<div><p><strong>In 2025, two outstanding young female researchers, Drs. Filipa Oliveira and Stella Gonsales, both originally from outside the Czech Republic, received prestigious JUNIOR STAR grants from the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). JUNIOR STAR enables early career researchers to establish their own independent research groups and significantly advance their scientific careers. Their projects reflect cutting-edge research in materials science and sustainable chemistry, highlighting the international reach and welcoming research environment at UCT Prague.</strong></p><p><strong>Dr. Stella Gonsales is also a&nbsp;laureate of the Dagmar Procházková Fund, which supports promising scientific projects in sustainable and advanced organic chemistry. Another recipient of this grant is Dr.&nbsp;Anna Valunchene, whose research complements UCT Prague’s&nbsp;sustainability goals. This dual funding underlines Stella’s&nbsp;remarkable achievements and the wide scope of innovative research at UCT Prague.</strong></p><p><strong>Both Filipa and Stella are actively looking for motivated students and researchers to join their teams, offering a&nbsp;unique opportunity to work at the forefront of science in a&nbsp;vibrant and supportive environment.</strong></p></div><div><h3><strong>Interview with Filipa Oliveira: Pioneering tubular MXenes for supercapacitor energy storage</strong></h3><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_2_da6e538579.jpeg" alt="VŠCHT Prague: JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science: Filipa Oliveira" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_2_da6e538579.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1500" height="999"></p><h5><strong>Congratulations on receiving the JUNIOR STAR grant. What does this achievement mean for you and how will it influence your next steps?</strong></h5><p>Thank you. It’s&nbsp;a huge achievement to receive this prestigious grant. It gives me the opportunity to establish my own research group here at UCT Prague. The JUNIOR STAR program supports talented young scientists in building their teams and accessing resources. This means I&nbsp;now have the support to focus fully on my research about tubular MXenes and their application in supercapacitors.</p><h5><strong>Why are tubular MXenes so innovative for energy storage?</strong></h5><p>MXenes are a family of 2D materials with a layered, accordion-like structure and known for their excellent electrical conductivity. Our innovation is to produce them with a tubular morphology, combining the high conductivity and redox activity in superior ion-transport tubular architectures. Their open, hollow structure increases surface area, ion diffusion and charge transport. This could translate to faster, more efficient supercapacitors, critical for sustainable energy technologies.</p><h5><strong>How did your scientific interest lead you to this field?</strong></h5><p>Global challenges around green energy made me focus on materials that can improve energy storage. MXenes stood out because changes in the composition and structure can significantly change their properties. I&nbsp;was curious about how tuning different metallic elements in a&nbsp;tubular morphology can impact how MXenes perform and how to optimize them for practical applications.</p><h5><strong>What challenges have you encountered?</strong></h5><p>One major challenge is their stability: MXenes oxidize quickly which deteriorates performance. Another challenge is understanding how synthesis conditions of both MXenes and their precursors (MAX phases) must be adapted to create and preserve tubular morphologies since their synthesis mechanisms differ from conventional MXenes. Additionally, effectively communicating the project in the funding proposal to show to reviewers why I&nbsp;should obtain this funding was also a&nbsp;challenge, but thanks to mentorship and collaboration, I&nbsp;overcame these hurdles.</p><h5><strong>What motivates you most about working at UCT Prague?</strong></h5><p>The support from colleagues and the excellent technical infrastructure make it a&nbsp;great place to work. Also, being a&nbsp;former member of Professor Sofer’s&nbsp;leading group in 2D&nbsp;materials is inspiring and led me to this achievement.</p><h5><strong>How do&nbsp;you see your professional development going in the future?</strong></h5><p>The grant will help me build my own team, acquire equipment, and develop collaborations. My long-term vision is to contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions and scientific progress both locally and internationally.</p><h5><strong>You are looking for new team members. What kind of students or scientists do&nbsp;you need?</strong></h5><p>We are currently welcoming enthusiastic master's&nbsp;students, PhD candidates, and postdocs who are passionate about materials science and eager to explore new frontiers in MXenes and energy storage. If you love curiosity-driven research and want to be part of a&nbsp;growing international team, we encourage you to join us.</p><h3><strong>Interview with Stella Gonsales: Catalysis as a&nbsp;key to polymer recycling</strong></h3><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_3_3d0ded6274.jpeg" alt="VŠCHT Prague: JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science: Stella Gonsales" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_3_3d0ded6274.jpeg 233w," sizes="100vw" width="1499" height="1000"></p><h5><strong>Congratulations on your JUNIOR STAR grant and also being awarded the Dagmar Procházková Fund. What does receiving both mean to you and how will they shape your work?</strong></h5><p>Thank you. Both grants are hugely important. The JUNIOR STAR grant allows me to expand my group and resources for research into catalytic recycling of polymers, while the Dagmar Procházková Fund supports complementary projects such as synthesizing new biodegradable polymers. Together, they help tackle the plastic waste problem from multiple scientific angles.</p><h5><strong>Could you explain your research in layperson’s&nbsp;terms?</strong></h5><p>Most plastics have strong carbon-carbon bonds. We insert more cleavable double bonds into polymers that can be broken down by catalytic reactions called olefin metathesis, making recycling on a&nbsp;molecular level more feasible.</p><h5><strong>What makes the JUNIOR STAR grant particularly important for your research and career development?</strong></h5><p>The JUNIOR STAR grant is a&nbsp;prestigious and highly competitive funding opportunity aimed at excellent early-career scientists within eight years of completing a&nbsp;Ph.D. It provides up to 25&nbsp;million CZK over five years, allowing recipients to establish independent research groups and pursue innovative scientific topics. This grant is crucial for building a&nbsp;solid foundation, acquiring necessary equipment, and recruiting talented team members, enabling the pursuit of ambitious projects that can significantly contribute to both the Czech scientific community and global challenges.</p><h5><strong>What collaborations support your research?</strong></h5><p>The collaboration between UCT Prague and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Czech Academy of Sciences primarily provides financial and technical support. The cooperation helps with funding, access to advanced equipment, and operational resources needed for running research projects.</p><h5><strong>What advice would you give young scientists aiming to succeed?</strong></h5><p>I&nbsp;encourage thinking outside the box and combining diverse knowledge you acquire during your career to address complex problems that are exciting and relevant to you.</p><h5><strong>Your laboratory bears the name of Otto Wichterle and was ceremonially opened in the presence of Professor Kamil Wichterle. How does Wichterle’s&nbsp;legacy inspire you personally?</strong></h5><p>Wichterle’<s>’</s>s&nbsp;innovative spirit motivates me to push creative boundaries and pursue novel solutions in sustainable chemistry.</p><h5><strong>What are your visions for the future?</strong></h5><p>I&nbsp;aim to build a&nbsp;research group that advances sustainable polymer recycling, contributing to environmental responsibility and the circular economy.</p><h5><strong>You are recruiting people for your team. What skills do&nbsp;they need to have?</strong></h5><p>We are looking for talented Ph.D. students and postdocs experienced in air-sensitive catalysis techniques. If you want to contribute to transformative research in sustainable chemistry and join a&nbsp;dynamic team, this is a&nbsp;great opportunity.</p></div>

JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 06, 2026

<p><strong>Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated. The researchers focused on a specific class of molecules known as alarmones, which are found in cells across a wide range of organisms and whose levels often increase under conditions of cellular stress. The results were published in the prestigious scientific journal </strong><i><strong>Nature Chemical Biology</strong></i><strong>.</strong></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_bc2bfffa6c.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: Dr. Hana Cahová, head of the Chemical Biology of Nucleic Acids research group." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_bc2bfffa6c.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"></p><div><p>Molecules of ribonucleic acid can carry a variety of chemical modifications at one end, known as caps. In eukaryotic organisms, including human cells, the best-known cap plays an important role in RNA stability and in regulating its subsequent fate. In recent years, however, it has become clear that alternative, non-canonical RNA caps also exist, although their formation and the mechanisms by which they are attached to RNA remain only partially understood. These include alarmone caps, formed by dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules, that protect cellular RNA at moments when the cell is under threat.</p><p>In their study,<strong> </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cahova.group.uochb.cz/en"><strong>Dr. Hana Cahová</strong></a> and colleagues examined bacterial RNA polymerase and investigated how this enzyme can initiate transcription using dinucleoside polyphosphates (NpNs) instead of the standard RNA building blocks. For the first time, the scientists described, at the atomic level, how RNA bearing an alarmone cap can be generated directly at the initiation of gene transcription. They also observed that NpNs bind through a different type of base pairing than is typically observed.</p><p>The work was significantly shaped by <strong>Valentina Serianni from Hana Cahová’s team</strong>, who demonstrated the ability of dinucleoside polyphosphates to initiate gene transcription, and by <strong>Jana Škerlová</strong>, who focused on the structural analysis of RNA polymerase. Using cryogenic electron microscopy data, she showed how dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules bind within the active site of RNA polymerase – that is, the core of the enzyme where genetic information is transcribed. Together, their findings help to elucidate the processes that accompany the transcription of genetic information from DNA to RNA.</p><p>Hana Cahová adds: <i>“We’re describing something that truly occurs in cells and that we’re now able to observe directly at the level of individual molecules. This allows us to answer fundamental questions about cellular processes, such as how cells adapt to stress. RNA plays a central role in this, as it carries the cascade of information underlying any cellular response – for example, to threatening conditions caused by nutrient deprivation or temperature shock.”</i></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_2_0fe88ff9e9.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: Dr. Tomáš Kouba, head of the Cryogenic Electron Microscopy core facility." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_2_0fe88ff9e9.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"></p><div><p>Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was central to the project. This part of the work was led by<strong> Dr. Tomáš Kouba</strong>, one of the authors of the study. <i>“Cryogenic electron microscopy allows us to freeze biological molecules in a state very close to their natural form and then determine their three-dimensional structure. This makes it possible to look directly into the active centers of enzymes and observe their function down to the atomic level,”</i> he explains.</p><p>Last year, IOCB Prague opened a new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cryoem.group.uochb.cz/en"><strong>cryo-EM center</strong></a><strong> </strong>that is unique within the Czech research environment. State-of-the-art cryogenic electron microscopes are housed in a specially designed building and enable the study of biological processes with exceptional structural precision.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_3_4d881e7a58.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: This work shows how NpnNs initiate bacterial transcription. Cryo-EM reveals how nucleobases pair with the template: one in canonical and one in reverse Watson–Crick mode, providing a structural basis for their function as non-canonical RNA caps." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_3_4d881e7a58.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1077"></p><blockquote><h4><strong>The Original article</strong></h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-025-02134-5"><strong>Molecular insight into 5′ RNA capping with Np<sub>n</sub>Ns by bacterial RNA polymerase</strong></a></h4><p>Valentina M. Serianni, Jana Škerlová, Anna Knopp Dubánková, Anton Škríba, Hana Šváchová, Tereza Vučková, Anatolij Filimoněnko, Milan Fábry, Pavlína Řezáčová, Tomáš Kouba &amp; Hana Cahova&nbsp;</p><p>Nat. Chem. Biol. 21 (2026)</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-025-02134-5">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-025-02134-5</a></p><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><strong>CC-BY 4.0</strong></a></h6></blockquote><h4><strong>Abstract</strong></h4><p>RNA capped with dinucleoside polyphosphates has been discovered in bacteria and eukaryotes only recently. The likely mechanism of this specific capping involves direct incorporation of dinucleoside polyphosphates by RNA polymerase as noncanonical initiating nucleotides. However, how these compounds bind into the active site of RNA polymerase during transcription initiation is unknown. Here, we explored transcription initiation in vitro, using a series of DNA templates in combination with dinucleoside polyphosphates and model RNA polymerase from <i>Thermus</i> <i>thermophilus</i>. We observed that the transcription start site can vary on the basis of the compatibility of the specific template and dinucleoside polyphosphate. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of transcription initiation complexes with dinucleoside polyphosphates revealed that both nucleobase moieties can pair with the DNA template. The first encoded nucleotide pairs in a canonical Watson–Crick manner, whereas the second nucleobase pairs noncanonically in a reverse Watson–Crick manner. Our work provides a structural explanation of how dinucleoside polyphosphates initiate RNA transcription.</p></div></div>

Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription

Article

Application

Scientists

Science and research

Video

The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague is a natural centre of first-rate study and research in the area of chemistry in Czechia and is one of the country's largest educational and research institutions focused on technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, material and chemical engineering, food chemistry, and environmental studies.

UCT Prague

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

Everything from the world of analytical chemistry in one place. We connect people in solving their problems. At Labrulez you will find all the necessary information easily, quickly and clearly. Stop searching and start finding.

LabRulez

Agilent Technologies

Phenomenex

Thermo Fisher Scientific

<p>Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) is a highly selective sample preparation technique that can be used to separate the analytes of interest from your matrix so they can be more readily analysed, and don’t cause problems with HPLC and GC column lifetime due to dirty samples. This webinar explains the terminology commonly used in SPE, common formats and extraction modes and then uses this information to explain how to develop and optimise SPE methods in your lab.</p>
<h3><strong>Key Learning Objectives:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Understand the terminology used in SPE method development</li>
<li>Learn the different product formats and stationary phases available, and where they should be used in SPE methods</li>
<li>How to develop and optimise an SPE method</li>
</ul>


Phenomenex: The Basics of Solid Phase Extraction

The Basics of Solid Phase Extraction

This webinar explains the terminology commonly used in SPE, common formats and extraction modes

<p><strong>The trend for multi-residue pesticide analysis is towards faster, simpler, more generic methods of extraction with minimal, if any, clean-up to facilitate higher sample throughput. But this approach can result in extracts with high levels of matrix co-extractives, which will inevitably lead to faster contamination of LC–MS/MS and especially GC–MS/MS systems.</strong></p>
<p>The reluctance to use a cartridge SPE clean-up step most likely results from the time required for manual procedures and time taken to achieve the optimum balance between removal of co-extractive without loss of analytes.</p>
<p>This webinar will highlight an automated optimized online miniaturized cartridge clean-up approach providing more effective clean-up of QuEChERS extracts to overcome the analytical challenges faced by laboratories undertaking pesticides residues analysis.</p>
<h3><strong>Key Learning Objectives:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Understand the configuration, operation, flexibility and ease of use of an automated on-line µSPE setup with GC–MS and LC–MS analysis</li>
<li>Learn how optimized sorbent blends can yield excellent results from GC–MS/MS and LC–MS/MS multi-residue pesticides analysis in different sample types</li>
<li>Discover how µSPE can increase robustness, reduce system maintenance and increase laboratory productivity</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>Who Should Attend:</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li>Scientists/chemists/analysts involved in pesticide residue analysis</li>
<li>Laboratory manager in food industry and contract testing laboratories</li>
<li>Researchers and method developers interested in automating sample clean-up for residues and contaminants</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:  Dr. Daniela Cavagnino (Product Marketing Manager for Gas Chromatographs and GC Autosamplers in the Applied Analytical Technologies Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Dr. Daniela Cavagnino received a Master’s Degree in Chemistry at the University of Milan, Italy. She started her career in gas chromatography at Thermo Fisher Scientific spending several years in the R&amp;D laboratories working on GC technology innovation. Then, she conveyed her technical background into product management and marketing management roles with more than 15 years’ experience in promoting GC/GCMS technology and applications in several different market segments.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>During her career, she has participated as author and co-author in technical publications and actively operated as lecturer at international conferences.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter: Dr. Cristina Jacob (Product Manager of LC TriPlus Autosamplers, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Dr. Cristina Jacob is Product Manager of LC TriPlus Autosamplers at Thermo Fisher Scientific. She received her bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of Évora, Portugal, followed by a Ph.D. in organometallic chemistry from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Following a postdoctoral appointment at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) at the US Food &amp; Drug Administration, conducting research in toxicological studies, and at LABERCA, in France, conducting food safety metabolomics studies, she became a Research Scientist at Bioaster’s Metabolomics and Proteomics Technology Unit, in France. Dr. Jacob then moved to the United States as a visiting scientist at US FDA NCTR where she worked on the development of mass-spectral based analytical methodologies to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity before joining the TSQ Product Management team at Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2018.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter: Richard Fussell (Global Marketing Manager, Food and Beverage, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2014, Richard gained extensive analytical experience working for the UK government. This includes 21 years at the Food and Environment Research Agency, York, UK, where he was an Advanced Research Fellow and Senior Scientist focused on the evaluation and implementation of emerging chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques for the analysis of pesticides, veterinary medicines and contaminants in food and the environment. He has served on various national and international committees and has published more than 50 articles in the peer reviewed literature.</p>
</blockquote>


Pixabay/Jan Amiss: "Ask The Expert" Webinar: Automated online µSPE clean-up to improve efficiency, robustness and productivity in LC- and GC-MS/MS analysis of pesticide residues

"Ask The Expert" Webinar: Automated online µSPE clean-up to improve efficiency, robustness and productivity in LC- and GC-MS/MS analysis of pesticide residues

<p><strong>Learn how to select and implement sample preparation like SPE and QuEChERS to meet the requirements of today’s environmental analysis. While considering sample prep, we will also go into detail about careful consideration needed in selection and use of all consumables in the chromatography workflow. We will present new innovations for varying applications including automation as well as optimizing your GC analysis.</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter: Jessica Netzer (Applications Scientist, Chromatography Columns and Consumables, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Jessica loves sample preparation. She is an experienced applications scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific where she supports customers with solutions for LC, GC, and sample prep. Jessica is an analytical chemist with over 15 years of experience in chromatography techniques, method development, and method validation in pharmaceutical and environmental laboratories.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter: Daniela Cavagnino (Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Daniela received her Master’s degree in Chemistry at the University of Milan, Italy. She started her career in gas chromatography at Thermo Fisher Scientific, spending several years in R&amp;D working on GC technology innovation. She then conveyed her technical background into product management and marketing management roles with more than 15 years of experience promoting GC and GC-MS technology and applications in several different market segments.</p>
</blockquote>


Thermo Scientific - Environmental Webinar Week

Sample Prep Techniques To Improve Your Environmental Analysis

<p><strong>Quantification of trace levels of pesticides in food can be challenging. Identifying residual pesticides in complex matrices requires adequate sample workup and appropriate instrumentation.</strong></p>
<p>Agilent offers a comprehensive workflow for pesticide screening and quantitation by combining QuEChERs sample preparation and multi-platform GC/MS analysis. This presentation will cover the workflows utilizing GC/MSD for pesticide screening and quantitation, targeted pesticide screening with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity with GC/TQ, and comprehensive trace-level screening and quantitation with retrospective analysis capabilities with high-resolution accurate mass analysis using GC/Q-TOF.</p>
<p><strong>Key Learning Objectives/What attendees will learn:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Suspect screening and quantitation by GC/MSD</li>
<li>Targeted selective and sensitive quantitation by GC/TQ</li>
<li>Trace level screening and quantitation by GC/Q-TOF</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Who Should Attend:</strong></p>
<p>Food scientists and chemists interested in pesticide analysis by GCMS</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Erinn O&#39;Neill (GCMS Applications Scientist, Agilent)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Erinn O’Neill is a GCMS Pre-Sales Application Scientist for Agilent in Wilmington, Delaware. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2019, where she focused on identifying novel chemical structures synthesized by plant-pathogenic bacteria. Before that, she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Drew University in New Jersey, where she studied reactions between atmospheric aerosol surrogates and trace pollutants.</p>
</blockquote>


Agilent: A multi-platform approach for screening and quantitating pesticide residues in food

A multi-platform approach for screening and quantitating pesticide residues in food

This presentation will cover the workflows utilizing QuEChERs sample preparation and GC/MSD for pesticide screening and quantitation.

Screening and quantitating pesticide residues in food

<p><strong>Key Learning Points:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Learn how to approach analyzing for PFAS, it is not rocket science like they made it out to be</li>
<li>Become aware of Sporadic PFAS Contamination</li>
<li>Understand how to identify false positives</li>
<li>Require all analysis quality control and samples to be analyzed in replicates to identify false positives</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Who Should Attend:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Anyone who is new or has used Quechers and needs to have an update and an insight on Quechers method</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Duilio Romanello (Senior Technical Specialist, Phenomenex)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Duilio Romanello graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from University of Bologna. Duilio then joined Phenomenex in 2008 as an Inside Technical Sales Consultant becoming Team Leader in Italy for GC/SPE in 2010 and then for the Environmental &amp; Food Team. Since 2016 he has been covering the role of  Account Manager for the South of Italy working remotely and acting as GC Specialist. Since November 2023 he is Senior Technical Specialist for the Technical team at Phenomenex.</p>
</blockquote>


Phenomenex: Quechers 101: Background and Updates

Quechers 101: Background and Updates

Learn how to approach analyzing for PFAS, it is not rocket science like they made it out to be

<p><strong>Key Learning Points:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Understand the benefit of using SPE than other sample preparation techniques </li>
<li>Learn the basic protocol for SPE method and separation modes</li>
<li>Dig into reverse phase SPE typical protocol, and solid phase extraction media</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Who Should Attend:</strong></p>
<p>Anyone beginning with solid phase extraction (SPE) technique, or anyone struggling with method sensitivity</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Grace Guo (Senior Technical Specialist, Phenomenex)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Grace Guo graduated from the Johns Hopkins University with a Master’s degree in Material Science and Engineering. She joined Phenomenex Technical Team in 2017 providing technical support globally. With more than 8 years of experience on SPE, HPLC and GC, she delivered 50+ seminars and webinars globally covering food and environmental, clinical, pharma and biopharma industry. </p>
</blockquote>


GCMS webinars focusing on SPE - page 2

Solid Phase Extraction Introduction and Theory