Rachel Deese, Ph.D., provides technical and scientific support to Keller and Heckman attorneys and their clients in determining the regulatory status of food additives and food packaging materials in the United States (U.S.) and jurisdictions around the world. She assists in the development of testing protocols to obtain required data and in the preparation of agency filings, including advising on related environmental issues for clients in the chemical, plastics, and packaging industries.  

Prior to joining Keller and Heckman, Rachel was a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral research fellow at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory where she was awarded the Chevron Research Award of Excellence. While working there, she provided method development on several multi-agency projects to measure trace compounds in fuels and to determine proper regulatory guidelines for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  

While earning her Ph.D. in Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Rachel conducted toxicology research and determined the fate, transport, exposure, and hazards of multiple types of materials, including pesticides, surfactants, and nanomaterials.

Rachel is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Awards

• The Chevron Research Award of Excellence in Honor of John Bacha (2019)
• National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018 – 2020)