Bryan Hettick

Bryan Hettick was born and raised in rural West Texas prior to beginning his academic career at Lubbock Christian University. He received his earliest research experience in food chemistry under the mentorship of Dr. Julie Marshall. After graduation, he earned his M.S. in Environmental Toxicology from Texas Tech University. Working under Dr. David Klein, he gained experience with analytical instruments including the atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) and mass spectrometer paired with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS).

He continued his education at Baylor University, working in the lab of Dr. Elyssia Gallagher, where he learned to use high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

After graduating with his M.S. in Chemistry, he relocated to Atlanta to work with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a federal contractor. He primarily worked with the Emergency Response Branch to develop and implement methods for the detection of toxins in human urine and plasma using HRMS.

After three years in industry and government, he returned to academia to serve as an instructor and mentor for the next generation of aspiring scientists. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his own mentors and make a positive difference in the lives of his students. He currently lives in northwest Georgia with his wife, Whitney.