Meet Nicole Strittmatter

Nicole develops mass spectrometry methods that expand ambient and in situ analysis. By combining ambient ionization, imaging mass spectrometry, and novel instrumentation, her group examines the molecular composition and spatial organization of biological and environmental samples.

Returning to academia allowed Nicole to extend techniques originally developed for biomedical tissue imaging into environmental and materials science. Her group is now creating tools to investigate beneficial biofilms and characterize plastic degradation processes and products. “I am particularly excited about applying advanced mass spectrometry to address some of the major challenges of our time, including climate change and the transition toward a circular economy,” she says.

“We often celebrate the next generation of instruments, but I think the bigger challenge now lies in understanding the wealth of information they already provide,” Nicole says. She hopes progress in data analysis, interpretation, and integration will make these methods more widely accessible. Preserving analytical expertise is equally important: “Modern instruments are becoming increasingly powerful and user-friendly, but fewer scientists gain hands-on experience with how these systems actually work. This risks limiting our ability to innovate, troubleshoot, and develop the next generation of analytical technologies.”

Nicole also challenges the assumption that finer spatial resolution necessarily produces better research. “Single-cell analysis is a remarkable achievement when it answers the right biological question, but it often comes at the expense of throughput, representativeness, and biological robustness,” she says. “Analytical performance should ultimately be judged by the scientific insight it enables.”

Postdoctoral experience in industry taught Nicole to communicate effectively, manage competing projects, and focus on research with practical impact. Her decision to return to academia combined those skills with the freedom to pursue fundamental questions.

Becoming a mother brought another change in perspective: “It taught me to focus on what really matters, not to get caught up in minor setbacks, and to approach challenges with pragmatism and resilience.”