Personnel
The Shared Instrument Lab is directed by Dr. Nathan D. Leigh, who came to S&T in 2015 after 13 years at MU where he had a joint appointment as manager of the Mass Spectrometry Facility in the Department of Chemistry and as a research associate in the Proteomics Center.
Dr. Leigh began his career as a chemist working in the field of hazardous waste management, where he learned to analyze unknowns using classical chemical methods. His deep expertise is in mass spectrometry and and related fields with broad experience in a range of other instrumental techniques; he is a fan of intelligent detectors and data fusion.
Mr. Dave Satterfield has been with S&T since 2002 after a career in the Air Force, Hudson Medical, and Wyatt Instruments.
Mr. Satterfield is the key contact for our thermal and UV-vis instruments; he also handles electronics and other repairs and maintenance for the department, gas purchasing and inventory, asset management, and is the building coordinator for Schrenk Hall.
History
The Shared Instrument Lab had its roots in an old laboratory space on the 2nd floor of Schrenk west, where it was nestled in between the organic and analytical chemistry teaching labs. There was sufficient room but the accommodations were less than beautiful.
During renovations to Schrenk west, the lab was shoehorned into space on the 3rd floor of Schrenk east; as much of the instrumentation as possible was set up (the most used pieces) with some going into storage for the duration of the renovation.
Upon completion of the renovations in Schrenk east, the lab moved into planned space in rooms 139 and 140 Schrenk Hall where it is currently located.