Friday, August 29 2025, 3 - 4pm GG Building 200A or via Zoom Colloquium Speaker: Madhavi Martin Title: Leveraging High-Resolution Laser Spectroscopy for Solutions to Bio-geo-chemistry, Biomass, and Environmental Characterization Hosted by: Dr. Walker Abstract: This talk will summarize the past decade of research using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), a technique complementary to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) but elegantly simpler in sample preparation and more versatile for the analysis of inconvenient samples and matrices such as leaves, shoots, roots, and soils. Recently, our group has used LIBS to advance the field of ionomics, the study of changes in inorganic element composition in response to physiological stimuli, developmental state, and genetic changes. I will speak on advances in LIBS techniques at ORNL for determining the viability of switchgrass and poplar trees as biomass that can be used to produce high-quality biofuels, as well as the impacts of climate change such as how trees respond to wildfires started during droughts. This research spans a wide spectrum of applications in corrosion elements in uranium metals, oxides and hydrides using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, rare earth elements (REE) and critical materials detection for phyto-mining and multivariate models for the high-throughput detection and characterization of bioenergy crops. Use of LIBS also has led to a number of scientific discoveries. Multi-elemental analysis of wood that helped solve a murder, featured on the Forensic Files episode “Wood-be Killer” on TV. Bio: Dr Madhavi Martin is a Senior research scientist in the Biosciences Division, and a Group leader of the Biomaterials and Biomass characterization group at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She received her PhD degree in optical and electrical characterization of semiconductor devices from the University of California at Los Angeles in solid state Physics. Madhavi’s research mainly focuses on developing laser and imaging technologies for phenotyping wood and grass species with a focus on biomass characterization for bioenergy, dendro-chemistry to understand tree growth and development related to environmental effects, development of environmental sensors specifically used in complex biological and chemical matrices in bioenergy and climate change applications. Her research spans a wide spectrum of applications in corrosion elements in uranium metals, oxides and hydrides using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, rare earth elements (REE) and critical materials detection for phyto-mining and multivariate models for the high-throughput detection and characterization of bioenergy crops. Dr. Martin has published more than 150 papers including 100 peer-reviewed journal publications and more than 50 invited talks at conferences. She is a Senior Member of the IEEE and is a Senior Member of the Optical Society of America specifically recognized for her expertise in the application of optical methods in biological and environmental research. Appointed to the International Scientific Committee for the Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Society, 2004-present. This is a hybrid event. If you are unable to join us in person, please join via Zoom. Meeting ID: 997 2477 2096 Note: A password is required to join this meeting. Please call the Geology office (706-542-2652) and speak with a representative to obtain the code. Alternatively, a code request can be made to UGA Geology. Madhavi Martin Oak Ridge National Lab, Biosciences Division
