred years.

B.A. Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2004

Peter McSwiggen, Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor

25+ Years Experience

Peter has been training electron microprobe users on a consulting basis for JEOL USA, Inc. for the past eight years, and has taught users in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. He also taught electron microprobe classes at the University of Minnesota for eight years. Before joining the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Minnesota, Peter was with the Minnesota Geological Survey. As a user of electron microprobe instruments for over 25 years, he has seen the instrumentation evolve greatly and has been involved in analyzing wide varieties of materials. Presently he runs his own contract analytical laboratory at McSwiggen & Associates

B.S., Geology, University of Minnesota, 1976
M.S., Geology, University of Maine at Orono, 1978
Ph.D. Geology, University of Minnesota, 1990

Alan W. Nicholls, Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor

25+ Years Experience

Alan is Director of the Research Resource Facility and Electron Microscopy in the Research Resources Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His graduate and postgraduate work was at Birmingham University in England. His main research topic was analytical electron microscopy, an area that he is still interested in to this day. He spent twelve years with VG Microscopes as their applications scientist, involved in design, sales, installation, service, and training for Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopes. During this time, he was also involved in teaching at the Lehigh Microscopy School.

Alan moved to University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in January of 1998, where he was in charge of the setting up of the new materials science electron microscopy center. He took over responsibility for all electron microscopy at UIC from February of 1999. Alan carries out hands-on training of all microscope users, and presents seminars on electron microscopy to undergraduate and graduate students.

Ph.D. Physical Metallurgy and Science of Materials, University of Birmingham, 1983
BSc. Metallurgy and Materials Science, University of Birmingham, 1979

Ruben J. Nieblas

Instructor

10+ Years Experience

Ruben Nieblas is currently Technical Sales Representative for McCrone Microscopes & Accessories. For the past 10 years, he has traveled extensively throughout the country installing microscope systems and training customers in microscopy, digital imaging, and use of Linkam equipment. Ruben is one of the few people in the U.S. to be trained at Linkam’s headquarters in the U.K. Ruben’s many years of real-world experience has helped him develop the College of Microscopy’s Pax-it Imaging course. He is also the co-instructor of the Freeze Dry Microscopy course.

B.S. Health Science, Benedictine University, Lisle, IL 1998

Wayne D. Niemeyer

Instructor

35+ Years Experience

Wayne has been with McCrone Associates since 1992. As a senior research scientist in the electron optics group, Wayne performs SEM, EDS and WDS analysis for a wide range of industries. His specialties include: electrochemistry (corrosion), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, infrared spectroscopy, lubrication and wear, waste water treatment, secondary ion mass spectrometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, conversion coatings on aluminum and steel surfaces, paint adhesion failure analysis, metallography, gunshot residue (GSR) analysis and other forensic applications of the SEM.

His current responsibilities include identification of inorganic and organic particles and thin films; consultant in ultramicroanalysis and microscopy for clients in the pharmaceutical, electronics, paint, automotive, packaging, and metals industries; expert witness testimony in civil and criminal cases; and provides gunshot residue (GSR) analysis using the SEM/EDS method.

He came to McCrone after twenty-three years of experience with National Can Corporation Research and Development Laboratory (combined with American Can Company in 1987 to form American National Can Company) , where he was responsible for process development of metalworking lubricants and metal cleaning/surface preparation of aluminum and steel beverage/food containers. He provided technical assistance to production facilities by troubleshooting process related issues and for customer complaints. To support the development/troubleshooting work he conducted or supervised activities for surface analysis of aluminum, steel, glass, and plastic packaging materials utilizing scanning electron microscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, energy and wavelength dispersive x-ray spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and optical microscopy (polarized light).

Wayne has been developing and teaching the SEM course for over 9 years.

B.A. Chemistry (cum laude), Illinois Institute of Technology, 1977
B.S. Mathematics, DePaul University, 1969

Kristen D. Partin

Instructor

8+ Years Experience

Kristen gained her initial experience in a food microbiology laboratory. Since joining McCrone Associates as a research microscopist in 2000, she has contributed her special skills to the handling and manipulation of fine particles, sometimes particles as small as a few hundred nanometers. She was fortunate to have been mentored by Anna Teetsov and Barbara Blaum. As a result of research conducted in association with Chicago's Brookfield Zoo, some of her work on animal hair microscopy can be found at www.modernmicroscopy.com. Kristen has also been responsible for some of the photomicrography for McCrone's Atlas of Microscopic Particles (www.mccroneatlas.com)

B.S., Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 1999.
Field Marine Science, Cornell University, 1996.

Kirsten T. Primozic

Instructor

2+ Years Experience

Kirsten has been a Research Microscopist with McCrone Associates since 2006. She gained her initial experience searching for contaminants in a food oil laboratory. Her current work involves isolating and manipulating micrometer and sub-micrometer sized particles. Her current research interests have focused on effective use of tools to aid in the isolation of human spermatozoa from smears also containing female epithelial cells in order to achieve a better result when trying to distinguish male DNA from the female DNA in rape cases.

B.S. Biology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 2005.

Joseph M. Rebstock

Instructor

22+ Years Experience

Joe has been with McCrone Associates since 1986. As a senior research scientist in the electron optics group, Joe specializes in particle analysis, polymer imaging, electronics, artist pigments, medical devices, and general industrial problem solving, using SEM, EDS and WDS analysis. He is responsible for identification of inorganic and organic particles and thin films and a consultant in ultramicroanalysis and microscopy for clients from government and from the pharmaceutical, electronics, paint, automotive, packaging, and metals industries.

Previously, he supervised McCrone’s Norcross, Georgia, facility and performed independent analytical testing for a broad range of industries and materials to resolve technical problems. He is skilled in optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy employing energy dispersive x-ray analyses, and electron microprobe analyses employing full quantitative wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.

Joe has been developing and teaching the SEM course for over 9 years.

Studied chemical engineering at University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

Karl Reich, Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor

16+ Years Experience

Dr. Karl Reich is the Chief Scientific Officer for Independent Forensics, L.L.C. Karl has over ten years post-graduate and six years progressive experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. He specializes in the development, validation and commercialization of new Forensic tests, and has extensive experience in molecular biology, microbiology and DNA analysis.

Kent L. Rhodes, Ph.D.

Instructor

17+ Years Experience

Kent has been with McCrone Associates since 1990. As Vice President, Director of Instrumental Analysis, his responsibilities include sample analysis, along with quality control and advanced data analysis. Areas of interest are WDS and surface analysis. Kent specializes in surface analytical techniques using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and electron microprobe analysis.

Kent has been developing and teaching the SEM course for over 9 years.

Ph.D. Inorganic Chemistry, Northwestern University, 1990
M.S. Inorganic Chemistry, Northwestern University, 1986
B.S.S. Chemistry and Mathematics, Cornell College, 1985

John Russ, Ph.D.

Instructor

46+ Years Experience

John Russ is an internationally recognized expert on image processing and analysis, the author of The Image Processing Handbook, Computer Assisted Microscopy, Practical Stereology, Forensic Uses of Digital Imaging, and Image Analysis of Food Microstructure, as well 12 other books and more than 300 papers. He has been involved in the use of a wide variety of microscopy techniques and the computerized analysis of microstructural images for nearly 50 years, with extensive experience in both stereology and three-dimensional imaging. One of the original founders of Edax International (manufacturer of X-ray analytical systems), and the past Research Director of Rank Taylor Hobson (manufacturer of precision metrology instruments), since 1979 he has been a professor in the Materials Science department at North Carolina State University, where he introduced new multimedia-based technologies to broaden the experiences available to students. Now retired, he continues to write and lecture on topics related to image analysis, and has taught acclaimed hands-on workshops on image analysis to several thousand researchers, worldwide.

Bill Schneck

Instructor

20+ Years Experience

In 1995, Bill started Microvision Northwest-Forensic Consulting, Inc., where he is the President and principal forensic microscopist, consulting on both criminal and civil forensic cases. Bill is also an instructor at the California Criminalistics Institute (Sacramento, CA) teaching “Basic Practical Microscopy and Identification of Building Materials.”

Bill has been employed by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory in Spokane, WA. as a forensic microscopist since 1990 where he is responsible for the identification and interpretation of a wide range of materials including hairs, fibers, soil, minerals, building materials, glass, paint, explosives, wood, paper, botanical traces, metals, and food traces. His analysis relies on the use of polarized light microscopy in conjunction with electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy.

From 1987 to 1990, Bill was the coordinator of the Materials Characterization Section of McCrone Environmental Services (Atlanta, GA) specializing in asbestos-containing product identification.

Bill is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, a Diplomate of the American Board of Criminalistics, a member of the Northwest Association of Forensic Scientists, and the California Association of Criminalistics; and serves on the FBI’s Scientific Working Group for Materials Analysis (SWGMAT). His publications include articles on paleontology, sedimentary geology and forensic microanalysis.

B.S. Allied Health Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, 1978
B.S. Geology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, 1983
M.S. Geology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, 1986

Elaine Schumacher

Instructor

25+ Years Experience

Elaine has been a Senior Research Scientist with McCrone Associates since 2001, where she applies transmission electron microscopy techniques, including high resolution imaging, electron diffraction, x-ray microanalysis, and electron energy loss spectroscopy, to a wide variety of materials. Consulting work for clients in industry and academia has included characterization of polymer nanocomposites, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, minerals, ceramics, and metallurgical specimens.

Prior to joining McCrone, Elaine worked for 21 years at the UOP Research Center in Des Plaines, Illinois. Her career there included positions as Research Chemist, Analytical Supervisor and Analytical Specialist in Electron Microscopy. Microscopy experience included use of dedicated STEM, TEM, and LV-SEM to study zeolites, supported metal catalysts, filamentous carbon, and novel mixed metal oxides. She was also named as co-author on several patents.

B.S. Chemistry with honors, Elmhurst College, 1988

Craig S. Schwandt, Ph.D.

Instructor

20+ Years Experience

Craig joined the electron optics group at McCrone Associates, Inc. in 2007. He currently specializes in X-ray microanalysis of particles using energy and wavelength dispersive spectrometry methods with the scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe.

Craig has extensive and diverse analytical capabilities developed with extensive petrologic and mineralogic research. These include, among others, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscopy, X-ray spectrometry. He began acquiring his experience working for the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. He was the first geosciences post-doctoral appointee at Sandia National Laboratories. Subsequently he accepted a National Research Council Fellowship at Johnson Space Center where he continued as a contractor support scientist with the Office of Astromaterials Research, until joining McCrone Associates, Inc.

Ph. D., Geology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 1991
M. S., Geology, University of Missouri – Columbia, 1988
B. S., Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 1984

J. Jeff Schwegman, Ph.D.

Adjunct Instructor

15+ Years Experience

J. Jeff Schwegman, Ph.D. is currently a cofounder and chief scientific officer of BioConvergence LLC where he specializes in formulation, process, and analytical development of new molecular entities. Dr. Schwegman received his BS in Biochemistry from Indiana University in 1992 and began working at Cook Imaging in Bloomington Indiana, where he gained experience in analytical, formulation and process development. In 1999 he began graduate study in the Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy at Purdue University under the direction of Dr. Steve Nail, where his focus of research involved studying changes in the physical structure of biological molecules during lyophilization. Dr. Schwegman received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in 2003, and returned to Bloomington where he worked at Baxter Pharmaceutical Solutions as a Research Scientist in the Pharmaceutical Development group. He routinely lectures around the world on formulation, stabilization and process development of lyophilized products. He has also been an active member of AAPS since 2001.

B.S. Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1992.
Ph.D., Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2003

Gretchen L. Shearer, Ph.D.

Instructor

15+ Years Experience

Gretchen has been a Senior Research Chemist with McCrone Associates since 1995. Dr. Shearer came to McCrone Associates following her Ph.D. in Archaeological Chemistry from the University of London and a fellowship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

She is responsible for chemical analysis using infrared spectroscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, gas and liquid chromatography, polarized light microscopy and microchemical techniques. She has problem solving experience in a wide variety of industries including pharmaceutical, paints and coatings, electronics, forensic, polymers and metals. Types of projects include identification of surface defects and adhesion failures in automotive and other paints, identification of foreign matter in pharmaceutical products, analysis of contaminants in petroleum products, and evaluation of coatings/corrosion/stains on metal surfaces. Other chemical analyses involve polymer and ink outgassing and residual solvent analysis. Her research interests are in art and archaeological materials identification and conservation research.

L.W. Frohlich Research Fellow, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Department of Objects Conservation, New York, New York, 1988-1990.

Ph.D. Archaeology, University of London, 1989
B.A. Chemistry, College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, 1985 (Phi Beta Kappa, 1984)

Mary L. Stellmack

Instructor

22+ Years Experience

Mary has over 20 years of consulting and analytical service experience, with particular specialization in plastic and polymer analysis. Mary is currently a Senior Research Chemist at McCrone Associates in Westmont, IL, a consulting laboratory specializing in micro-analysis. Prior to joining McCrone Associates, she served as Vice President of Analytical Services for Bodycote Broutman, Inc. (formerly L.J. Broutman & Associates), a consulting company specializing in contract testing and R&D for the plastics industry. She has served on the board of directors of the Chicago Section of the Society for Plastics Engineers, and is also a member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and the American Chemical Society.

M.S., Analytical Chemistry, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois.

Scott F. Stoeffler

Instructor

20+ Years Experience

Scott came to McCrone Associates from the Michigan State Police in 1997. He is responsible for microscopical and chemical analysis and identification of small particles and trace materials in industrial samples including pharmaceuticals, foods, fabrics, dusts, polymers, glass and other manufactured products, as well as forensic samples in criminal investigations and civil litigation. He was a Laboratory Scientist with the Michigan Department of State Police Forensic Science Division from 1986-1997, where his duties included chemical and microscopical analysis of trace evidence, including fibers, paint, glass and explosive residue, footwear and tire track examinations, crime scene investigations and courtroom testimony.

M.S. Forensic Chemistry, Northeastern University, 1986
B.S. Chemistry with honors, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1983

Joseph R. Swider, Ph.D.

Instructor

18+ Year Experience

Joe joined McCrone Associates from the Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian Institution. He has over twelve years of chemical instruction, analytical instrumentation, and research across chemical disciplines including organic, inorganic, analytical, and nuclear effectively applying his experience to managing multiple and multifaceted research projects and performing microanalytical services for museums and scientific institutions. His past experience includes: Senior Research Scientist – Andrew W. Mellon Foundation East Asian Paintings Research Program, Freer Gallery of Art/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; and National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Surface and Microanalysis Science Division, Gaithersburg, MD.

Ph.D. Nuclear Chemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 1998
B. S. Chemistry, Minor - Art History, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1991

Anna S. Teetsov

Instructor

45+ Years Experience

Anna has worked as a Senior Research Microscopist at McCrone Associates since 1961. In addition to her international reputation for the development of special techniques for ultramicroscopical analysis of particles, over the past four decades she has worked as an analyst on thousands of projects requiring the isolation and identification of submicrometer-sized contaminants. Anna, a co-author of the Particle Atlas, has published widely in the area of particle manipulation techniques and is responsible for the development of the curriculum for the particle handling course.

Her special skills include the microscopical analysis of particles in micrometer and submicrometer size ranges; manipulation and mounting of particles for instrumental analysis; development of special techniques for ultramicroscopical analysis of particles. Anna has been developing and teaching the Particle Isolation course for over 19 years.

B.S. Chemistry, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois, 1958

Heidi M. Ullberg

Instructor

17+ Years Experience

Heidi joined McCrone Associates' cleanroom staff in 1997 after many years of clinical and medical laboratory practice. Heidi's current responsibilities include micrometer and submicrometer-sized particle manipulation related to her work with environmental forensic samples; and, she applies the same techniques to a wide variety of industrial samples including pharmaceuticals, foods, fabrics, dusts, polymers, and glass. Heidi rounds out her duties at McCrone Associates by serving as Chair of the Safety Committee. Her experiences as an instructor at the Rush Medical College (Chicago) School for Medical Technology provide a valuable foundation for her responsibilities with the College of Microscopy.

B.S., Biology, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 1988
A.A.S. Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT, MT-I, ASCP) Belleville Area College, 1986

Thomas G. Van Howe, Jr.

Instructor

8+ Years Experience

Tom’s current dual roles as Quality Manager and Safety Manager for McCrone Associates, Inc., require him to be able to understand, implement and enforce all applicable OSHA, EPA, DEA, FDA, DHS, DOT, ANSI, NFPA, ISO and RCRA standards and regulations within the workplace. As Safety Manager, Tom has worked to ensure that all employees have access to and are properly trained in the use of safety related and personal protective equipment. Tom also serves as an American Heart Association certified First Aid, CPR, and AED instructor. Tom enjoys taking a very practical approach to teaching by integrating instructional learned information with applicable, informal hands-on learning and practice.

B.S., Biology, Millikin University, Decatur, IL. 1993

Bianca Vigil

Instructor

2 + Years Experience

Bianca has been a research microscopist with McCrone Associates since 2007. Her interest in microscopy started in graduate school while obtaining her Masters Degree in Forensic Science. Her current work involves processing of environmental samples for sample analysis, small particle manipulations, and thin-sectioning through ultramicrotomy. As a result of her Masters Thesis, her research interests involve analyzing various types of bone material from a variety of sources for microscopic characterization.

M.S. Forensic Science, National University, 2006
B. S. Biology, University of Illinois, 2004

Emily Will

Adjunct Instructor

22 years experience

Kathy A. Cyr

Director of Program Development

Kathy joined the staff of the College of Microscopy as the Director of Program Development in December of 2007. For the past seven years she held the position of Director/Program Director at the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies. She worked with faculty to develop individual course offerings in the areas of Historic Preservation,Care of Collections and Conservation. The increased number of courses led to the creation of two certificate programs: Collections Preventive Care and Historic Preservation. Her responsibilities in her new position at the College of Microscopy will focus on new course and program development and maintaining the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET) accreditation for the College, as well as seeking other accreditations for newly developed COM certificate programs.

B.S. Clothing & Textiles, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 1973
M.A. Clothing & Textiles, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 1978

John Gustav Delly

Scientific Advisor

40+ Years Experience

John originally joined McCrone Associates in 1965. John is currently Scientific Advisor to The McCrone Group, including the online Atlas of Microscopic Particles, “At the Eyepoint” a bi-monthly article series on a variety of microscopy topics that can be read at ModernMicroscopy.com, and a consultant to the staff of McCrone Associates and McCrone Microscopes & Accessories on matters having to do with applied polarized-light microscopy.

Prior, he was responsible for microscopical research and teaching of McCrone Research Institute courses in Applied Polarized Light; Photomicrography; Advanced Microscopy; Microscopical Mineral Identification; Forensic Microscopy; Biological Microscopy; Fluorescence Microscopy; Asbestos Identification; Pharmaceutical Microscopy; Soil Identification; and custom-designed courses for specific industries, on-site.

He was also Head of McCrone Associates’ laboratory for contamination identification. Supervised research concerned with troubleshooting microscopic particle problems for government and industry, particularly the handling and identification of small particles that contaminate the atmosphere, water sources, industrial processing areas, and cleanrooms. John was also responsible for studies pertaining to industrial quality control, and the causes of failures and defects in industrial products, and a consultant to the medico-legal professions on matters both civil and criminal that involve the evaluation of physical evidence. John also consults on matters of national security, counterfeiting, and classified projects. He is the author of more than 500 books, chapters and articles.

M.B.A. International Business, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois, 1980
M.A. English Literature/Linguistics, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois, 1961
B.S. Zoology (minor: Chemistry/Physics), University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, 1956

Lois M. Gelwicks

Registrar

Lois joins the staff of the College of Microscopy after being with Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies since 2004. While she was there she served as Administrative Assistant to the Director and also, as Registrar for the school. Before getting into the continuing education field Lois worked for Kennedy Furniture Conservation as General Office Manager.