FSU professor named fellow by National Academy of Inventors

The National Academy of Inventors recently named Alan Marshall, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida State University, a fellow.

Marshall received the honor because of his work co-inventing and developing the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry.

“This is a tremendous honor and, quite frankly, one that I was surprised to receive,” Marshall said. “I have always tried to push the limits of my work in FT-ICR and develop it in a way that can aid other scientists in their research. But I never imagined my innovations would catch the eye of the NAI. It truly is a privilege to be included in such a distinct and accomplished group of inventors.”

The FT-ICR mass spectrometry is an analytical procedure with the ability to resolve and identify thousands of chemical components.

“Alan is such an outstanding scientist and prolific innovator that it made for the easiest nomination form I have had to fill out in recent memory,” Gary Ostrander, FSU vice president for research, said. “His work to help other scientists explore complex molecular structures will be the catalyst for discoveries that advance our civilization and improve the human condition for generations to come.”