Alex Liethen

Alex is the LCMS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) lab technician and instrument manager for the SIF and Higgins Research Group located in Coolbaugh Hall. His days are spent fixing and maintaining the instruments, ordering supplies for the lab, interfacing with instrument users to ensure smooth operation and generally keeping the lab spaces running efficiently. He graduated from School of Mines in 2020 with a Bachelors in environmental engineering and spent time working in the LCMS lab as a research assistant studying PFAS, or forever chemicals. Before returning to Mines to pursue an education, he traveled the western US and world as a wilderness guide and experiential educator. When he is not on campus, he can often be found in the mountains running or hiking and camping, or on the trail networks around Boulder where he currently lives.