Meet Katelynn Perrault Uptmor

Katelynn advances multidimensional chromatography for characterizing complex chemical mixtures. Her work addresses the challenge of identifying compounds spanning numerous chemical classes and concentrations within a single sample, enabling more comprehensive analysis of foods, forensic evidence, and other complex systems.

“The most exciting aspect of my research is revealing the hidden chemistry of the world around us,” she says. “From foods we consume to trace residues encountered in forensic investigations, every sample contains a rich chemical fingerprint.” Advances in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography are now allowing Katelynn and her students to uncover information and answer questions that were previously beyond reach.

For Katelynn, the field’s most pressing challenge is not technological but human. “Our discipline underpins advances in chemistry, biology, medicine, environmental science, aerospace science, and more – yet it often receives less visibility than the fields it enables,” she says. With fewer students encountering analytical chemistry early in their education, attracting and retaining talented scientists is becoming harder. “As instrumentation and data become increasingly sophisticated, the need for chemists who can make reliable measurements and extract meaningful information from complex data has never been greater.”

Triathlon training has shaped Katelynn’s approach to research. “Endurance sports have taught me to value consistency and breadth of skill development over quick wins and narrow specialization,” she says. Swimming was initially her weakest discipline, but practice transformed it into a favorite. “Research is much the same: growth often comes from embracing challenges rather than avoiding them. Progress can sometimes feel small and incremental, but those gains accumulate into significant discoveries over time.”