Nichole Crane Email Address

Analytical Research Chemist

Next Generation Chemical Sensors Learn More

As an undergraduate I decided to obtain two degrees: one in chemistry and one in criminology. My sole purpose of these degrees was to ultimately go into a forensics field once out of graduate school. I wanted to have many options open to me so instead of attending George Washington University's Forensics masters program in fall of 2011 I decided to get my Ph.D. in analytical chemistry at the University of Tennessee. I was aware of Tennessee's dead body farm and the close national labs and I wanted to have an overall breadth of knowledge in analytical chemistry and methods development rather than limit myself to only a forensics field of study. Once I got to Tennessee I immediately began working at Oak Ridge National Lab in their Center for Nanophase Material Science center and having another project at Y-12 National Security Complex. The project at Oak Ridge National lab deals with nanofabrication of new separation mediums. I currently test nano-pillar arrays with different chemical properties to determine the efficiency of the separation performed on the pillars. The project at Y-12 National Lab is still patent pending so I currently cannot divulge too much information except that I work on a sensor development project with collaborators. Once the patent is out I will list my publications on the work and give more details.