The NY/NJ Society for Applied Spectroscopy is honored to present Dr. Mark Witkowski the Gold Medal Award in 2024.
Dr. Witkowski received a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 1988 and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry under the direction of Dr. William G. Fateley from Kansas State in 1992. Dr. Witkowski held a postdoctoral position at D.O.M. Associates International Inc. He joined Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Company in 1994 and joined the FDA’s Forensic Chemistry Center (FCC) in Cincinnati, OH as a specialist in vibrational spectroscopy in 2000.
At Warner-Lambert, he was responsible for the analysis of suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products and researching the use of NIR technology related to pharmaceutical applications. He successfully developed and deployed NIR methods to routinely identify over 100 different pharmaceutical raw materials and explored its use in other applications such as tablet analysis. Dr. Witkowski is currently a Senior Chemist in the Trace Examination Section (TES) at FDA’s FCC. He represents the FDA, both internally and externally as an expert in vibrational spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and field deployable instrumentation and evaluates novel technologies and methods. He has led the development of methods and use of both FT-IR and Raman in the analysis of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, economically motivated adulterated products, and other pharmaceutical forensic trace evidence. He provides training and mentoring of other users of FT-IR and Raman inside and outside of FDA including method of analysis to use, the interpretation of FT-IR and Raman spectra or participating as an instructor in training courses.
Dr. Witkowski regularly interacts with FDA’s law enforcement, imports, and regulatory organizations. Outside of FDA he interacts with other U.S. law enforcement agencies, state and local health agencies and international law enforcement and regulatory agencies. He is currently the chair of the International Laboratory Forum on Counterfeit Medicines (ILFCM).
Dr. Witkowski received 46 awards for his scientific work including Scientific Achievement, Outstanding Service, Special Recognition, Excellence in Analytical Science, Leveraging/Collaboration. As a recognized expert he is regularly called to testify in court at the local and federal level. Dr. Witkowski has authored/co-authored and given over 70 publications and presentations. He is listed as co-inventor on three U.S. Patents with another FCC scientist for the development of alternate light source (ALS) devices and methodologies for the detection of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, diverted pharmaceutical products, product tampering and adulterated products.