Eric Gier earned his B.S. degrees in Civil Engineering and Chemistry in 2019 from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs. His studies continued through 2021 until Eric obtained his MS in Analytical Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta with the Fernández Lab. Eric then served as the Deputy Lab Chief of the Air Force Petroleum Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio where he coordinated samples for critical investigations and distinguished travelers across the Midwest-Region. His responsibilities also included overseeing testing for 3.6K fuel, lubricant, and gas samples annually, ensuring the Air Force’s inventory worldwide. In 2024, Eric was awarded the opportunity to return to the Fernández Lab to pursue his Ph.D. thanks to funding from the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Civilian Institutions Program. Eric’s research has primarily focused on traumatic brain injury in rodent models and has led to the discovery of lipid feature panels capable of distinguishing single and repetitive mild brain injury across pre 24-hour time points.
In his free time, Eric is an avid skiier and traveler, enjoys running, and going to the gym, and you can often find him playing in local golf tournaments. Eric has also been a member of Toastmaster’s International for the past two years and loves teaching and practicing the art of public speaking.