Dr. Rachel Marek is an associate research scientist at IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering and has expertise in the analytical chemistry of PCBs with published work concerning sampling and analysis of PCBs and hydroxylated PCBs in human blood serum, contaminated sediments, and air. She is a long-term collaborator with Project 3 and will lead the Aim 2 effort to measure PCB congeners in food samples.

In addition, Dr. Marek has been a member of the ISRP Analytical Core (AC) since 2007. She works with project leaders and coordinates work associated with method development and application regarding PCB breakdown products. Together with Dr. Hornbuckle, she oversees all the analytical work and training for environmental samples including extraction, cleanup, and analysis by capillary gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (HPLC),mass spectrometry, and various other analytical methods and the quality control and assurance metrics that go with them.

She is also a member of the RETCC and organizes weekly joint meetings with the RETCC, Analytical Core, and Data Management and Analysis Core where trainees can learn new methods, techniques, and refine their research and presentation skills.