Focus Carolina: Mike Ramsey

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Mike Ramsey, Minnie N. Goldby distinguished professor of chemistry, is Carolina’s Inventor of the Year thanks to his perseverance and creation of a smaller version of a mass spectrometer which allows first responders to quickly identify harmful airborne chemicals at a disaster scene.

According to UNC, Ramsey has generated over 70 granted patents since his arrival at the university in 2004.

“Mass spectrometry, one could argue, is the most important chemical characterization technique that we have in our toolbox as chemists,” said Ramsey. “It basically measures the molecular weight of a molecule. … You can detect these molecules at very trace quantities, a part per million or part per billion of a particular hazardous material. People are using it as first responders, law enforcement, our military is also using it. There’s a broad range of hazardous materials. There’s a broad range of hazardous materials. They might be toxic industrial compounds. They might be explosives. They might be illicit drugs, a whole range of materials that one would want to identify.”

The award is given annually to a researcher in recognition of their contributions to inventions and patents. Presented by the UNC Office of Technology Commercialization, which is part of the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, the award honors the recipient’s commitment to the University’s culture of encouraging innovation, disseminating knowledge and promoting entrepreneurship.

A mass spectrometer is traditionally a particularly bulky piece of equipment, with some taking up entire rooms in laboratories. Ramsey’s device is a rectangle that’s roughly a foot long and weighs nine pounds — including its battery.Some mass spectrometers fill entire rooms while ones used in laboratories weigh several hundred pounds.

“A miniaturized mass spectrometer to the point where it can actually be carried around by an individual has been a goal that people have been striving for at least four decades,” said Ramsey. “You couldn’t get your arms around them and you certainly wouldn’t be able to lift them.”

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Focus Carolina: Mike Ramsey

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