Laura Casto-Boggess

Laura Casto-Boggess is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), affiliated with the Klein College of Science. She leads the Casto-Boggess Lab, focusing on advancing analytical chemistry and instrumentation for astrobiology and extraterrestrial chemistry research. Her Honors Faculty status expires June 30, 2029.

Education:

• B.S. Chemistry & Mathematics, West Virginia Wesleyan College
• Ph.D. Analytical Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Berkeley
• Postdoctoral Fellow, West Virginia University

Research Interests: Her lab integrates microfluidic technologies, capillary electrophoresis, and optical detection methods to address challenges in small-volume sample handling, rapid analysis, and high-sensitivity detection. Research spans astrobiology, planetary science, and biological systems, with a focus on out-of-this-world chemical analysis.

Awards:

• Honors Faculty (UNC Charlotte, 2023-2029)

Advising & Lab Team: Supervises a diverse team including PhD candidates (Casey Folks, Jannatul Ferdous Suchi), MS students (Nour Alsharid, Bennett Roth), and undergraduates engaged in microfluidics, Raman spectroscopy, and capillary electrophoresis. Former members include Alex Wood and Claire Trevino.

Labs & Collaborations: The Casto-Boggess Lab at UNC Charlotte Chemistry, established Fall 2023, focuses on developing analytical tools for extreme environments and extraterrestrial sample analysis.