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

Proper care and maintenance of HPLC columns are essential for getting accurate results and saving on replacement costs. Extending the HPLC column life not only ensures consistent performance but also reduces downtime and the need for frequent replacements.Routine maintenance is equally essential for sustaining column functionality. Correct handling of the column is paramount, ensuring strict compliance with the manufacturer’s specifications regarding pressure, pH, flow rate, and temperature.In the next section, we will explore these best practices in greater detail, offering further guidance on essential HPLC column maintenance strategies. Whether you’re working in a high-throughput lab, or conducting occasional analyses, these strategies will help you get the most out of your <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products?category=48&amp;manufacturerItems=50">HPLC columns</a>.<h3>Essential Guidelines for Extending HPLC Column Life</h3>By adopting these simple yet effective practices, you can greatly extend the HPLC column life while ensuring reliable, high-quality results in your analyses.<h4>Proper Column Handling</h4>HPLC columns should be handled with care to prevent physical damage or shock. The pump should not be started at high flow rates; instead, the flow rate should be gradually increased over several minutes. A pump pressure limit should be set to protect the column from over pressuring, as sudden pressure changes can lead to voids, negatively affecting the column’s performance.<h4>HPLC Column Conditioning and Equilibration</h4>Conditioning is a critical step for preparing a new or stored HPLC column by replacing the storage solvent with the desired mobile phase. Care must be taken to avoid introducing immiscible solvent mixtures into the column. Universally miscible solvents such as THF (tetrahydrofuran) or IPA (isopropyl alcohol) can be useful for this process when moving from normal phase to reversed phase solvent systems. Care must also be taken to ensure that solvents that may be damaging to a specific stationary phase are avoided.For example, if a reversed-phase column experiences phase collapse due to 100% aqueous mobile phases, it should be reactivated. This process involves running 100% acetonitrile at a high flow rate and a temperature as high as 60°C. It is essential to ensure no solid buffers precipitate from residual solvents. Depending on the column condition, between 50 and 100 column volumes are needed for complete reactivation and equilibration, restoring the column’s efficiency for future use.<h4>Optimizing Operating Conditions</h4>Optimizing operating conditions is paramount to enhancing HPLC column efficiency and prolonging their operational lifespan. A fundamental aspect of this is strict adherence to the manufacturer’s recommended temperature, pH and pressure parameters.Deviating from these limits, particularly by operating at elevated temperatures, can significantly hasten the degradation of the stationary phase and hardware, thereby compromising overall performance. Elevated temperatures can also narrow the pH operating range, exacerbating the risk of column degradation through phenomena such as peak broadening or diminished efficiency.Effective pressure management is equally crucial. Sudden pressure surges or mechanical shocks can result in bed voiding, leading to poor chromatographic performance, such as split peaks and reduced separation efficiency. Gradual ramping of flow and pressure, implemented each time the column is initiated, mitigates these risks. Many modern HPLC systems are equipped with automated flow-pressure ramping capabilities, ensuring smoother transitions and reducing the potential for column damage.In addition, vigilant monitoring of the mobile phase's pH is vital to the maintenance of HPLC column integrity. Deviations from the optimal pH range can cause significant harm to the stationary phase. For instance, leads to ligand hydrolysis which leads to a loss of stationary phase functionality and diminished column performance over time. High pH can lead to silica degradation. This weakens the silica structure, causing particle dissolution, void formation, and loss of column efficiency. Maintaining the pH within optimal boundaries is essential for preserving the column’s structural integrity and ensuring consistent chromatographic performance.Furthermore, incorporating inline filters and guard columns into the system serves as a proactive measure to prevent particulates and harsh sample matrices from damaging the analytical column. These preventive tools significantly enhance operational conditions and safeguard the column from contamination, ultimately contributing to extended HPLC column lifetime and reliable performance.<h4>Regular Column Maintenance</h4>Effective routine maintenance is paramount to extending the HPLC column lifetime and ensuring the consistent performance of HPLC columns. A critical aspect of this maintenance is the thorough washing of the column after each use to eliminate residual sample components and mobile phase contaminants.The cleaning process generally involves performing an isocratic or gradient wash using a solvent system similar to the one previously used on the column but substituting the buffer with HPLC-grade water. This helps effectively remove any residual buffer components from the column. This meticulous cleaning process is vital to preventing the accumulation of impurities that could compromise the stationary phase and lead to decreased efficiency over time.Post-cleaning, it is imperative to end-cap the column before storage to prevent the stationary phase from drying out, a condition that can negatively impact the column’s future performance. Proper capping or sealing ensures that the column remains in optimal condition, safeguarding its structural integrity and readiness for subsequent analyses.Additionally, utilizing an older HPLC system as a dedicated wash station can further streamline maintenance practices, freeing up live systems for active use. Consistently adhering to a rigorous cleaning and storage regimen not only enhances the longevity of HPLC columns but also guarantees the delivery of precise and reliable analytical results.For severe contamination or pressure buildup, backflushing may be necessary to dislodge tightly bound contaminants. However, backflushing should only be performed when absolutely necessary, as it can stress the column packing material. It is essential to consult the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting this method.

How to Extend the Lifetime of HPLC Columns?

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

Article

Academy

Scientists

Interview

Science and research

Video

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

Phenomenex is a global technology leader committed to developing novel analytical chemistry solutions that solve the separation and purification challenges of researchers in industrial, government and academic laboratories.

Phenomenex

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

Agilent Technologies

Thermo Fisher Scientific

SelectScience

C&EN

Waters Corporation

Making the best measurement you can requires that you understand the limitations of your instrument&#39;s design. With that in mind, there are many considerations that go into the choice of instrument for use in your measurements.
This presentation will examine some of the fundamental design considerations that make the Cary instrument family unique in UV-Vis-NIR measurements. How can you make (and believe) measures which go as high as 10 OD in the visible region? How is it possible to make absolute specular reflectance measure at almost any angle? How is it possible to make fast scans of samples and not see a shift in peak wavelength or reduction in the intensity of the peak? These and additional attributes of the Cary family of instruments will be discussed and shown in a practical demonstration.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mark Fisher, PhD (Application Engineer, Molecular Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Mark, an Application Scientist for Agilent Technologies, has over 35 years of experience in molecular spectroscopy. He has held roles in Agilent&#39;s UV-Vis-NIR, fluorescence, and atomic absorption product portfolios. In addition to identifying industry trends and new business needs, Mark&#39;s responsibilities include application development, pre and post-sales support, as well as acting as a customer advocate for new product and technology opportunities. Mark received his doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Understanding UV-Vis-NIR Optical Benches: Making the Best Choice for Your Needs

Understanding UV-Vis-NIR Optical Benches: Making the Best Choice for Your Needs

Fundamental design considerations that make the Cary instrument family unique in UV-Vis-NIR measurements.

Making the Best Choice for Your Needs

Key Learning Points:
<ul>
<li>Learn about types of tubing and fittings and making the best connections.
</li>
<li>Make sense of how to select the correct tube, properly cutting it and choosing the right fitting. 
</li>
<li>Understanding extra-column volume and what are Zero-Dead Volume connections.
</li>
<li>Tips and tricks to diagnose and troubleshoot poor tubing and/or fitting choices.
</li>
</ul>
Who Should Attend:
<ul>
<li>Any LC users wanting to deepen their knowledge of LC tubing and connections, including troubleshooting, to smoothly run their LC experiments</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lucia Geis Asteggiante (Senior Technical Specialist, Phenomenex)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Lucia is a Senior Technical Specialist that has recently joined Phenomenex’s Global Technical Team. She has a broad experience in the field of Analytical Chemistry with a particular focus on LC chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Lucia comes from a strong academic and regulatory background with experiences ranging from method development and analysis of small molecules to large protein complexes. She gained her Ph.D. at the University of Maryland - College Park, USA and did her post-doctoral work at the University of Oxford, UK. During her time as a researcher, she has authored/co-authored 23 scientific publications and 2 book chapters.
</blockquote>

Phenomenex: Spooktacular Solutions for LC Tubing and Connections

Spooktacular Solutions for LC Tubing and Connections

Learn about types of tubing and fittings and making the best connections.

Would you like to know what the new trends in LC are that could help you to achieve better and greener science at the same time?
In this webinar, Dr. Andreas Otto, Agilent Technologies, will discuss how innovation and sustainability go together, and what can be done to reduce the environmental impact of your lab with significant enhancements on scientific outcomes. Topics covered will include columns and supplies selection to reduce run times and its impact on solvent and energy consumption, the different LC techniques from supercritical fluid chromatography, online LC, and a new feed injection sampler that can improve standard LC analysis.
Information about free tools that can make the maximum impact for the minimal change will also be shared.
Key learning objectives
<ul>
<li>Learn how to achieve greener and better LC analysis at the same time
</li>
<li>Discover new LC trends that help you to achieve your goals
</li>
<li>Find out how feed injection mode can help you to perform better chromatography
</li>
<li>Explore the tools that are available so you can start to make a difference immediately
</li>
</ul>
Who should attend?
<ul>
<li>Lab Analysts who have sustainability goals for their lab
</li>
<li>LC users willing to improve their analysis
</li>
<li>Chromatographers who would like to access useful tools
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Andreas Otto (Product Marketing Manager, Liquid Phase Separation Division, Agilent Technologies)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Andreas Otto has worked at Agilent Technologies since May 2018 serving in different roles. In his current position, he leads a technical product marketing team where he coordinates activities for sustainability topics in communication and product development, including third party accreditation of the InfinityLab LC portfolio for the My Green Lab® ACT labels. He is a biochemist by training and has a PhD in Microbiology. Before joining Agilent, he worked with LC and LC/MS for more than 15 years.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Carrie Haslam (Associate Editor, SelectScience)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Carrie Haslam is an Associate Editor at SelectScience, playing a key role in content production and specializing in Materials Science, Alzheimer’s disease and Clinical Diagnostics.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Carrie completed a Ph.D. from The University of Plymouth, where she developed graphene-based biosensors for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
</blockquote>

SelectScience: Do your objectives to go greener in LC seem difficult to achieve?

Do your objectives to go greener in LC seem difficult to achieve?

How innovation and sustainability go together, and what can be done to reduce the environmental impact of your lab.

Do your objectives to go greener in LC seem difficult?

Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) is a technique that allows chemical information to be obtained directly or via the use of matrices from a wide range of surfaces.
MS Imaging provides information on the spatial distribution of molecules at or near the surface. Imaging provides beautiful and information-rich images that allow scientists to answer the fundamental question: “Where is this component in my sample?”
In this webinar series, we will examine the basics of MS imaging, compare the techniques of untargeted and targeted MS Imaging and the information that can be gained from each, and end with an interview from Dr. Ryan Leib (Stanford University) and Dr. Roy Martin (Waters Corporation) on the practicalities of setting up a MS Imaging Core lab.
Who Should Attend: 
<ul>
<li>Any scientist, lab managers or lab directors looking to expand (or refresh) their knowledge of MS Imaging.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Part Three – October 31st, 2023: Building an MS Imaging Facility</h4>
In the final session of the series, we will have a roundtable with Dr. Ryan Leib (Stanford University) and Dr. Roy Martin (Waters Corporation) where we will discuss the steps necessary to set up an MS imaging core lab and answer questions such as: “who runs this type of lab?” and “who are the main customers?”.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Roy Martin (Principal Field Marketing Manager, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. LeRoy B. Martin, III is the Principal Field Marketing Manager for Biological Mass Spectrometry at Waters Corporation. His primary role is developing and promoting advanced mass spectrometry solutions in the Americas. He is also charged with evaluating and integrating new technologies and methods in collaborations and product development. Most recently, his focus has been on molecular imaging mass spectrometry and implementation of advances in ion mobility technology. Other research interests include complex mixture quantitative proteomics and structural biology using mass spectrometry. Roy received a BS in Chemistry from Davidson College and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from North Carolina State University.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ryan Leib (Director of Research, Stanford University Mass Spectrometry Laboratory)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Ryan Leib is Director of Research for the Stanford University Mass Spectrometry Laboratory. Ryan received his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Tulsa (Tulsa, OK), with a focus on LC/MS methods development for natural products discovery. In 2010, he received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley investigating ionic cluster formation and energetics in Professor Evan Williams’ mass spectrometry laboratory. Prior to joining SUMS in 2014, Ryan developed mass spectrometric analyses for complex mixtures as a Project Leader at SRI International, a non-profit contract R&amp;D firm based in Silicon Valley.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kieron Faherty, Ph.D. (Separations and Mass Spectrometry Field Marketing Manager, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kieron Faherty is the Separations and Mass Spectrometry Field Marketing Manager for the Americas at Waters Corporation. He received his B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Reading (Reading, Berkshire, UK) and his doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA). He has held several field-based positions at Waters, most recently as a Field Applications Specialist focused on biopharmaceutical applications using Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry instrumentation.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Building an MS Imaging Facility

Building an MS Imaging Facility

The steps necessary to set up an MS imaging core lab and answer questions such as: “who runs this type of lab?” and “who are the main customers?”.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been a hot topic for the past few years, and substances of interest for decades.
Recently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established tolerable weekly intakes for four PFAS substances, leading to maximum limits within the European Union for these compounds in fish, meat, and eggs. This development means that robust and sensitive analytical methods for PFASs are in high demand.
Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) has developed several methods to serve the different purposes of PFAS analysis: official food control, monitoring at low levels for risk assessments, and research into additional substances and matrices. In this webinar, Dr. Kerstin Krätschmer and Dr. Richard Jack will give an overview of the methods, common challenges, the validation scheme described in the guidance document published by the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURL) for POPs in feed and food, and some analysis results in food and produce from the Netherlands.
Key learning objectives
<ul>
<li>Learn about PFAS sample preparation and analysis challenges from food matrices
</li>
<li>Understand how to ensure performance requirements for European Reference Laboratory requirements
</li>
</ul>
Who should attend?
<ul>
<li>Scientists and lab technicians involved in PFAS analysis
</li>
<li>Food safety analysts
</li>
<li>Food manufacturers that wish to learn more about PFAS analysis
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kerstin Krätschmer, PhD (Wageningen Food Safety Research)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Kerstin Krätschmer is a state examined food chemist who studied food chemistry (MSc) at Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Germany and completed legal training at the State Institute for Chemical and Veterinary Analysis Krefeld (CVUA-RRW) and the Consumer Protection Authority Düsseldorf. After finishing her PhD at the European Union Reference Laboratory for halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Freiburg and University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany, she became project leader of the National Reference Laboratory for halogenated POPs of the Netherlands at Wageningen Food Safety Research. Her main focus lies on POPs in food and feed, but also includes potential food safety risks within the circular economy.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Richard Jack (Phenomenex, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Richard Jack is the Global Market Development manager for the environmental and food markets at Phenomenex corporation. He has over 18 years’ experience with chromatography and mass spectrometry for the environmental, semiconductor, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. He is a former EPA Scientific Advisor for the EPA’s panel on Hydraulic Fracturing, a coauthor for EPA 557 and 557.1 along with ASTM D8001 and updates to D4327 and D6919 methods. He is currently the Second Vice Chairman for the ASTM D19 subcommittee on water analysis. He received his PhD in biochemistry and anaerobic microbiology from Virginia Tech University, USA and he has a Master’s in ecology from the University of Tennessee.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ellen Simms (Assistant Editor, SelectScienc)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Ellen studied biological sciences at the University of the West of England, UK, before completing a master&#39;s in epidemiology from the University of Bristol. As a member of the Editorial team, she now plays an integral role in shaping the content on SelectScience.
</blockquote>

SelectScience: Strategies to address monitoring and compliance testing of PFAS in food

Strategies to address monitoring and compliance testing of PFAS in food

Overview of the methods, common challenges, the validation scheme described in the guidance document published by the European Union Reference Laboratory.

Strategies to address monitoring and compliance testing

Ultrapure water (UPW) is crucial for the production of superior-quality semiconductors, but ensuring final product quality can be a challenge without the right tools.
UPW undergoes extensive and costly purification, utilizing various physical and chemical treatments to meet increasingly rigorous purity standards. In the face of global water shortages, efficient UPW production is essential. Water recycling facilities at semiconductor plants are tasked with addressing this concern, regenerating wastewater back into UPW. However, the integrity of regenerated UPW must be verified to ensure final product quality. This is where online ion chromatography provides a novel advantage: detecting trace anions, cations, and silica contaminants in real-time down to parts-per-trillion levels. 
Join us for a conversation with two industry experts: Ben Greenwood, Senior Manager at Micron Technology&#39;s Chemistry Lab, and Dariana Martinez, Product Application Specialist at Metrohm USA. Together, they will delve into the pressing water challenges currently faced by the semiconductor industry. Additionally, they will shed light on the pivotal role of ultrapure water and the significance of real-time ion chromatography to ensure quality control. 
Key Learning Objectives:
<ul>
<li>Understand the pivotal role of ultrapure water (UPW) in semiconductor manufacturing and its direct impact on product quality and performance. 
</li>
<li>Gain insights into the scale of water consumption in the semiconductor industry and the pressing challenges faced in meeting increasingly rigorous purity standards. 
</li>
<li>Discuss the advanced analytical capabilities of online ion chromatography, and learn how it accurately measures anions, cations, and silica contaminants to verify UPW purity.
</li>
</ul>
Who Should Attend:
<ul>
<li>Anyone interested in leveraging automation for process optimization and near-real-time data analytics
</li>
<li>Process engineers and plant operators responsible for analytical testing and QA/QC Managers responsible for ensuring maximum product quality
</li>
<li>Those involved in adopting or implementing Industry 4.0 initiatives and/or focused on developing newer, more efficient manufacturing processes
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ben Greenwood (Senior Manager, Micron Technology&#39;s Chemistry Lab)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dariana Martinez (Product Application Specialist, Metrohm USA)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Melissa O&#39;Meara (Forensic Science Consultant, C&amp;EN Media Group)
</blockquote>

C&EN: Mastering UPW Quality with Real-Time Trace Ion Detection

Mastering UPW Quality with Real-Time Trace Ion Detection

The pressing water challenges currently faced by the semiconductor industry.

In less than twenty minutes we are going to show you how you can speed up method development by 30 % AND increase your assay precision 10-fold.
If you have ever:
<ul>
<li>had to troubleshoot poor peak shape</li>
<li>suffered from irreproducible results</li>
<li>lacked the resolution you need</li>
</ul>
Then this webinar is for you.
Our latest family of columns have been designed for out-of-the-box performance, maximizing your chance of getting it right first time. We have done this by packing our most reproducible and stable particles into new, high-performance hardware, which mitigates many of the challenges you currently face, whilst still providing the selectivity you are used to. These columns are available for both UHPLC and HPLC systems. A major pharmaceutical company recently described these columns as a &quot;non-negotiable&quot; part of their workflow.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Hazel Dickson (Market Development Manager Europe, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Speed up HPLC method development by 30 %

Speed up HPLC method development by 30 %

How you can speed up method development by 30 % AND increase your assay precision 10-fold.

Metabolomics refers to the comprehensive measurement of small molecules in biofluids by either mass spectrometry (MS) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with the aim of covering multiple KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, exposome products, and chemical reactions to provide new insights into disease etiologies.
Lipidomics is a subset of metabolomics focused specifically on the analysis of lipid species. MS-based metabolomics and lipidomics generally require the use of liquid chromatography to separate metabolites based on polarity and high-resolution MS to accurately measure the mass-to-charge (m/z). The combination of retention time and m/z accuracy provides a reliable method to identify metabolites, which is critical for making disease marker discoveries.
In this webinar, Dr. Timothy Garrett, associate professor at the University of Florida, will discuss the clinical translation of metabolomics using examples of different diseases including rare diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. He will explain how critical chromatography is to reproducibility and metabolite identification, and how new monodisperse columns can aid in separation and identification.
Key learning objectives
<ul>
<li>Learn the basics of applied metabolomics using UHPLC-HRMS/MS
</li>
<li>Understand how metabolomics can be used for developing new diagnostic tests
</li>
<li>Understand the potential of metabolomics and the current limitations
</li>
<li>Explore the role of chromatography in metabolomics
</li>
<li>Learn how utilizing monodisperse fully porous particles can improve your current metabolomics method
</li>
</ul>
Who should attend?
<ul>
<li>LC scientists looking for more efficiency for their metabolomic separations
</li>
<li>Scientists looking to improve their current HPLC/UHPLC separations for metabolomics
</li>
<li>Chromatographers looking to start developing new metabolomics based HPLC/UHPLC based methods
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Timothy J. Garrett (Associate Professor, University of Florida)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Timothy Garrett is an Associate Professor and Chief of Experimental Pathology in the Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine at the College of Medicine at The University of Florida. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in Chemistry and his PHD in Chemistry from the University of Florida. He joined the University of Florida in 2006, where he has developed a research program in metabolomics, lipidomics, and small molecule quantitation for clinical and biological research using mass spectrometry approaches. He is also currently Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Mass Spectrometry and Advances in the Clinical lab.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Carrie Haslam (SelectScience)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Carrie Haslam is an Associate Editor at SelectScience, playing a key role in content production and specializing in Materials Science, Alzheimer’s disease and Clinical Diagnostics. Carrie completed a Ph.D. from The University of Plymouth, where she developed graphene-based biosensors for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
</blockquote>

SelectScience: The role of chromatography and monodisperse particles in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics for disease detection

The role of chromatography and monodisperse particles in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics for disease detection

The clinical translation of metabolomics using examples of different diseases including rare diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases.

Chromatography and monodisperse particles in MS metabolomics

Oligonucleotides continue to gain in popularity for a wide range of applications, from gene-based therapeutics to targeted crop protection.
Robust analytical tools and solutions are required to speed up development to meet compliance and regulatory requirements.
Sometimes traditional chromatographic LC-UV generated data is simply not enough, and orthogonal detection techniques like LC-MS provide scientists with greater confidence in getting the right result first time. 
Join us for this demonstration of a typical oligonucleotide impurities workflow using the ACQUITY Premier system with the ACQUITY QDa Mass Detector. 
<h5>Key learning objectives:</h5>
<ul>
<li>LCMS System overview and key hardware features</li>
<li>Practical tips and maintenance of the ACQUITY QDa detector</li>
<li>Impurities workflow overview, from sample setup, processing and reporting data in compliant Empower CDS software</li>
<li>Benefits of mass data for peak tracking and identification</li>
</ul>
Who should attend? 
<ul>
<li>Scientists in pharmaceutical, chemical, clinical, contract research organizations (CRO), cosmetics and agrochemical industries, universities, and governmental laboratories</li>
<li>Chromatographers wanting to transition to LC-MS from traditional LC-UV workflows</li>
<li>Anyone with an interest in mass spectrometry who wants to learn more</li>
<li>If you have any questions or would like to learn more please get in touch.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Victoria van Kuijk (Principal Applications Chemist, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Victoria van Kuijk works for the Waters UK and Ireland Demo lab, based in the South of the UK. Victoria is an experienced scientist specializing in LC instrumentation and separations method development, providing application consultation and support (Pharma/BioPharma).
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Through previous roles within Waters, Victoria has acquired extensive experience and knowledge of Waters Empower CDS. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Applied Chemistry from Nottingham Trent University.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Benefits of Adopting Routine Mass detection in Traditional LC-UV Workflows for the Analysis of Synthetic Oligonucleotides

Benefits of Adopting Routine Mass detection in Traditional LC-UV Workflows for the Analysis of Synthetic Oligonucleotides

Join us for this demonstration of a typical oligonucleotide impurities workflow using the ACQUITY Premier system with the ACQUITY QDa Mass Detector. 

Mass detection for Synthetic Oligonucleotides

Single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry can provide valuable insights into distinct cell states and signaling patterns present in a cell population. However, carrying out proteomics profiling from the limited amount of material encapsulated in an individual cell presents significant challenges.
Tremendous efforts have been made to optimize all aspects of single-cell proteomics by mass spectrometry, with the aim of minimizing losses during sample preparation and maximizing sensitivity of data acquisition. Nevertheless, continuous development is needed to increase both the quantifiable proteome depth per cell, the quantitative accuracy and precision of those measurements, and the number of cells measured per unit time.
This webcast will present recently-developed approaches, ranging from sample preparation and chromatographic separation to advanced data acquisition, data interpretation and visualization methods. Advances in instrumentation, including the novel <a href="https://lcms.cz/products/836">Orbitrap Astral MS</a>, and how to use both TMTPro-labeled and label-free approaches, will be presented, showcasing the application of these methods to biomedical questions, and providing an overview of the current technological state of the field.
<h5>Learn how to:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Prepare single cells for analysis by mass spectrometry</li>
<li>Improve the sensitivity and throughput of single-cell proteomics analysis</li>
<li>Implement both label-free and labeled quantitative approaches to single-cell proteomics</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Erwin Schoof (Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Section for Protein Science and Biotherapeutics, Cell Diversity Lab, Technical University of Denmark)
</blockquote>

Metrolab SA: Single-cell proteomics on the Orbitrap Astral MS for the exploration of cell heterogeneity

Single-cell proteomics on the Orbitrap Astral MS for the exploration of cell heterogeneity

This webcast will present recently-developed approaches in single-cell proteomics including the novel Orbitrap Astral MS.