Neglected and opportunistic infectious diseases affect some of the world’s most vulnerable populations—but often receive the least attention from traditional drug discovery pipelines.In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host David Oliva sits down with Brad Haubrich to explore how early-stage drug discovery is being applied to fungal and parasitic pathogens, including those responsible for neglected tropical diseases and infections that disproportionately affect immunocompromised patients.Brad shares how his lab approaches drug discovery when the pathogen is eukaryotic—and therefore biologically similar to humans—making selectivity one of the biggest challenges. The conversation covers:* What defines neglected and opportunistic diseases—and why commercial incentives often fall short* Target-based vs. phenotypic drug discovery and when each approach makes sense* Using binding kinetics and residence time to improve selectivity and reduce off-target effects* Where chromatography, metabolomics, and mass spectrometry still play a critical role—even when not front-and-center* The growing (and realistic) role of AI in drug discovery, especially for underfunded disease areas* Why World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (January 30) matters for raising awareness and accelerating progressThis episode highlights how analytical chemistry, separation science, and biological insight intersect in the earliest stages of drug discovery—and why progress in this space depends as much on collaboration and curiosity as it does on technology.🎙️ **Recorded in recognition of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day**

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine or bromine reacts with organic matter in water—and some are linked to serious health concerns. In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Jessica Whitehouse, MSc student at the University of Calgary, to discuss how she developed a GC-MS method to detect and quantify HAAs in real-world water samples.During her undergraduate research at Thompson Rivers University, Jessica tackled a major challenge faced by many academic labs: how to analyze regulated environmental contaminants without access to GC-ECD instrumentation. Using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, derivatization, and GC-MS, she built a faster, more accessible workflow—and applied it to tap water, swimming pools, and hot tubs.In this conversation, we cover:* What haloacetic acids are and why they matter* Why standard EPA methods can be difficult for smaller or teaching-focused labs* How GC-MS can be adapted for HAA analysis* The challenges of derivatization and temperature program optimization* Unexpected findings in brominated vs. chlorinated HAAs* Why pool and hot tub water can show surprisingly high HAA levels* The excitement (and frustration) of first-time method development* Advice for undergraduate and early-career analytical chemistsJessica also shares how this project led directly to her current MSc research on ozone and nanobubble water disinfection, where she’s now expanding into ion chromatography.Whether you work in **environmental analysis, chromatography, GC-MS, or are just starting your journey in analytical chemistry**, this episode offers practical insight into real lab constraints, method development, and the joy of finding your first analyte peak.🔬 Topics: GC-MS, haloacetic acids, water analysis, method development, derivatization, environmental chemistry🎓 Audience: Academic researchers, students, environmental labs, analytical chemists

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host David Oliva sits down with Dr. Steven Weinman, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Alabama, to explore how membrane science and chromatography intersect in modern separation challenges.Steven shares his journey from chemical engineering student to membrane researcher, and explains how membranes are used not only for water purification, but also for sample preparation, pre-treatment, and concentration in analytical workflows. The conversation dives deep into PFAS removal, nanofiltration vs. reverse osmosis, and how chromatography and mass spectrometry are essential for validating membrane performance.Key topics discussed include:* How membranes function as separation and concentration tools* Nanofiltration vs. reverse osmosis for salts and PFAS* The role of chromatography (LC-MS, GC-MS, ion chromatography) in verifying contaminant removal* Challenges in scaling academic separation technologies to industry* Sustainability in membrane manufacturing and PFAS-related regulations* Training students to balance fundamental science with real-world applicationsWhether you work in environmental analysis, chromatography, mass spectrometry, water quality, or separation science, this episode provides valuable insight into how different separation technologies complement each other—and where the field is heading next.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on chromatography, sample preparation, and analytical science.

How do the hidden carbohydrate structures on your favorite protein powders shape the gut microbiome? In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, Matthew Bolino, M.S., from the University of Nevada, Reno, breaks down his latest research on N‑glycans from common dietary proteins (whey, egg white, soy, and pea) and how their structural diversity influences microbial fermentation and short‑chain fatty acid production.Bolino explains what N‑glycans are, why they behave like fiber in the gut, and how his team isolates and characterizes them using ethanol washes, enzymatic release (PNGase F and gut‑derived endoglycosidases), and advanced MALDI‑TOF and HILIC‑QTOF workflows. He also discusses his 2025 work comparing synthetic versus bovine whey N‑glycomes and mapping N‑glycan profiles across dietary protein sources, revealing how glycan architecture can reshape community diversity in in vitro fecal fermentations.Geared toward undergraduate and early‑career analytical chemists, this conversation dives into practical mass spec trade‑offs (MALDI vs QTOF vs LC/GC), real‑world troubleshooting in glycomics labs, and how microbiome‑targeted therapeutics and “symbiotic” designs may emerge from pairing specific microbes with preferred glycan structures. Bolino closes with career advice on building biomolecular analysis skills, understanding instrumentation fundamentals, and entering the rapidly growing field of glycomics and microbiome research.

In this episode, we interview Daniel Reddy, 2025 CAS Future Leader and PhD candidate at Queen's University, about his groundbreaking research on automated mass spectrometry and dried matrix spots (DMS).Dan's work combines computer vision, 3D printer automation, and laser micromachining to revolutionize sample preparation—reducing CO₂ emissions by 28-fold and organic solvent use by 21-fold compared to traditional methods.What You'll Learn:How to give a mass spectrometer "sight" and "taste" using computer vision and the LMJ-SSP (Liquid Microjunction Surface Sampling Probe)The breakthrough technology behind Surface Energy Traps (SETs) for confining liquid droplets on paper substratesWhy dried matrix spots eliminate the need for cold-chain shipping and enable analysis of blood, urine, and saliva samples via standard mailHow DIY chemists are hacking 3D printers to build cost-effective autosamplers (replacing $10K+ systems)The role of green chemistry and systems thinking in modernizing analytical methodsWhy interdisciplinary collaboration (chemistry + computer science) is critical to innovationKey Topics:Dried Matrix Spots (DMS) for automated sample prepLaser-micromachined Surface Energy TrapsDirect surface sampling mass spectrometrySustainability in analytical chemistry3D printer customization for laboratory automationThe importance of science communication and community outreachGuest Background:Dan Reddy is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry at Queen's University and a recipient of the NSERC Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. He was recently named one of the top 35 early-career scientists globally in the 2025 CAS Future Leaders program.Relevant for:Analytical chemists and mass spectrometry practitionersLab managers seeking sustainable and cost-effective sample prep solutionsResearchers interested in green chemistry and automationDIY enthusiasts and makers interested in laboratory innovationStudents pursuing careers in analytical chemistry

Join us as we sit down with Jim Gearing, Associate Vice President of Marketing for Agilent's Gas Phase Division, to explore how the world of chromatography is changing and how intelligent instrument design is meeting users where they are.This interview was conducted in collaboration with Separation Science, the premier online learning platform for analytical scientists, providing expert content on chromatography, mass spectrometry, sample preparation, and related laboratory techniques.In this episode, Jim shares insights from 34 years at Hewlett Packard/Agilent—including 22 years in R&D—on three critical shifts reshaping analytical labs:🔬 Changing Demographics of Users- How the lab workforce is evolving: fewer experienced analysts, higher turnover, less formal training- Why modern users expect instruments to work like the consumer tech in their hands (iPhones, tablets, apps)- Real-world stories from labs operating with skeleton crews—managing entire instrument rooms with 1–2 people🎯 User-Input-Guided Design- How Agilent collects feedback from day one: customer site visits, service teams, quality data, and early-stage prototyping- The evolution from paper flipcharts (1990s) to rapid software prototyping and eye-tracking today- Concrete examples of pain points that drove major design changes (easy maintenance, remote data access, intelligent diagnostics)🤖 Intelligent Instrument Systems- What "intelligent" really means: features that remove workload and mental effort while delivering high-confidence results- Built-in capabilities like peak evaluation, retention time locking, and maintenance wizards that prevent errors before they happen- How smart instruments operate independently—**they don't require internet connectivity** (addressing a key misconception)- Why distributed intelligence (in the instrument, software, and enterprise services) gives labs flexibilityPlus:- Advice for lab directors building long-term instrumentation strategies (goals, users, solutions)- Jim's magic wand fix: eliminating time spent on non-value-added data processing- Why analytical instrumentation matters beyond the lab—safer food, cleaner water, better pharmaceuticalsPerfect for:- Early-career chromatographers and analytical chemists- Lab managers and directors evaluating instrumentation strategy- Anyone curious about how intelligent systems are reshaping laboratory workflowsGC-MS, chromatography, intelligent instruments, lab automation, user experience, analytical chemistry, Agilent, instrument design, laboratory instrumentation, workflow optimization, data processing, lab management, training and onboarding

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Dr. Lee Polite from Axion Training Institute to break down one of analytical chemistry's most powerful yet misunderstood techniques: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).What You'll Learn:- Why GC and MS are the "perfect pair" – and what happens when you try to use MS alone- The electron gun: how molecules get ionized and why they become positively charged (not negatively!)- The magnetic sector vs. quadrupole: from first principles to modern mass filtering- Why Dr. Lee uses the "corkscrew trajectory" analogy – and why it actually works- The cars and boats analogy: how fragmentation creates a unique molecular fingerprint- Scan mode vs. SIM (Selected Ion Monitoring): when to use each for identification vs. sensitivity- Real-world forensics: detecting pesticides in spinach and cocaine in hair follicles- Triple quad GC/MS and Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM): the future of trace analysisWhy This Matters:Over 2 million chromatographs operate worldwide, yet most users don't truly understand how they work. Dr. Polite has trained more than 14,000 professional scientists at Axion Labs to move beyond "pushing buttons" to genuinely comprehending the science. This conversation is designed for undergraduate students, academic researchers, and anyone preparing for analytical chemistry roles in pharma, environmental testing, or forensics.The Teaching Philosophy:Dr. Polite breaks complex instrumentation into simple, transferable concepts. He uses real analogies (shopping malls, bank robberies, and magnetic levitation) to make abstract physics tangible. By the end of this episode, you'll understand that mass spectrometry isn't magic—it's elegant physics made practical.Guest Information:Dr. Lee Polite is a leading authority in analytical chromatography education and founder of Axion Training Institute, a real working laboratory where scientists come for hands-on GC and LC training. With nearly 30 years of experience and a PhD under Harold McNair (one of the grandfathers of modern chromatography), Dr. Polite is passionate about making complex instrumentation accessible to students and professionals alike.Resources & Links:🔗 Axion Training Institute: www.chromatographytraining.com🔗 Email: info@axionlabs.com📧 Subscribe to Concentrating on Chromatography for more expert interviews on analytical separation science#MassSpectrometry #AnalyticalChemistry #GCMSAnalysis #ChromatographyEducation #LabInstrumentation #Chemistry #SeparationScience #Quadrupole #Instrumentation #UndergraduateChemistry

Connor Johnson, a researcher from the University of Alberta, discusses his award-winning honours project analyzing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in two banana species using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). He completed this specific project as an undergraduate at Thompson Rivers University (TRU).For over 60 years, commercial banana flavoring has remained unchanged—even though the fruit it's supposed to mimic changed in the 1950s. Connor's research reveals why fake banana tastes fake: the commercial banana extract contains only 3 compounds compared to 18+ in real bananas, missing critical compounds that create authentic banana flavor.This episode covers:- The history of banana flavoring and the myth of the Gros Michel banana- What Connor discovered when comparing Cavendish vs. Gros Michel bananas- The real compounds behind authentic banana flavor (hint: it's not just isoamyl acetate)- Why headspace GC is ideal for volatile organic compound analysis- Challenges with sample prep and instrument troubleshooting in research- How this research could revolutionize flavor chemistry in the food industry- The broader applications of comparing artificial flavorings to real fruitsConnor won two national conference awards for this work and shares insights into the analytical challenges of flavor chemistry, including instrument downtime, sample matrix effects, and why creating authentic synthetic flavoring is harder than it seems.Perfect for chemistry students, flavor scientists, and anyone curious about why banana candy tastes nothing like real bananas.