Melissa's interests are in the development of new analytical methods for the determination of marker compounds, vitamins, and contaminants in dietary supplements and foods, as well as improving the measurement capabilities of the dietary supplement and food communities. Melissa's employment at NIST began as a postdoctoral associate with the measurement of organic acids, anthocyanidins, and flavonols in a suite of Vaccinium berry SRMs (cranberry, blueberry, and bilberry). Melissa has also been heavily involved in the development of methods and measurement of water-soluble vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, choline, and carnitine) in numerous food SRMs. Melissa was a co-coordinator for the former Dietary Supplement Laboratory Quality Assurance Program (DSQAP) from 2009 to 2017. She is currently a co-coordinator of the Health Assessment Measurements Quality Assurance Program (HAMQAP), the Cannabis Quality Assurance Program (CannaQAP), and the food and nutrition SRM program. From November 2016 through June 2017, Melissa was detailed to the Office of Reference Materials. In 2018, Melissa began formulation of evolving efforts into a grassroots Food Safety Program within the Chemical Sciences Division, and chaired the NIST Food Safety Workshop in October 2019.
Professional Memberships
- American Chemical Society (ACS), 2004 - present
- ACS Analytical Chemistry Division, 2009 - present
- ACS Agricultural & Food Chemistry Division, 2017 - present
- AOAC International, 2008 - present
- AOAC International Technical Division on Reference Materials, 2011 - present
- AOAC International Technical Division on Laboratory Management, 2011 - present
- ASTM International, 2019 - present
- Washington Chromatography Discussion Group, 2008 - present
Professional Activities
- Chair, NIST Food Safety Workshop, 2019
- AOAC International Official Methods Board, 2016 - present
- Chair-Elect, 2020 - present
- AOAC Technical Programming Council, 2016 - present
- Vice-Chair, 2019 - present
- AOAC International Editorial Board, 2014 - present
- AOAC International Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN), 2010 - present
- AOAC International Stakeholder Panel on Strategic Food Analytical Methods, 2014 - 2018
- Chair, Expert Review Panel for Bisphenol A (BPA) Methods, 2017 - present
- AOAC International Cannabis Analytical Sciences Program (CASP), 2018-present
- Chair, Expert Review Panel for CannabinoidsMethods, 2017 - present
- US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC 34 Food Products, 2019 - present
- Washington Chromatography Discussion Group Secretary, 2009 - 2015
- General Chapters Chemical Analysis Expert Committee, United States Pharmacopeia, 2010 - 2015
- Subcommittee on Dietary Supplements, 2010 - 2015
- Expert Panel on Elemental Impurities, 2010 - 2015