A native Kansan, Marc Anderson worked for more than 20 years in engineering radar systems in California and avionics in Kansas before he returned to school to study chemistry. He received his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Kansas in 2001, specializing in electrochemistry and fluid systems.

In 2000, Anderson joined with a small team forming a Silicon Valley start-up designing advanced and unattended analytical instrumentation for the semiconductor industry. In 2004, he returned to the University of Kansas as a director of laboratories, with responsibility over the Instructional Instrumentation Laboratory.

In 2010, Anderson accepted the position of instrumentation and techniques instructor for the Center for Aqueous Biogeochemical Research at Smith. He continues his earlier association in problem-based learning by developing laboratory curricular materials that incorporate multidisciplinary approaches to the identification and solution of chemical—now geochemical—problems. In addition, Anderson continues to maintain an interest in instrument design, focusing on the development of unattended analytical instrumentation for remote environmental monitoring. Other related interests include architectural design of research laboratory facilities and environmental engineering focusing on water and wastewater treatment.