Adam Brustkern

I have been at Simpson College since the fall of 2010. I regularly teach courses in general chemistry, quantitative analysis, and forensic science. I am an analytical chemist by training with a focus on mass spectrometry. My favorite part about teaching at Simpson is interacting with the students. I am here because I want to help students find their passion, whether or not they find it in chemistry.

2009 Ph.D. , Washington University, Saint Louis, MO (Advisor: Michael L. Gross)
2005 M.A. Chemistry, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO
2003 M.S. Forensics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
2002 B.S. Chemistry, Summa Cum Laude, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar
Falls, IA

• Austin, A. R., Brustkern, A. M. Bioaccumulation of Methylmercury: Investigation of Contamination in Pylodictic olivaris and Ictalurus punctatus. Poster presentation at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2019 National Meeting and Exposition, 2019
• Austin, A. R., Brustkern, A. M. Bioaccumulation of Methylmercury: Investigation of Contamination in Pylodictic olivaris and Ictalurus punctatus. Poster presentation at the 2018 Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, 2018
• Brustkern, A. M., Rempel, D. L., Gross, M. L. Electrical Trap Compensation for the Improvement of FT-ICR MS. Poster presentation at the 44th Midwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Iowa City, Iowa, 2009
• Brustkern, A. M., Rempel, D. L., Gross, M. L. Measuring Variations in Work Functions in an ICR Trap. Poster presentation at the 7th North American FT MS Conference, Key West, FL, 2009
• Brustkern, A. M., Trap Compensation and High-Energy CAD for the Study of Large Biomolecules. Midwest Mass Spectrometry Discussion Group, St. Louis, MO 2009
• Brustkern, A. M., Rempel, D. L., and Gross M. L. Subtle Behaviors in an Electrically Compensated Cylindrical ICR Cell. Poster presentation at the 56th American Society of Mass Spectrometry meeting, Denver, CO, 2008
• Brustkern, A. M., Rempel, D. L., and Gross M. L. A New Electrically Compensated Cylindrical ICR Trap: Procedure for Tuning and Improvements in Mass Resolving Power and Sensitivity. Poster presentation at the 55th American Society of Mass Spectrometry meeting, Indianapolis, IN, 2007
• Brustkern, A. M., Rempel, D. L., and Gross M. L. A Procedure for Tuning and the Preliminary Evaluation of an Electrically Compensated Cylindrical ICR Cell. Poster presentation at the 6th North American FT-ICR MS Conference, Lake Tahoe, CA, 2007
• Brustkern, A. M., Rempel, D. L., and Gross M. L. Some Sources of Sub Part Per Million Error In Accurate Mass Measurements in Externally Injected MALDI FTMS Experiments. Poster presentation at the 54th American Society of Mass Spectrometry meeting, Seattle, WA, 2006
• Brustkern, A. M., Uncovering the Truth about Pursuing Careers in Forensic Science. Presentation for UNI Chemistry Department’s “Careers in Chemistry” Seminar Series, Cedar Falls, IA 2005
• Brustkern, A. M., Trent, P. M., Hanson, C. D. Variable Potential Ion Guide for TOF Mass Spectrometry. Poster presentation at the 223rd ACS National Meeting, Orlando, FL, United States, April 7-11, 2002

2024 Iowa Chapter Safari Club International Educator of the Year
2023 Simpson College Distinguished Teaching Award
2023 Simpson College Campus Leadership Award