In this episode of ‪ChromatographyTalk‬, ‪Organomation‬ General Manager David Oliva sits down with Imad Haidar Ahmad, Scientific Research Director at Amgen leading separations for Discovery Chemistry and Externalization. Imad's career spans Novartis, Merck, and now Amgen, and his research on computer-assisted method development has landed multiple front covers in Analytical Chemistry.We dig into how his group builds retention models from as few as nine lab experiments to map an entire separation landscape — replacing weeks of trial and error with a resolution map you can query and rebuild from. Imad breaks down where this modeling approach struggles (large molecules, SFC, fully autonomous method development), walks through two-dimensional liquid chromatography in plain terms for anyone who's only worked in 1D, and shares the story behind his group's greenness-score mapping work — including where swapping acetonitrile for methanol worked, and where it didn't.We also talk career advice: what a typical day looks like leading a discovery-stage separations team, how undergrad and grad students can bridge the academia-to-industry gap, and what Imad sees as the field's biggest unsolved problem.<h3>Video Transcription</h3>Chromatographic method development is increasingly moving beyond trial and error toward workflows built on modeling, automation, multidimensional separations, and smarter use of data. In a recent interview, Haidar Ahmad discussed how these approaches are changing pharmaceutical analysis, why understanding the fundamentals of chromatography remains essential, and where some of the biggest opportunities in separation science still lie.Ahmad’s route into analytical chemistry was not entirely planned. As an undergraduate, he initially found inorganic and organic chemistry particularly attractive, but a final-year project focused on the analysis of additives in bread introduced him to the possibilities of analytical chemistry. During his PhD, his research moved into polymer analysis and structure–property relationships. His interest in chromatography deepened when he encountered two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), particularly its ability to reveal forms of polymer heterogeneity that could not be adequately characterized using a single separation technique. This eventually led to postdoctoral work with Peter Carr, where Ahmad focused on chromatographic separations and the fundamentals of chromatography.His subsequent career in the pharmaceutical industry exposed him to different stages of drug development, from late-stage method development and validation to drug substance characterization, purification, and finally discovery-stage separations. That breadth of experience has shaped his view of chromatography as both a scientific discipline and a practical problem-solving tool. In late-stage development, the objective may be a highly robust method capable of successful validation and transfer between laboratories. In discovery, by contrast, speed becomes critical because teams may be working with thousands of molecules while trying to identify the best candidates to advance.&nbsp;<h4>Discovery-stage chromatography: speed, prioritization, and throughput</h4>For a separations team supporting drug discovery, the working day is shaped by a constant flow of requests from medicinal chemistry and other partner groups. The challenge is not simply to perform the analyses, but to decide which requests are most urgent, remove bottlenecks, communicate with project teams, and continuously improve existing workflows.According to Ahmad, one of the most important questions is whether a task can be done faster or in a more high-throughput way. Discovery laboratories operate under strong time pressure, and efficiency therefore becomes part of the scientific strategy rather than merely an operational concern. As he describes it, the work combines science, prioritization, leadership, and communication, all with the aim of moving the most important projects forward as quickly as possible.<h4>In silico modeling: letting the computer perform the experiments</h4>One of the central themes of Ahmad’s work is in silico chromatographic modeling. In practical terms, the approach begins with a carefully designed set of laboratory experiments—often around nine runs. The resulting data are fed into software that builds retention models describing how analyte retention changes with variables such as mobile-phase composition and temperature.The software can then generate a resolution map representing a much larger separation space than could realistically be tested experimentally. Instead of running dozens or hundreds of conditions by trial and error, the analyst can identify regions where critical peak pairs are predicted to achieve the best separation.For Ahmad, the value of these maps goes beyond simply finding the condition with the highest resolution. Each point on the map represents a chromatographic condition, while the visual output shows where poor and strong separations are expected. A broad region of good resolution is particularly useful because it points toward a more robust operating space rather than a narrowly defined optimum that might be sensitive to small variations in experimental conditions.He therefore prefers to think of a chromatographic model as a map or database, rather than simply an optimization tool. If an impurity later disappears from the process, the corresponding peak can be removed from the model and new conditions selected without repeating the complete experimental study. Conversely, if a new degradation product appears during stability studies, the peak can be added and the existing model used to search for updated separation conditions.<h4>Why trial and error still has a place</h4>Modeling does not mean that conventional trial-and-error method development has disappeared. Ahmad points out that it remains useful in early discovery, particularly for fit-for-purpose methods where speed is more important than achieving a fully optimized separation.The situation changes later in development. A method intended for validation, transfer, or long-term routine use carries much greater risk. Trial and error may identify a condition that appears satisfactory without revealing whether it represents the most robust region of the separation space. If that method later fails during transfer or routine operation, the consequences can be costly.For late-stage methods, the additional investment required to build a model can therefore reduce risk over the much longer lifetime of the analytical procedure.<h4>Models are only as good as the experiments behind them</h4>Chromatographic modeling is not automatic proof against poor method development. Ahmad compares the technology to a GPS: it is highly useful, but only if the analyst understands where they are trying to go.Careful experimental design remains essential. Incorrect dwell-volume or column-volume information, as well as insufficient column re-equilibration, can produce misleading predictions. Importantly, these problems may not be obvious when the experimental runs used to construct the model are compared with their calculated values. They may emerge only when the software begins predicting new conditions within the modeled design space.Modeling is also easier for some separations than others. Ahmad describes reversed-phase LC of small molecules as comparatively straightforward, while large biomolecules are more challenging because their retention can be highly sensitive to small changes in mobile-phase composition and temperature.Other separation modes present additional difficulties. Ahmad notes that his teams have found supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) particularly challenging to model successfully. Fully autonomous method development remains another unresolved goal: current tools can automate parts of optimization, but analyst input is still required.<h4>Why two dimensions can reveal what one dimension cannot</h4>Ahmad’s early interest in 2D-LC came from polymer characterization. He explains the principle simply: one-dimensional chromatography may answer one question about a sample, while two complementary dimensions can answer two.Two copolymers, for example, may have similar molecular size and therefore coelute in size-exclusion chromatography. A second separation mechanism based on interaction with a stationary phase may distinguish them according to chemical composition. Combining both dimensions provides a more complete description of complex distributions involving molecular weight, composition, sequence, and other forms of heterogeneity.Historically, the complexity of both instrumentation and software limited wider adoption of 2D-LC. Ahmad recalls systems requiring several computers and multiple software packages. That situation has improved substantially, and 2D-LC is now easier to implement across research and pharmaceutical development.Nevertheless, modeling multidimensional separations still presents challenges. While models can be built for individual fractions or dimensions, current software does not easily identify a common optimum across multiple models simultaneously. Much of this comparison still requires manual work.<h4>Bringing sustainability into method development</h4>Another area where Ahmad sees room for change is green analytical chemistry.Traditional pharmaceutical method development has understandably prioritized resolution, sensitivity, robustness, and turnaround time. Sustainability has often been treated as a secondary consideration, particularly at the analytical scale, where solvent use appears small compared with preparative chromatography or manufacturing.That mindset is beginning to change. Ahmad argues that greenness metrics should increasingly be incorporated directly into method-development software. If analysts could immediately see how changes in flow rate, gradient conditions, solvent choice, or other parameters affect the environmental profile of a method, sustainability could become part of routine optimization rather than an assessment performed after the method has already been developed.The objective, however, is not to pursue the greenest possible method regardless of analytical performance. Ahmad emphasizes the need to develop methods that are as green as possible while remaining fit for purpose. Modeling can potentially help balance these competing requirements by identifying conditions that preserve separation performance while allowing greener solvents or alternative chromatographic conditions to be introduced.<h4>Advice for young chromatographers: do not treat HPLC as a black box</h4>For students learning chromatography, Ahmad’s central recommendation is straightforward: do not treat the HPLC system as a black box.Rather than collecting chromatograms by making random changes, he encourages analysts to build a mental model of the separation. When temperature, gradient, or another parameter is changed, they should ask why retention or selectivity changed and use each experiment to improve their understanding of the system.He also recommends making use of educational resources on chromatographic fundamentals and method development and, importantly, not being afraid to experiment with instrument conditions. Modern systems are robust, but the analyst still needs to understand the underlying separation science in order to use them effectively.The same proactive attitude applies to career development. Ahmad strongly encourages students to seek industry internships and make connections beyond their own institutions. Conferences and poster sessions can provide natural opportunities to meet scientists from industry, discuss research, and ask about internship opportunities. Based on his own experience working with undergraduate and graduate interns, these collaborations can benefit both students and research teams and may strongly influence later academic or career decisions.<h4>What still needs to be solved?</h4>Asked about the biggest unresolved challenges in separation science, Ahmad does not begin with technology. Instead, he points to a shortage of well-trained analytical chemists with a strong understanding of chromatographic fundamentals.Alongside education, he identifies several technical opportunities. One is truly autonomous method development, where an instrument and software could optimize a separation without continuous analyst input. Another is the ability to predict chromatographic selectivity directly from molecular structure.Such capability could be especially valuable in high-throughput discovery environments. If a laboratory could predict which stationary phase and conditions were most likely to separate a particular set of compounds or isomers before entering the laboratory, method development could become considerably faster and more efficient.Taken together, Ahmad’s perspective points toward a future in which chromatography becomes increasingly model-driven, automated, multidimensional, and sustainability-aware. But the technology does not eliminate the need for chromatographic knowledge. On the contrary, as analytical tools become more powerful, understanding the fundamentals may become even more important—the software can explore the separation space, but the scientist still needs to know what question to ask and how to interpret the answer.<blockquote>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

 In Silico Modeling, 2D-LC & Green Chromatography: Imad Ahmad on the Future of Method Development

Researchers from CATRIN at Palacký University, together with colleagues from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and Charles University, have developed a new graphene ink for producing inexpensive and sensitive printed sensors. Using single-atom engineering, they incorporated copper atoms into the material, enabling highly sensitive detection of dopamine – a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells. The approach, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">presented in the journal Advanced Science</a>, has strong potential for use in medical diagnostics.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_8a02ad6a66.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_8a02ad6a66.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">Single-atom engineering makes it possible to control the chemical reactivity of materials at the level of individual atoms. Its broader application in medical diagnostics has so far been limited by a lack of atomically engineered materials and printable inks based on them. Researchers have now developed a new class of single-atom-doped graphene materials as well as an ink for producing sensitive printed sensors. Copper proved particularly effective for dopamine detection, which is important for biomedical research and the development of advanced diagnostic technologies for diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_2_97e419f039.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_2_97e419f039.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">“The NGA-Cu ink we developed enables the production of fully inkjet-printed, sustainable paper-based electrodes at very low cost. Each sensor requires only 1.3 micrograms of active ink, costs approximately one Czech koruna and provided a stable response for at least three months. The ink is also fully compatible with commonly available materials inkjet printers. This creates significant potential for producing affordable, digitally designed sensors whose function can be tailored atom by atom,” said&nbsp;the corresponding author of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">paper</a> Michal Otyepka.The basis for this new generation of single-atom inks was nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA), which CATRIN researchers developed several years ago. They have now progressively enriched it with different individual metal atoms, including copper, iron and manganese.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_3_c15d831792.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_3_c15d831792.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">“We found that the electrochemical response depends fundamentally on the type of atom used. While copper atoms significantly enhance the dopamine signal, other metals suppress it. What matters, therefore, is not only the presence of isolated metal atoms but also the specific metal involved. This is a very important finding for the further development of biosensors,” explained first author Martin-Alex Nalepa.The published results introduce a new class of sensing materials with considerable potential for medical diagnostics. The researchers present a broadly applicable platform for developing graphene inks containing individual metal atoms and open the way towards scalable, reproducible and material-efficient production of advanced electrochemical sensors.&nbsp;“We are only at the beginning and are fascinated by the new possibilities opening up before us. We can see that by changing the type of atom, we can control the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor. In addition to dopamine, we can also determine immunoglobulins very precisely – antibodies whose levels and types may serve as important indicators of autoimmune or infectious diseases,” emphasised Radek Zbořil, a co-author of the paper.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_4_273cd760a5.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_4_273cd760a5.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">Electrochemical biosensors can find applications not only in medicine but also in food quality control, drinking-water monitoring and environmental pollution monitoring. Their key components are functionalised electrodes, and graphene-based materials have proved particularly suitable for their production. A key factor in the success of the Olomouc researchers was the targeted preparation of graphene ink with the required properties.The research was supported by the TECHSCALE project under the Johannes Amos Comenius Programme.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_5_b1778f77f2.jpg" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics: Project TECHSCALE (No. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004587) is financed by the MEYS OP JAC Excellent research programme, supported by ERDF/ESF." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_5_b1778f77f2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="620" height="87"><blockquote><h4>Article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">Single-Atom-Enhanced Fully Inkjet-Printed Electrochemical Sensor for Dopamine Detection</a></h4>Martin-Alex Nalepa, David Panáček, Vítězslav Hrubý, Matěj Jendřišák, Rostislav Langer, Michal Langer, Petr Jakubec, Ivan Dědek, Vojtěch Kupka, Michal Mazur, Radek Zbořil, Michal OtyepkaAdv. Sci., 2026, e76796<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76796">https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76796</a><h6>licenced under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>Single-atom (SA) engineering offers atomic-level control over interfacial reactivity, yet the lack of printable SA-based inks hinders its practical translation into electrochemical sensing. Here, a fully water-based inkjet-printable ink is introduced based on nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA) hosting atomically dispersed Cu centers (NGA-Cu-ink). The ink enables digitally controlled, spatially defined deposition and fabrication of low-cost ($0.04 per sensor), fully inkjet-printed sustainable electrodes on paper. A comparison of NGA functionalized with different SA dopants (Cu, Mn, Fe, Ce) identifies a strong dopant-dependent electrochemical response, with Cu uniquely enhancing the analyte signal while other dopants suppress it, demonstrating that SA identity is a decisive design parameter in printed sensing interfaces profiling sensitivity and selectivity. The functional role of the NGA support is to provide dense anchoring sites (nitrogen and carboxylate groups) that stabilize atomically dispersed metal centers and create adsorption- and electron-transfer–active microenvironments. The NGA-Cu-ink yields enhanced dopamine oxidation, enabling quantitative detection on fully printed devices (limit of detection 9.7 µM; linear range 50–400 µM) and printed-on-electrode platforms (10.6 µM), while maintaining &lt;10% signal variation over 11 weeks. The approach establishes a general route to single-atom graphene-based inks for scalable, reproducible, and low-material-consumption manufacturing of advanced electrochemical sensors.

Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics

<div><div>Accurately predicting NMR chemical shifts remains difficult for protons that can exchange with their environment in solution. These protons are covalently bound to electronegative atoms in hydroxyl (-OH), amine (-NH), and thiol (-SH) group. Their NMR signals are highly sensitive to hydrogen bonding, interactions with the solvent, and the continuous motion of molecules. Conventional DFT calculations typically treat the solvent in a simplified manner, often overlooking important interactions between dissolved molecules and their surroundings. A new computational approach developed by scientists led by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nmr.group.uochb.cz/en">Martin Dračínský</a> from IOCB Prague addresses this problem by combining machine-learning (ML) molecular dynamics (MD) with ShiftML3, a machine-learning model for rapid prediction of NMR shielding.</div></div><div>The method first uses ML-based molecular dynamics to generate realistic ensemble of molecular structures in solution, capturing the constantly changing hydrogen-bonding patterns. ShiftML3 then predicts the chemical shifts for each configuration within fractions of a second. Although the model was originally developed for molecular solids, it also performs remarkably well in solutions. In molecular crystals, molecules are surrounded by close neighbors and experience a wide variety of intermolecular contacts, many of which closely resemble the interactions found in liquids.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/IOCB_Prague_Accurate_NMR_chemical_shifts_through_machine_learned_dynamics_2_a5e7404cff.webp" alt="IOCB Prague: Accurate NMR chemical shifts through machine-learned dynamics: A new computational approach developed by scientists led by Martin Dračínský from IOCB Prague addresses addresses often overlooked issues with simplified conventional DFT calculations. Nat. Commun. 2026, 17, 8842." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_IOCB_Prague_Accurate_NMR_chemical_shifts_through_machine_learned_dynamics_2_a5e7404cff.webp 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1620" height="911">The researchers validated the approach on chemically diverse systems, including water in organic solvents, alcohols, hydrogen-bonded nucleobases, glucose anomers, and alkylated acetamides. In all cases, the combination of ML-based molecular dynamics and ShiftML3 reproduced experimental chemical shifts with high accuracy, especially for exchangeable protons in OH and NH groups, whose signals are particularly sensitive to their local environment.The results show that combining ML-based molecular dynamics with rapid NMR chemical-shift prediction can substantially improve the accuracy of calculations for flexible and hydrogen-bonded molecules in solutions. The main advantage of the framework is that it can evaluate hundreds or thousands of solvent configurations without requiring an expensive quantum-mechanical calculation for each one. This opens the way to faster and more reliable prediction of NMR spectra, with potential applications in signal assignment, molecular structure determination and structural validation.<blockquote><h4>The original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-75743-w">Quantitative Prediction of Exchangeable Proton Chemical Shifts</a></h4>Ondřej Socha, Jana Pavlišová, Debashree Manna &amp; Martin DračínskýNat. Commun., 2026, 17, 8842<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75743-w">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75743-w</a>&nbsp;<h6>licenced under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>Accurately predicting NMR chemical shifts of exchangeable protons in solution remains challenging because of the combined influence of solute–solvent interactions and molecular dynamics. We introduce a framework that integrates machine-learning molecular dynamics (ML-MD) with the ShiftML3 machine-learning shielding model for rapid and accurate prediction of NMR spectra in solvated molecules. Although originally developed for solids, ShiftML3 effectively captures intermolecular contributions to shielding in solution. We validate the method across a range of chemically diverse systems, including water in organic solvents, solvated alcohols, hydrogen-bonded nucleobases, glucose anomers, and alkylated acetamides. The ML-MD + ShiftML3 framework reproduces experimentally observed chemical shifts of exchangeable protons with near-quantitative accuracy, resolving subtle hydrogen-bonding and conformational effects that implicit-solvent DFT fails to capture. These results establish ML-MD + ShiftML3 as a transferable and computationally efficient way of incorporating solvation and dynamics into NMR spectroscopy, enabling realistic chemical shift predictions for flexible, hydrogen-bonded, and complex molecular systems.</div>

Accurate NMR chemical shifts through machine-learned dynamics

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Scientists

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Science and research

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The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

CATRIN

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

Organomation

Separation Science

Mettler-Toledo

Agilent Technologies

SelectScience

SCIEX

Waters Corporation

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In this webinar, Dr. Stephanie Marin, Global Clinical Market Development Manager at Phenomenex, will provide a comprehensive overview of mixed-mode polymeric extraction (SPE) fundamentals and the properties of polymeric hydrophobic interaction (reversed-phase) SPE sorbents. Attendees will learn how to choose the appropriate SPE phase for their specific compounds of interest, along with an explanation of the ionic functional groups that provide the mixed-mode functionalities, including both weak and strong cation and anion exchange.
Dr. Marin will also delve into the initial extraction conditions required to initiate method development for each type of SPE sorbent, as well as specialized SPE products tailored for drug testing, phospholipid removal, and microelution SPE. Furthermore, the webinar will include numerous clinical research applications to exemplify these concepts.
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Dr. Stephanie Marin received her Ph.D. in chemistry from Arizona State University and has expertise in sample preparation, LC and LC-MS method development and analysis. She has over 10 years of experience in clinical R&amp;D from her tenure at the ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology. Dr. Marin has worked in multiple laboratory, marketing, and customer-facing roles in the clinical, chromatography consumables, and specialty chemical industries. She is the author of over 30 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and over 100 abstracts presented at national and international meetings.
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SelectScience: Unlocking the Potential of Polymeric Mixed-Mode SPE in Clinical Research

Unlocking the Potential of Polymeric Mixed-Mode SPE in Clinical Research

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Polymeric Mixed-Mode SPE in Clinical Research

Join us for an insightful webinar delving into the complexities surrounding nitrosamines in pharmaceutical products. Nitrosamines - known carcinogens, have emerged as a critical concern in the pharmaceutical industry, triggering stringent regulatory scrutiny. This webinar will explore the compendial standards, regulatory landscape, and analytical hurdles associated with detecting and mitigating nitrosamine contamination.
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</li>
<li>How to assess the risk associated with Nitrosamines and developing control strategies
</li>
<li>Workflow for 17 Nitrosamines covering Sample Prep and LC-MS/MS method
</li>
<li>Control strategies aimed at addressing sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility issues with particular emphasis on sample preparation challenges
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Amanda Guiraldelli, Ph.D (Scientific Affairs Manager, United States Pharmacopeia)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Amanda Guiraldelli has been with USP since 2012 and holds the position of scientific affairs manager. She also serves as scientific liaison for the USP Measurement and Data Quality Expert Committee, where she works to develop and revise USP standards related to analytical procedure lifecycle/validation. Previously, Amanda worked as senior scientist at the USP reference standard laboratory for 8 years with characterization of compendial standards. She is visiting professor at the Institute of Chemistry at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil and is a frequent speaker and instructor on topics related to analytical procedure life cycle, AQbD and Chromatography.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Amanda is specialist in mass spectrometry, chromatography, omics and chemometrics and has more than 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical R&amp;D areas. Prior to joining USP, she was R&amp;D scientist in a Brazilian pharmaceutical industry and visiting scientist at TU Berlin in Germany and Leiden University in Netherlands (Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics) working on proteins characterization by LC-HRMS and procedure development using UHPLC-HRMS. Amanda is graduated in pharmacy biochemistry and holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the FCFRP - University of São Paulo (metabolomics by UHPLC-HRMS, GC-MS and 1H NMR and chemometrics).
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mr. Naiffer Romero (MSc, MPH, United States Pharmacopeia)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Naiffer has more than 19+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience. In his 15 years with USP, he has served several roles: lead scientist in performance testing compendial reference standards development, Manager in charge of LATAM Compendial engagement and education with stakeholders and national regulatory bodies, and certified USP Education instructor.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Naiffer joined USP’s Scientific Affair performance cell in 2020, where he leads scientific outreach and technical engagement for LATAM &amp; US region on critical national health priority topics. His combined pharmaceutical expertise includes Analytical development, salt and polymorph selection, Development of dissolution methods, IVIVC modeling, and impurity analytical strategy. Naiffer is a recognized subject matter expert in Nitrosamines Impurities, and he also serves as a member of USP’s Nitrosamine workstream Committee and community manager to ‘Nitrosamine Exchange’, a knowledge community hosted by USP in All-things Nitrosamines Impurities.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Naiffer also liaises technical discussions on pharmacopeial collaboration, including the International Meeting of World Pharmacopeias (part of WHO), international compendial discussion groups, and several regional regulatory agencies’ nitrosamines working groups.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mr. Tobias Weimer (Produktspezialist LC &amp; LC/MSD, Agilent Technologies) 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Tobias hat in Marburg an der Philipps Universität Chemie studiert Seine Leidenschaft für die analytische Chemie und Chromatographie wurde bereits in der Oberschule geweckt und im Studium vertieft mit einer gezielten Ausrichtung auf analytische Trenntechniken. Über die Flüssigkeitschromatographie im Bereich LC Säulen führte Ihn sein Weg zu LC Systemen.
</blockquote>

Agilent: Unraveling Nitrosamines: Navigating Compendial, Regulatory, and Analytical Challenges

Unraveling Nitrosamines: Navigating Compendial, Regulatory, and Analytical Challenges

Webinar will explore the compendial standards, regulatory landscape, and analytical hurdles associated with detecting and mitigating nitrosamine contamination.

Unraveling Nitrosamines: Navigating Compendial, Regulatory

Event Program
<ul>
<li>Basics of spectroscopy theory and applications</li>
<li>How UV Vis instruments work</li>
<li>Application of Beer-Lambert law</li>
<li>How to measure a sample and record its UV Vis spectra</li>
<li>How to analyze UV Vis spectra using PC software</li>
<li>Good UV Vis practices</li>
</ul>
Join our free live webinar and learn good practices for teaching UV Vis spectroscopy. The webinar will combine theory study with a live demo using a UV Vis spectrometer on the lab bench and spectra analysis software on a laptop.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Friedrich Menges (Owner/ Creator/ Developer at Spectroscopy Ninja)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Fabian Müller (Product Manager SPG UV/VIS)
</blockquote>

Mettler-Toledo: UV Vis Spectrophotometry for Teaching and Education

UV Vis Spectrophotometry for Teaching and Education

Learn Good Practices for Teaching UV Vis Essentials.

Effect of Winemaking on Element Profiles and Arsenic Species.
<blockquote>
Presenter: L. Craig Jones (ICP-MS Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Craig has been with Agilent for over 15 years as an ICP-MS applications scientist. He has been involved with multiple type of applications for ICP-MS, including environmental, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, geologic, and clinical analyses, to name a few. Previous to Agilent he worked in an environmental lab performing analysis and supervising both the inorganic and organic sections of the laboratory. In his spare time, Craig enjoys volunteering at the local marine science center, mountain biking, hiking, and relaxing at the beach. Craig obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO.
</blockquote>

Agilent: Effect of Winemaking on Element Profiles and Arsenic Species.

Effect of Winemaking on Element Profiles and Arsenic Species

Effect of Winemaking on Element Profiles and Arsenic Species.

Effect of Winemaking on Element Profiles

<h4>EU Live Interactive Web Series</h4>
Gather on Thursday or Friday at 11 AM or 12 PM CET for our live interactive web series.
Join us for an engaging journey into the world of advanced molecular analysis with our EU Live Interactive Web Series, hosted by Waters | Wyatt Technology! Dive deep into the intricacies of SEC-MALS and FFF-MALS systems, enhance your skills in ASTRA and DYNAMICS data processing, and master the measurement of dn/dc values—crucial for your research.
We dedicate 60 minutes to explore a specific topic, accompanied by a live discussion where all your questions are welcome. Whether you&#39;re dealing with polydisperse samples, eager to optimize your error analysis techniques, or curious about batch MALS work, our sessions are designed to elevate your expertise.
What&#39;s more, you’ll learn how to achieve stable RI baselines and utilize ASTRA&#39;s robust distribution analysis and results fitting features. Our web series is an invaluable, free resource exclusively for Wyatt customers, promising a 100% live, interactive learning experience.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow.
The live interactive web series are 100% live sessions, with anonymous Q&amp;A welcome during and after the discussion. Free for all Wyatt customers.
The EU live interactive web series are held on select Thursday or Friday afternoons at 11 AM or 12 PM CET.
May 3rd at 11:00 AM : MALS
<ul>
<li>How MALS can characterize molar mass, radius and A2?</li>
<li>How does a DAWN detector work?</li>
</ul>
May 17th at 11:00 AM : SEC-MALS 
<ul>
<li>Applications and data interpretation</li>
<li>Data analysis in ASTRA</li>
</ul>
June 7th at 11:00 AM : RI &amp; dn/dc
<ul>
<li>A perfect match: MALS and RI</li>
<li>The importance of dn/dc and how to determine it</li>
</ul>
June 21st at 11:00 AM : DLS 
<ul>
<li>Benefits of measuring the Hydrodynamic Radius (Rh)</li>
<li>Dynamic Light Scattering in cuvette, high throughput and online</li>
</ul>
July 5th at 11:00 AM : Dynamics data processing tips &amp; tricks
<ul>
<li>Data interpretation and data filter</li>
<li>Use your Dyna Pro instrument to get: colloidal stability (kD/A2), thermal stability, viscosity or particle concentration</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Christian Ackerschott
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Christian Ackerschott studied Chemistry at the University of Cologne and finished with his diploma thesis in Biochemistry. He completed his studies with the PhD thesis “Characterization of Recombinant Flagelliform Spider Silk Proteins” at the Technische Universität München, where AF4-MALS was used as an essential characterization method.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Since 2007, Christian works at Wyatt Technology as Application Scientist and is now Head of Customer Service. His tasks also include customer trainings in Dernbach and onsite as well as education and training of the local Field Application Scientists.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: EU Live Interactive Web Series

MALS Theory

How MALS can characterize molar mass, radius and A2? How does a DAWN detector work?

<h4>European Free Educational Webinar Series</h4>
Let&#39;s go back to the basics of Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, Data Analysis and Trouble-shooting: understanding the importance of the basics will enable you to be more effective in your daily laboratory life.
<h4>EPISODE 1</h4>
Sample Preparation - Theory and Overview
What will you learn?
<ul>
<li>Goals and available Techniques</li>
<li>Intro to Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)</li>
</ul>
<h4>What&#39;s next?</h4>
Full Webinar Series Episodes List is available <a href="https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4551012/F69479929A905500D8B21508527807E5/5385652">here</a>
Back to Basics - Sample Preparation: Theory and Overview
<ul>
<li>Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 11:00 AM CEST</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - Sample Preparation: Tips &amp; Tricks to make it simple
<ul>
<li>Wednesday, June 05, 2024, 11:00 AM CEST</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - Theory of Liquid Chromatography
<ul>
<li>Wednesday, July 03, 2024, 11:00 AM CEST</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - Basics of Liquid Chromatography
<ul>
<li>Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 11:00 AM CEST</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - Analytical Method Development
<ul>
<li>Wednesday, October 02, 2024, 11:00 AM CEST</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - The importance of Compliance
<ul>
<li>Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 11:00 AM CEST</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - Introduction to Mass Spectrometry
<ul>
<li>Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 11:00 AM CET</li>
</ul>
Back to Basics - Troubleshooting your LC and MS Systems
<ul>
<li>Tuesday, December 10, 2024, 11:00 AM CET</li>
</ul>
Not sure to be able to attend live sessions?
Register today and watch the webinars on-demand
<blockquote>
Presenter: Xavier Rodriguez (Principal Sales Application Specialist, Waters)
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Back to Bacisc Free Educational Webinar Serries

Sample Preparation: Theory and Overview

The first episode will introduce you into goals and available techniques of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE).

GCMS is one of the most common analytical tools used by the forensic drug chemist. Just as there are different types of tools utilized by a skilled carpenter, there are specific GCMS tools and techniques employed to meet the needs of the forensic chemist. This presentation will illustrate the various GCMS tools and instrumentation to quickly screen unknown samples in under a minute, deconvolute coeluting peaks for spectral fidelity, identify unknowns based on low energy ionization spectra, and confidently quantitate target compounds in unknow matrices.
Key Learning Objectives/What attendees will learn:
<ul>
<li>How to screen unknown residues, powders, and liquids with minimal to no sample prep in ~1 min.</li>
<li>Learn how low energy ionization can be used to identify unknown compounds with similar mass spectra.</li>
<li>Understand the power of deconvolution and how it helps mass spectral fidelity when applied to mass spectral library matching.</li>
<li>Develop and comprehend the automated process of defining selective MRMs for quantitating targeted drugs.</li>
</ul>
Who Should Attend:
Forensic chemists with backlogs and want to learn how to be more efficient with the screening and data analysis time spent on their samples.
Forensic chemists that require the additional confidence and identifying power that comes with low energy ionization spectra.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kirk Lokits, PhD (GC/MS Applications Scientist, Agilent)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kirk received his B.S. in Forensic Science and Chemistry from EKU and began his forensic tenure at the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory in Dayton, Ohio and FDLE in the Orlando and Pensacola laboratories. Kirk left the forensic realm and began his career with HP/Agilent, working as a service engineer supporting the LC, GC, LCMS, GCMS, and ICPMS products. While working for HP Kirk earned his M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from MTSU. In 2005 Kirk left Agilent to attend the University of Cincinnati and earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. Afterwards, he worked for the Midwest Research Institute (MRIGlobal) in Kansas City, as a Principal Chemist and Sr. Program Manager on DoD projects, staffing, designing, and building remote laboratories for placement throughout the world. In 2014, Kirk re-joined Agilent as a GCMS Applications Scientist focusing on forensic applications within the GCMS product line.
</blockquote>

Agilent: Meeting the Fundamental Workflows of the Forensic Drug Chemist to Screen, Identify, and Quantitate Unknown Substances for Today’s and the Future’s Emerging Demands

Meeting the Fundamental Workflows of the Forensic Drug Chemist to Screen, Identify, and Quantitate Unknown Substances for Today’s and the Future’s Emerging Demands

Screen, Identify, and Quantitate Unknown Substances for Today’s and the Future’s Emerging Demands

Workflows of the Forensic Drug Chemist

<h4>LC-MS/MS fundamentals webinar series 2.0</h4>
Advanced techniques for data acquisition and processing
Elevate your analytical expertise with advanced techniques and workflows
Sharpen your data acquisition and processing skills with our LC-MS/MS 2.0 webinar series. Based on our LC-MS/MS 1.0 webinar series, these sessions will go beyond the fundamentals of LC-MS/MS and introduce ways to advance your analytical methods and data processing workflows.
Every other week, we will explore how to optimize SCIEX OS software with short, 30-minute expert-led presentations.
<h4>This webinar:</h4>
May 7, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET - Beyond the fundamentals
<h4>Other webinars from the series:</h4>
May 21, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3852">Advanced MS/MS method building</a>
Gain insight into advanced features for maximizing sensitivity in your mass spectrometry analyses.
June 4, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3853">Mastering chromatography</a>
Discover how to optimize your chromatography for even the most challenging compounds while creating and building LC methods.
June 18, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3854">It&#39;s a TRAP! Getting the most out of your QTRAP system</a>
Learn when to utilize QTRAP functionality to create more selective and sensitive methods.
July 2, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET- <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3855">Troubleshooting at the source</a>
Acquire the knowledge needed to optimize source parameters and identify and resolve ionization-related problems.
July 16, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3856">Automating data processing</a>
Learn how to automate your data processing with custom flagging and rules for efficient data review in SCIEX OS software.
July 30, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3857">Excel strategies for mass spectrometry data analysis</a>
Take an in-depth look at when and how to use Excel to increase your productivity.

SCIEX: LC-MS/MS fundamentals webinar series 2.0

Beyond the fundamentals

Sharpen your data acquisition and processing skills with our LC-MS/MS 2.0 webinar series.

Beyond the LC-MS/MS fundamentals

<h5>By attending this presentation, you will learn:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Peptide analysis method development via the presentation of experiment results</li>
<li>An understanding of the Biotage sample preparation workflow and the benefits of automation</li>
</ul>
<h5>Event Overview</h5>
An overview of sample preparation approaches for the analysis of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited peptides from urine samples on LC-HRMS (Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry).
The webinar will discuss sample preparation method development approaches undertaken to extract a panel of peptides using the full Biotage workflow. We will address the encountered challenges during development and share insights into optimizing recoveries and ensuring reproducibility for a range of analytes. We will also highlight the benefits of automating these methods to ensure reproducible analysis and free up laboratory analysts&#39; time for other important laboratory tasks.
The webinar is aimed at human and animal sport doping laboratories interested in preparing biofluids for peptide analysis. Attendees will benefit from a deepened understanding of how to achieve clean samples with reproducible results, thereby empowering laboratories to maintain the highest standards of analytical excellence in the field of anti-doping testing.
<h5>What you need to know:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Broadcast #1: 6 June - 10 am BST (London) / 11 am CEST (Paris/Berlin) / 2:30 pm IST (New Delhi) / 5 pm SGT (Singapore)
</li>
<li>Broadcast #2: 6 June - 10 am PDT (Los Angeles) / 12 pm CDT (Chicago) / 1 pm EDT (New York)
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Thomas Smith (EU Applications Team Leader, Biotage)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Thomas has been with Biotage since July 2022 and is supporting customers to improve and streamline their sample preparation approaches and helping them automate their manual, labor-intensive tasks in the laboratory. Before this role, Thomas worked in a toxicology lab analyzing hair for drugs of abuse and alcohol markers. His main role here was to automate a method to increase reproducibility and turnaround time to meet the growing sample numbers.
</blockquote>

Separation Science: Novel Method Development Approaches for Peptide Analysis in Doping

Novel Method Development Approaches for Peptide Analysis in Doping

The webinar is aimed at human and animal sport doping laboratories interested in preparing biofluids for peptide analysis.