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Alexandra (Alex) first began her scientific journey in Fall 2015 as an undergraduate research assistant
with the Isotope Geology Laboratory (IGL) at Boise State University, performing cathodoluminescence
scanning electron microscopy (CL-SEM) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) of zircon crystals for geochronological dating under Dr. Mark Schmitz. Other
research at BSU included an independent study with a Ph.D. student affiliated with the Anthropology
Department under Dr. Mark Plew to process archaeological human remains from Guyana for carbon,
oxygen, and nitrogen isotopic analysis.
After graduating in December 2016 with a Bachelors of Science in Geosciences, she worked as a
Research Technician full time at IGL until joining the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Geology Department
as a Graduate Student in Fall 2017. Her graduate research utilized multicollector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS)
to collect lead isotopes, and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) to collect elemental data on the surface of
fragmented bronze colonial bells during Spanish Colonization in North America. The resulting chemical
compositions from each fragment created profiles to estimate a minimum number of individuals (MNIs)
present in the dataset using Principal Components Analysis (PCA).
During her time at the University of Georgia, Alex also worked as a Graduate Research Assistant in the
Plasma Chemistry Laboratory (PCL) at the Center for Applied Isotope Studies (CAIS). Her work there
used wet digestion methods for analysis on ICP-MS, ICP optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and
Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA) to characterize elemental compositions for research and commercial
contracts mainly in geology, biochemistry, archaeology, and environmental studies.
After graduating with her Masters of Science in Geology at UGA in May 2022, Alex joined Bridger
Analytical Lab in Bozeman, Montana, where she worked as an Analytical Chemist to analyze
public/domestic drinking water and wastewater while maintaining state certification. Her work included
bacteriological analysis of Total Coliform/E. coli; characterization of mineral content and trace metal
composition in water using autotitration and ICP-MS EPA methods; and analyzing oxygen, nitrogen, and
phosphorus components of wastewater using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) methods.
In September 2024, Alex joined the Quantum DNA research group as a Research Associate for the
Single Molecule Characterization Team. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring with her dog Mica and
spending time with family.