18th MDCW - Registration and abstract submission opens

We are excited to announce that the 18th MDCW will take place from January 25-27, 2027, in Liège, Belgium. This in-person event will feature:

• Keynote presentations from leading researchers
• Flash talks and poster sessions highlighting the latest innovations
• Focus group discussions addressing current challenges and future developments
• 💸FREE registration ensures that this event remains accessible to all researchers, students, and industry professionals interested in multidimensional chromatography. ​​We hope to see you there!

Registration

👉Register HERE

Registration deadline: December 1, 2026

Abstract Submission

Abstracts for oral presentations must be submitted by September 15, 2026, to be considered.

​Poster abstracts submitted by September 15, 2026, will be included in the preliminary program. Additional last-minute poster submissions will be accepted until November 30, 2026, for inclusion in the final program.

👉Submit your abstract HERE

 Deadline for abstract submission: September 15, 2026

Presentation guidelines

Poster Presentations

• Presenters must print and bring their own posters—onsite printing services and mailed submissions are not available.
• Posters should be in landscape format: 36" tall × 48" wide.
• Set up your poster during registration on the day of your assigned session and remove it at the end of the same day.
• Poster presenters must be present at their posters during the designated poster session.
• Posters will also be available for viewing during coffee and lunch breaks.
• Presenters may optionally stand by their posters during these times for further discussions.

Oral Presentations

• Keynote presentations: 30 minutes (25–28 min + Q&A)
• Full oral presentations: 20 minutes (18 min + 2 min Q&A)
• Flash presentations: 10 minutes (8 min + 2 min Q&A)

Presentation Format:

• Submit your slides as a PowerPoint (PPT) file (.ppt or .pptx).
• Name your file with program code and surname, e.g. "O-28 Smith.pptx".
• For optimal display, use 16:9 slide format (4:3 is also supported).

Technical & Session Logistics:

• A headset or portable microphone will be available.
• A laser pointer with a slide change button will be provided.
• Ensure your presentation allows time for questions within your allocated time.
• Before your session, check in and introduce yourself to the conference or session chairs.

Program

Keynote Speakers

Finding Clarity in Challenging Samples: Multiple Heart-Cutting 2D-LC and the Technologies That Enable It    

• Stephan Buckenmaier (Principal Scientist R&D, Agilent Technologies)

MDCW: Stephan Buckenmaier

Stephan Buckenmaier is a Principal Scientist in R&D at Agilent Technologies, specializing in advanced separation science and the development of two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) solutions. Since joining Agilent in 2006, he has held a variety of scientific and technical roles, with a particular focus on innovative chromatographic technologies. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of the West of England (Bristol, UK) and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Tübingen. Stephan has authored numerous scientific publications, contributed a book chapter, and is listed as an inventor on numerous patents in the field of separation science. He regularly presents his work at international scientific conferences.

Short Course

18th MDCW: Short course

There will be 20 spaces available in a short course related to multidimensional chromatography. If you want to register for the short course, indicate so during your registration. We will send a separate link to pay for the short course to reserve your seat ($50 USD). 

A Beginner’s Guide to Multidimensional Chromatography short course

• Instructors: Pierre-Hugues Stefanuto, Katelynn Perrault Uptmor, Dwight Stoll, Petr Vozka

Course Description 

So...you want to do multidimensional chromatography? If you are getting started in the field using either liquid or gas chromatography, you’re in the right place. This course will cover a brief history and introduction to both multidimensional gas chromatography and multidimensional liquid chromatography. Discussion will also include basic system components and data handling strategies to apply after acquiring your data. A hands-on portion of the course will also include familiarization with common system components and consumables for both GC and LC, as well as the opportunity to use a commercial GC×GC instrument.

Target Participants 

This course is intended to be an initial touchpoint for those who are looking to explore multidimensional chromatography as a new option/capability, or who might be using it for the first time. The course is intended for new users to obtain a background on the techniques as a primer to the workshop.  Advanced topics will not be discussed.

Course Logistics 

• Morning Session (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
• Afternoon Session (1:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

Lunch and coffee will be provided.

Cost 

A $50 fee is required to reserve a spot in the course. 20 seats are available. An expression of interest form will be available to indicate interest in a seat within the course. On November 10th, participants will be informed about seat availability and the payment process will be communicated.

Outline (Total Time ~ 4 hrs) 

Part I (1 hr) – History, Terminology, Fundamental Concepts 

• Brief history of the development of multidimensional separations 
• Terminology 
• Fundamental Concepts 
  • In what ways are multidimensional separations useful for analytical chemistry / measurement science? 
  • First and second separations should be orthogonal / complementary 
  • Fast second dimension separations are important to avoid undersampling 
  • Structured chromatograms can provide chemical insight and facilitate data interpretation 
  • Highlights of an example data processing workflow – from raw data to actionable information  
• Break (30 min) 

Part II (1.5 hrs) Introduction to Multidimensional Gas Chromatography 

• Method basics 
  • Column selection 
  • Method parameters 
  • Carrier gas choices 
  • Detector considerations 
• Modulator selection with a focus on current market options 
  • Thermal modulators 
  • Flow modulators 
  • Other commercial options 
• Method development made simple 
• Data preprocessing and initial handling 
• Lunch (1 hr) 

Part III (1 hr) Introduction to Multidimensional Liquid Chromatography 

• Modes of multidimensional separation commonly used with LC 
  • Heartcut 
  • Multiple heartcut / selective comprehensive 
  • Fully comprehensive 
• Interfaces used for multidimensional LC (i.e., the hardware that does the transfer from first to second dimension) 
• Common use cases of multidimensional LC illustrated using examples from industry and academic research 
  • Evaluating peak purity 
  • Unknown identification via multidimensional and MS or NMR detection 
  • Multi-stage separation with analyte transformation between stages 
  • Multi-attribute methods 
  • Making complete analysis of moderately complex samples attainable in a reasonable analysis time 
  • Digging deeper – comprehensive separations for comprehensive analysis 
    Introduction to method development strategies 

Part IV (2 hrs) Laboratory Instrument Familiarization

Part V (30 min) Wrap-up and Q&A  

Venue

• University of Liege
• Pl. du Vingt Août 7
• 4000 Liège
• ​Belgium
• ​Main Room: Salle Academique