M Bonner Denton

Biography

M. Bonner Denton received his Bachelor of Science–Chemistry and Bachelor of Arts-Psychology degrees in 1967 from Lamar State College of Technology and his Ph.D. - Chemistry in 1972 from the University of Illinois.  Today Denton is a Galileo Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Arizona.  Research interests include analytical instrumentation, optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, separation science, scientific imaging and forensic analysis. 

Over the years Denton and his group have developed methodologies that are today widely used in chemical analysis.  He pioneered the development of high resolution array detector technology for both ultra-sensitive spectroscopic analysis and microscopic imaging.  The high performance achievable in modern Raman, Fluorescence and Atomic Emission Spectroscopies, is directly traceable to contributions made by Denton and his research group.  Currently Denton is applying new advanced detector innovations leading to the development of ultra-trace level explosives detection instrumentation capable of detecting small quantities of explosives at over forty meters standoff distances, and to new detector technology for simultaneous ion detection.

 Denton is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Fellow of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy; and Fellow of the American Chemical Society.  He has published over 200 peer reviewed publications and holds 12 patents in the field of chemical instrumentation.

Degrees

• Ph.D. Chemistry
• University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
• “Considerations in Laser Excited Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Related Investigations", under the direction of Professor Howard V. Malmstadt.
• B.A. Psychology
• Lamar State College of Technology, Beaumont, Texas, USA
• B.S. Chemistry
• Lamar State College of Technology, Beaumont, Texas, USA

Awards

• Pittsburgh Spectroscopy Award
• Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh, Spring 1998
• PNL Affiliate Staff Scientist
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, Summer 1995
• Distinguished Alumnus of Lamar University
• Lamar University, Spring 1994
• Excellence in Teaching
• University of Arizona, Spring 1993
• Lester Strock Award
• Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Fall 1991
• Award in Chemical Instrumentation
• American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry, Fall 1989
• Distinguished Teaching Award
• College of Science, University of Arizona, Spring 1989
• Outstanding Young Men of America
• Spring 1978
• Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Spring 1976
• The Analytical Scientist Power List
• Winter 2019
• Champion of Justice Award
• Innocence Project, Fall 2018
• Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society Award for Distinguished Service in the Advancement of Analytical Chemistry
• Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society, Summer 2016
• Notable People in Mass Spectrometry
• In: Michael L. Gross and Richard M. Caprioli, editors-in-chief, Keith A. Nier, Alfred L. Yergey, and P. Jane Gale, volume editors. The Encyclopedia of Mass Spectrometry, vol. 9B, pp. 55-56. San Diego: Elsevier., Spring 2015
• Honorary Membership
• Society for Applied Spectroscopy, Fall 2014
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Scientific Detectors in Astronomy Conference, Fall 2013
• Fellow, American Chemical Society
• American Chemical Society, Summer 2011
• R&D 100 Award
• R&D Magazine, Summer 2011
• Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Fields of Analytical Chemistry
• Eastern Analytical Symposium, Fall 2009
• Team Award for Excellence
• University of Arizona, Spring 2008
• Recognition of Innovative and Excelling Research
• University of Arizona, Spring 2007
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fall 2006
• Fellow, Society for Applied Spectrometry
• Society for Applied Spectrometry, Fall 2006
• Broadest Bandwidth Award
• 2005 Scientific Detectors in Astronomy Conference, Fall 2005
• Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry
• Royal Society of Chemistry, Fall 2004
• Galileo Fellow
• University of Arizona, Fall 2004
• Theophilus Redwood Lecturer for 2004
• Royal Society of Chemistry, Spring 2004
• James L. Waters Innovation in Raman Spectroscopy Award
• Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry, Spring 2003
• Award in Spectrochemical Analysis
• American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry, Spring 2001