Post-Doctorate Research Associate
Post-Doctorate Research Associate

Biography

Kevin Zemaitis is an analytical chemist with the Research Technology Development and Deployment team at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, which is housed on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He is a bioanalytical chemist focused on deploying spatial-omics methods on Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) platforms, refining ambient ionization sources, and developing the next generation of hybrid FTMS instruments. Currently, his research spans multiple fields of -omics, including on-tissue chemical derivatization method development for spatial metabolomics, applications of ultrahigh mass resolving power for spatial lipidomics, and developing spatial proteomics workflows with advanced dissociation methods within programmatically funded projects on microbial, plant, and mammalian samples.

Disciplines and Skills

  • Fourier transform mass spectrometry
  • Instrument and source development
  • Spatial multiomics

Education

  • PhD in Analytical Chemistry, SUNY at Buffalo, 2021 
  • BA in Chemistry and Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo, 2016 

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Review Editor for Analytical Chemistry, Frontiers in Chemistry, 2023–2025
  • Member, US Human Proteome Organization, 2021–present
  • Member, Society for Applied Spectroscopy, 2020–present
  • Member, Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA), 2019–present
  • Member, American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), 2018–present
  • Member, American Chemical Society, 2016–present

Awards and Recognitions

  • North American FT MS Conference Student Award, 2023
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Postdoctoral Spotlight, 2022
  • MANA Early Career Member Spotlight, NPAW 2021
  • ASMS Fall Workshop Student Travel Award, 2019, 2020

Publications

2025

  • Velickovic M., L. Kadam, J. Kim, K. Zemaitis, D. Velickovic, Y. Gao, and R. Wu, et al. 2025. "Advanced multi-modal mass spectrometry imaging reveals functional differences of placental villous compartments at microscale resolution." Nature Communications 16:Art. No. 2061. PNNL-SA-201502. doi:10.1038/s41467-025-57107-y
  • Zemaitis K., J.M. Fulcher, R. Kumar, D.J. Degnan, L.A. Lewis, Y. Liao, and M. Velickovic, et al. 2025. "Spatial top-down proteomics for the functional characterization of human kidney." Clinical Proteomics 22:Art. No. 9. PNNL-SA-193767. doi:10.1186/s12014-025-09531-x

2024

  • Berrios L., G.D. Bogar, L. Bogar, A. Monterio Venturini, C.E. Willing, A.A. Del Rio, and T. Ansell, et al. 2024. "Ectomycorrhizal fungi alter soil food webs and the functional potential of bacteria communities." mSystems 9, no. 6:Art. No. e00369-24. PNNL-SA-192775. doi:10.1128/msystems.00369-24
  • Kumar R., K. Zemaitis, J.M. Fulcher, and L. Pasa-Tolic. 2024. "Advances in mass spectrometry-enabled multiomics analyses at single-cell resolution." Current Opinion in Biotechnology 87. PNNL-SA-194867. doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103096
  • Velickovic D., K. Zemaitis, A. Bhattacharjee, and C.R. Anderton. 2024. "Mass spectrometry imaging of natural carbonyl products directly from agar-based microbial interactions using 4-APEBA derivatization." mSystems 9, no. 1:Art. No. e00803-23. PNNL-SA-184809. doi:10.1128/msystems.00803-23
  • Velickovic D., T.E. Winkler, V. Balasubramanian, T.W. Wietsma, C.R. Anderton, A. Ahkami, and K. Zemaitis. 2024. "RhizoMAP: a comprehensive, nondestructive, and sensitive platform for metabolic imaging of the rhizosphere." Plant Methods 20, no. _:Art. No. 117. PNNL-SA-199579. doi:10.1186/s13007-024-01249-5
  • Zemaitis K., and L. Pasa-Tolic. 2024. "Challenges in spatial metabolomics and proteomics for functional tissue unit and single-cell resolution." Seminars in Nephrology 44, no. 6:Art. No. 151583. PNNL-SA-200851. doi:10.1016/j.semnephrol.2025.151583

2023

  • Degnan D.J., K. Zemaitis, L.A. Lewis, L. McCue, L.M. Bramer, J.M. Fulcher, and D. Velickovic, et al. 2023. "IsoMatchMS: Open-Source Software for Automated Annotation and Visualization of High Resolution MALDI-MS Spectra." Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 34, no. 9:2061-2064. PNNL-SA-184623. doi:10.1021/jasms.3c00180
  • Liao Y., J.M. Fulcher, D.J. Degnan, S.M. Williams, L.M. Bramer, D. Velickovic, and K. Zemaitis, et al. 2023. "Spatially resolved top-down proteomics of tissue sections based on a microfluidic nanodroplet sample preparation platform." Molecular & Cellular Proteomics 22, no. 2:Art. No. 100491. PNNL-SA-174522. doi:10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100491
  • Pires A.P., M. Garcia-Perez, M.V. Olarte, W.R. Kew, A.J. Schmidt, K. Zemaitis, and M.D. Denson, et al. 2023. "Comparison of the Chemical Composition of Liquids from the Pyrolysis and Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic Materials." Energy and Fuels 37, no. 10:7221-7236. PNNL-SA-174549. doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c03239
  • Vandergrift G.W., K. Zemaitis, D. Velickovic, J.K. Lukowski, L. Pasa-Tolic, C.R. Anderton, and W.R. Kew. 2023. "Experimental Assessment of Mammalian Lipidome Complexity Using Multimodal 21 T FTICR Mass Spectrometry Imaging." Analytical Chemistry 95, no. 29:10921-10929. PNNL-SA-181642. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00518
  • Zemaitis K., M. Zhou, W.R. Kew, and L. Pasa-Tolic. 2023. "193 nm ultraviolet photodissociation for the characterization of singly charged proteoforms generated by MALDI." Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 34, no. 2:328-332. PNNL-SA-176946. doi:10.1021/jasms.2c00302
  • Zemaitis K., V.S. Lin, A. Ahkami, T.E. Winkler, C.R. Anderton, and D. Velickovic. 2023. "Expanded Coverage of Phytocompounds by Mass Spectrometry Imaging Using On-Tissue Chemical Derivatization by 4-APEBA." Analytical Chemistry 95, no. 35:12701-12709. PNNL-SA-179568. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01345

2022

  • Zemaitis K., D. Velickovic, W.R. Kew, K.L. Fort, M. Reinhardt-Szyba, A. Pamreddy, and Y. Ding, et al. 2022. "Enhanced Spatial Mapping of Histone Proteoforms in Human Kidney Through MALDI-MSI by High-Field UHMR Orbitrap Detection." Analytical Chemistry 94, no. 37:12604-12613. PNNL-SA-170716. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01034
  • Zhou M., J.M. Fulcher, K. Zemaitis, D.J. Degnan, Y. Liao, M. Velickovic, and D. Velickovic, et al. 2022. "Discovery Top-Down Proteomics in Symbiotic Soybean Root Nodules." Frontiers in Analytical Science 2:Art. No. 1012707. PNNL-SA-175310. doi:10.3389/frans.2022.1012707

2021

Zemaitis K.J. et al. 2021. “Direct Infusion Metabolomics of a Drought Tolerant Plant Introduction Soybean Cultivar.” Metabolites. 11: 843. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11120843

Zemaitis K.J et al. 2021. “Streamlined DESI and MALDI Multimodal Mass Spectrometry Imaging on a Single Dual-Source Mass Spectrometer.” Metabolites 11: 253. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11040253

Zemaitis K.J. et al. 2021. “Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Blast-overpressure Induced modulation of GABA/Glutamate Homeostasis in the Central Auditory Neuraxis of Chinchilla.” Experimental and Molecular Pathology 119: 104605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexmp.2021.104605

2020

Sekera E.R. et al. 2020. “MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging in a Primary Demyelination Model of Murine Spinal Cord.” Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 31 (12): 2462-2468. https://doi.org/10.1021/jasms.0c00187

Zemaitis and Wood. 2020. “Integration of 3D-printing for a desorption electrospray ionization source for mass spectrometry.” Review of Scientific Instruments 91 (10): 104102. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0004626