Department Staff

Jenny Costa

Administrative Assistant III

E-mail: costajunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6041
Office: CB 213

As Financial Secretary, Jenny Costa maintains records for departmental grants and contracts.

Xanthea Elsbree

Office Manager

E-mail: xelsbreeunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6041
Office: CB 213

As Office Manager, Xanthea Elsbree supervises the clerical staff, monitors department programs, provides secretarial support to the department chair, and is the primary resource person for faculty and staff.

Thomas Grothaus

Staff III Engineer

E-mail: tjgunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6746
Cell: (775) 848-7765
Office: CB P4

A.B. (1978) Foothills College; B.S. (1989) University of Nevada, Reno

Electrical engineer Tom Grothaus designs and fabricates custom electronic circuits for research projects. He is also responsible for all teaching and research electronics including calibration and repair.

Douglas Howard

Chemicals/Materials Storekeeper II

E-mail: howardunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6706
Office: CB 017

B.S. (1984) Biology, University of Nevada, Reno

Chemistry buyer/storekeeper Doug Howard purchases chemicals and lab equipment for use in chemistry research and supervises the main research stockroom (basement). Doug receives and distributes chemicals and labware for the chemistry department.

Jennifer Melius

Administrative Assistant III

E-mail: jmeliusunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6041
Office: CB 213

As Graduate Secretary, Jennifer Melius maintains records for graduate students and applicants to the graduate program in Chemistry.

Roxie Taft

Administrative Assistant II

E-mail: roxietunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6041
Office: CB 213

B.A. Journalism (1988) University of Nevada, Reno

Roxie Taft is the departmental receptionist and coordinates undergraduate services.

Walter Weaver

Principal Development Tech

E-mail: wweaverunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6191
Office: Machine Shop

Machinist Walt Weaver fabricates specialized instruments for research projects in the department. The machine shop capabilities includes milling, lathe work, and vacuum welding.

Renante Yson

Research Computing System Administrator

E-mail: renanunr.edu
Phone: (775) 682-8306
Office: CB 124

Renan Yson handles system administration of departmental multiprocessor clusters and workstations.

Douglas Ziech

Staff Research Associate III

E-mail: ziechunr.edu
Phone: (775) 784-6708
Office: CB 107

B.S. Chemistry (1984) University of Nevada, Reno

Lab Technician Douglas Ziech works in the general chemistry stockroom (first floor) and sets up experiments for general, analytical, and physical chemistry teaching laboratories.