Promoting analytical science

Melissa Hanna-Brown is a Senior Principal Scientist at Pfizer Global Research and Development Labs in Sandwich, Kent. She is also a visiting senior lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy at King's College London, where she was previously a lecturer in Separation Sciences.

Melissa is an elected committee member of the Chromatography and Electrophoresis interest group and is Vice President of the Analytical Division council. She is also the AD representative on the advisory committee for the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network on Measurement Science.

Q Why did you choose a career in analytical chemistry?

A It has always been the technology development aspect of analytical science which has interested me. I enjoy finding ways of improving measurement data quality by pushing the limits of the measurement technology itself.

This all started after being exposed to state-of the-art equipment during the sandwich placement of my first degree (Glaxo, Ware) and my PhD studies (SmithKline laboratories, Harlow). This led me to spend more time as a postdoc developing analytical instrumentation.

My role now in Pfizer has continued in the same vein where technology development, evaluation and application remain a strong focus.

Q How did you get involved in the Analytical Division?

A Originally my involvement was with the RSC Chromatography and Electrophoresis Group committee. 
Then, in 2002, I attended an Emerging Young Professionals (now Emerging Analytical Professionals) conference organised by the Analytical Science Network (the younger members branch of the RSC AD). This provided a good opportunity for networking and through these activities I learned more about the AD. 
I was elected a National Member in 2005 and in July last year I was elected Vice President. 

Q What do you hope to achieve in your term as Vice President?

A I am particularly interested in strengthening the communication both within the analytical community and between the AD and other professional societies. I hope to work on promoting the interdisciplinary nature of analytical science and improving engagement of our industrial members.

I recently helped the AD shape an activity to start addressing these objectives - via an "ideas factory" in Cambridge. This was attended by a group of academics and industrialists involved in analytical chemistry. 

Together we explored new ways of using the Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund (ACTF) both to promote wider awareness of analytical chemistry initiatives and support the industrial/academic interface. 

Q What is the role of the ACTF?

A The ACTF is a registered charity, whose primary objective is to promote, assist and extend the science and study of analytical chemistry. The ACTF supports strategic AD activities and trustees of the fund are elected members of the AD Council. Since 1974 over £8m has been spent on R&D, education and training including MSc studentships, RSC/EPSRC studentships, the analytical grand prix, research professorships, the analytical research forum and the schools analyst competition.