Dr. Vincent Zdanowicz
“Some days I burn things in an acetylene flame. Other days I use a 10,000-degree plasma to inject atoms into an intense magnetic field. And when I’m not doing that, I might vaporize glass using a high-powered laser.

These are three of the techniques used in elemental analysis, the measurement of the amounts of chemical elements in normal, everyday items. CBP Laboratories conduct elemental analysis primarily to regulate trade of the many commodities imported each day. Elemental analysis can tell CBP officers whether goods are authentic and where they come from.

Elemental analysis can also be used to examine evidence of a suspected crime. My recent duties combine elemental analysis and forensic science. Using a technique called laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LAICPMS), I devised a method of measuring the elemental composition of glass that can be used to examine glass fragments found at crime scenes. (This work was done in collaboration with scientists from other federal agencies and several centers in Europe and Australia.)

In this method, I use a laser to vaporize a tiny spot on a piece of glass. The atoms in the vapor are then injected into a 10,000-degree plasma, which propels them through an intense magnetic field where they are separated according to their mass and sent to a detector where they are identified and counted. This process provides a chemical “fingerprint” of the glass, which can be compared with the “fingerprint” from a second piece of glass. If the first piece is from a crime scene, and the second is from a suspect, then there is a high degree of confidence that the suspect was at the crime scene.

LAICPMS is a state-of-the-art analytical technique. But I have to admit, zapping stuff with the laser is just plain fun.”

Dr. Janice R. Gerde
“I am a textile analyst. It is engrossing work, with lots of variety. Modern textile analysis is interdisciplinary—a mix of chemistry, physics, engineering, materials science, microscopy, and forensics.

Increasingly, work is accomplished more efficiently using scientific, computer-based instruments such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometers (FTIR) to identify synthetic fibers based on chemical components. To facilitate complex qualitative and quantitative processes we use computer-based, two-dimensional image analysis systems. Electron microscopes allow us to view ever-smaller details of individual fibers.

Textiles are pervasive in every aspect of everyday life, and they are a major international economic factor as well. CBP textile analysts support textile trade initiatives pertaining to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Chapters 50 to 63, plus footwear. We also conduct analyses of associated commodities of paper, wood, leather, and vegetable fibers, botanicals, and mixed media products containing both fibrous and non-fibrous components. Our customers are our CBP and DHS colleagues, especially import specialists. Occasionally, we collaborate with other federal, state, or local agencies. Our work supports both traditional trade functions and anti-terrorism/anti-weapons of mass destruction initiatives.

Because the textile industry continues to grow and evolve, staying current with newly-developed fibers and emerging textile technologies is a “must.” Some clothing and household textiles now contain bamboo, a “green” (eco-friendly) source for regenerated cellulose fiber (“rayon-like”). Industry is exploring commercial options for fibers derived from corn protein and from common plants like hibiscus and sugar cane. Scientists are pursuing synthetic spider silk, prized for its combination of fineness and strength. Nano-fibers (a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter), “smart” textiles, high-tech non-woven textiles, fiber-reinforced composites, and protective textiles for military and medical applications are under development, if not already in commercial production. The CBP Laboratory textile scientists are poised and prepared to analyze these innovative products as they enter the stream of commerce.”

Dr. Jose (Jenner) Gutierrez
“Each scientist in our lab has a specialty in chemistry, forensics, or textile science. I am a chemist whose focus is on separation science and on DNA technology. On any given day, you may find me examining data, composing a journal article, or planning the next experiment.

An interesting aspect of my job relates to the tasks of “quick-hitting” projects where answers need to be obtained expeditiously.

In one instance, material labeled as “DNA primers” for medical research required immediate content verification. DNA primers are typically short pieces of DNA, about 20-25 base pairs. A technique known as agarose gel electrophoresis is specific in separating DNA fragments, with short fragments migrating quickly and longer fragments, slower. The gel can be stained with a DNA-specific dye, ethidium bromide, to provide further proof that the sample is DNA. Thus, DNA primers can be visualized as fast running bands on the gel. Several samples were tested and the material was confirmed as DNA primers.

In my job, time is spent focusing on each specific issue and question to be answered, in addition to the planning and execution of special experiments needed to yield a solution. Further, the developed methods are precise, quick, and definitive, such that they can be incorporated into the practices of our field laboratories.”