Education

• Ph.D., Geosciences, Texas Tech University (2001)

When new vice president of research Dean Smith came to Texas Tech University, he wanted to jumpstart research on campus, so he offered researchers $1.8 million with no stipulation on what they should research to earn it. Dr. Melanie Barnes, the Senior Research Associate in teh Department of Geosciences, was one of the three chosen recepients. She earned a $506,203 grant for an inductively–coupled plasma mass spectrometer with laser ablation.

Dr. Barnes runs the TTU GeoAnalytical lab, which houses the Leeman Labs inductive coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and a Perkin-Elmer atomic absorption spectrometer (AA). The ICP-AES machine enables researchers to analyze the chemical composition of water, soil, and other compounds to detect elements in parts-per-billion. In geology, the device can be used to determine the age of rocks and how they were formed. Whole rock samples can be analyzed for major (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5) and trace (Ba, Rb, Sr, Zr, Y, Sc, V, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn, Nb, Be) elements using a lithium metaborate fusion solution. Loss on ignition (LOI) is included with whole rock analysis and requires 1-4 g sample powder. Environmental (water and soil) and biological samples (liver, kidney, etc) are analyzed for typical EPA metals including Cu, Zn, Fe, Sr, Mg, Ni, Cr, Cd, Mo, As, Pb and alkalies.