Office: Maricopa Agricultural Center

37860 W. Smith-Enke Road

Maricopa, AZ 85138-3101

Phone: (520) 568-2273

Email: msheedy@ag.arizona.edu

Fax: (520) 568-2556

I have earned two degrees at the University of Arizona - B.S. : Plant Sciences, M.S. : Agronomy and Plant Genetics. My career with the U of A has grown from a research assistant to what is essentially an analytical lab manager. The analytical laboratory at the Maricopa Agricultural Center - MAC - is designed to support research conducted by MAC and University faculty or project leaders. The lab is equipped with an HPLC and GC system which has been used for pesticide and residue analysis as well as other organic compounds. Inorganic compounds such as soil nutrients are analyzed by colorimetry or with the use of an atomic analyzer. Analysis such as pH and salinity are routinely performed at MAC.

An ongoing interest for myself is Quality Assurance and the implementation of GLPs - Good Laboratory Practices. In any research organization, it is extremely important to have reliable data. The acceptance of GLPs is intended to ensure or at least improve the reliability of data produced. The lab at MAC is implementing GLPs on a step by step basis and will be operating in 'The Spirit of GLPs'. Some professionals will laugh at this last statement but at MAC, it is important that data is consistent, reliable and accurate.

My on-going goal for the lab at MAC is increase its visibility and attract more attention to the availability of our analytical capabilities.