Jacob Shelley

Jacob Shelley is the Alan Paul Schulz Career Development Professor of Chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), leading the Shelley Research Lab. He holds a B.S. from Northern Arizona University (2005), a Ph.D. from Indiana University (2011), and completed postdoctoral work at Purdue University and the University of Münster (Germany via Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship). His research focuses on advancing mass spectrometry instrumentation for rapid, in situ analysis in complex matrices, emphasizing ambient ionization techniques and multi-dimensional analytical capabilities.

Education:

• B.S. in Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, 2005
• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Indiana University, 2011
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Purdue University, 2011–2012
• Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Münster, 2012–2014

Research Interests: Prof. Shelley’s work bridges analytical chemistry and instrumentation development, targeting innovations in plasma-based ionization sources, acoustic field manipulation of ions, and multidimensional mass spectrometry. Applications span astrobiology, environmental analysis, drug development, and homeland security. His lab emphasizes rapid, non-destructive molecular analysis at atmospheric pressure.

Key Contributions: Authored 35+ journal articles, 3 patents, and 30+ invited presentations. Notable projects include resonant acoustic ion gates, glow discharge systems, and VUV Raman pathogen detection. His work aligns with RPI’s interdisciplinary initiatives, including the Rensselaer Astrobiology Research and Education Center.

Awards: Recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012–2014).