<div>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.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.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.</div><div><h3>Interview with Filipa Oliveira: Pioneering tubular MXenes for supercapacitor energy storage</h3><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"><h5>Congratulations on receiving the JUNIOR STAR grant. What does this achievement mean for you and how will it influence your next steps?</h5>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.<h5>Why are tubular MXenes so innovative for energy storage?</h5>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.<h5>How did your scientific interest lead you to this field?</h5>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.<h5>What challenges have you encountered?</h5>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.<h5>What motivates you most about working at UCT Prague?</h5>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.<h5>How do&nbsp;you see your professional development going in the future?</h5>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.<h5>You are looking for new team members. What kind of students or scientists do&nbsp;you need?</h5>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.<h3>Interview with Stella Gonsales: Catalysis as a&nbsp;key to polymer recycling</h3><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"><h5>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?</h5>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.<h5>Could you explain your research in layperson’s&nbsp;terms?</h5>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.<h5>What makes the JUNIOR STAR grant particularly important for your research and career development?</h5>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.<h5>What collaborations support your research?</h5>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.<h5>What advice would you give young scientists aiming to succeed?</h5>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.<h5>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?</h5>Wichterle’<s>’</s>s&nbsp;innovative spirit motivates me to push creative boundaries and pursue novel solutions in sustainable chemistry.<h5>What are your visions for the future?</h5>I&nbsp;aim to build a&nbsp;research group that advances sustainable polymer recycling, contributing to environmental responsibility and the circular economy.<h5>You are recruiting people for your team. What skills do&nbsp;they need to have?</h5>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.</div>

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

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 06, 2026

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 Nature Chemical Biology.<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"><div>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.In their study, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cahova.group.uochb.cz/en">Dr. Hana Cahová</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.The work was significantly shaped by Valentina Serianni from Hana Cahová’s team, who demonstrated the ability of dinucleoside polyphosphates to initiate gene transcription, and by Jana Škerlová, 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.Hana Cahová adds: “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.”<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"><div>Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was central to the project. This part of the work was led by Dr. Tomáš Kouba, one of the authors of the study. “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,” he explains.Last year, IOCB Prague opened a new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cryoem.group.uochb.cz/en">cryo-EM center</a> 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.<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"><blockquote><h4>The Original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-025-02134-5">Molecular insight into 5′ RNA capping with NpnNs by bacterial RNA polymerase</a></h4>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;Nat. Chem. Biol. 21 (2026)<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><h6>licensed 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>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 Thermus thermophilus. 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.</div></div>

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

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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

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Anatune

Syft Technologies

In the third episode of our six-part series on SIFT-MS automation, series presenter, and global authority in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins describes application of SIFT-MS to multiple headspace extraction (MHE) to give matrix-independent concentration determinations.
Furthermore, Dr Perkins also describes how the speed of SIFT-MS analysis can be leveraged to accelerate method development for both SIFT-MS and conventional methods – for example, through rapid determination of headspace equilibration times.
Automation of analysis is extremely important in modern analytical laboratories. How has it been achieved for SIFT-MS, a direct analysis technique? Join our series presenter, and global authority in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins who describes in six episodes the principles and practice of SIFT-MS automation that make it an excellent fit for routine and R&amp;D laboratories.
<ul>
<li>Episode 1: Why Automate Analysis?</li>
<li>Episode 2: Accelerate Static Headspace Analysis with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 3: Advanced Headspace Methods with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 4: Calibration Approaches for Automated SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 5: Continuous Headspace Analysis… and Beyond</li>
<li>Episode 6: SIFT-MS Automation: Past, Present and Future</li>
</ul>
Benefit from Mark’s extensive SIFT-MS automation experience!
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr Mark Perkins (Senior Applications Chemist, Anatune, United Kingdom)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Host: Dr. Vaughan Langford (Principal Scientist / Consultant)
</blockquote>

Syft Technologies: The SIFT-MS Automation Series: Principles and Practice in Six Episodes!

Advanced Headspace Methods with SIFT-MS

We continue our six-episode series on automation of SIFT-MS by looking at how instrument calibration is achieved very simply and rapidly with the automated configuration.
Traditional calibration approaches have not featured regularly in the SIFT-MS literature due to the widespread use of reliable library-based quantitation. But calibration is essential for contract testing laboratories, so it is addressed in detail in this webinar.
Join our series presenter, and global authority in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins who – from a number of different angles – describes how traditional calibration is achieved with automated SIFT-MS.
Automation of analysis is extremely important in modern analytical laboratories. How has it been achieved for SIFT-MS, a direct analysis technique? Join our series presenter, and global authority in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins who describes in six episodes the principles and practice of SIFT-MS automation that make it an excellent fit for routine and R&amp;D laboratories.
<ul>
<li>Episode 1: Why Automate Analysis?</li>
<li>Episode 2: Accelerate Static Headspace Analysis with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 3: Advanced Headspace Methods with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 4: Calibration Approaches for Automated SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 5: Continuous Headspace Analysis… and Beyond</li>
<li>Episode 6: SIFT-MS Automation: Past, Present and Future</li>
</ul>
Benefit from Mark’s extensive SIFT-MS automation experience! 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr Mark Perkins (Senior Applications Chemist, Anatune, United Kingdom)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Host: Dr. Vaughan Langford (Principal Scientist / Consultant)
</blockquote>

Calibration Approaches for Automated SIFT-MS

In the fifth episode of our six-part SIFT-MS automation series, presenter, and global expert, Dr Mark Perkins describes the novel continuous headspace analysis (CHA) technique that he developed to measure stripping of volatiles. (Note that CHA is not to be confused with dynamic headspace analysis!)
In addition, Mark describes simple, very high-throughput gas sample bag analysis, plus touches on recent developments – including thermal desorption-SIFT-MS.
Automation of analysis is extremely important in modern analytical laboratories. How has it been achieved for SIFT-MS, a direct analysis technique? Join our series presenter, and global authority in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins who describes in six episodes the principles and practice of SIFT-MS automation that make it an excellent fit for routine and R&amp;D laboratories.
<ul>
<li>Episode 1: Why Automate Analysis?</li>
<li>Episode 2: Accelerate Static Headspace Analysis with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 3: Advanced Headspace Methods with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 4: Calibration Approaches for Automated SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 5: Continuous Headspace Analysis… and Beyond</li>
<li>Episode 6: SIFT-MS Automation: Past, Present and Future</li>
</ul>
Benefit from Mark’s extensive SIFT-MS automation experience! 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr Mark Perkins (Senior Applications Chemist, Anatune, United Kingdom)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Host: Dr. Vaughan Langford (Principal Scientist / Consultant)
</blockquote>

Continuous Headspace Analysis… and Beyond

Our six-episode series on SIFT-MS automation concludes with our series presenter, and expert in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins reflecting on the automation journey and sharing his practical &quot;hot tips&quot; for a wide variety of automated analyses.
The webinar (and series!) concludes with a discussion of how automated SIFT-MS is an excellent complementary technique to the conventional laboratory &quot;workhorse&quot; techniques: gas and liquid chromatography.
Automation of analysis is extremely important in modern analytical laboratories. How has it been achieved for SIFT-MS, a direct analysis technique? Join our series presenter, and global authority in automated SIFT-MS, Dr Mark Perkins who describes in six episodes the principles and practice of SIFT-MS automation that make it an excellent fit for routine and R&amp;D laboratories.
<ul>
<li>Episode 1: Why Automate Analysis?</li>
<li>Episode 2: Accelerate Static Headspace Analysis with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 3: Advanced Headspace Methods with SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 4: Calibration Approaches for Automated SIFT-MS</li>
<li>Episode 5: Continuous Headspace Analysis… and Beyond</li>
<li>Episode 6: SIFT-MS Automation: Past, Present and Future</li>
</ul>
Benefit from Mark’s extensive SIFT-MS automation experience!
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr Mark Perkins (Senior Applications Chemist, Anatune, United Kingdom)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Host: Dr. Vaughan Langford (Principal Scientist / Consultant)
</blockquote>

SIFT-MS Automation: Past, Present and Future

Syft Technologies invites you to join the 2020 European user group meeting focused on the latest applications of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).
SIFT-MS users present their latest data from across diverse fields from cutting-edge breath research to antiquities studies to atmospheric research.
<h3>Day 1 (Times are shown BST)</h3>
<ul>
<li>8am Welcome and procedures (Dr Vaughan Langford, Syft Technologies, NZ)
</li>
<li>8.10am PLENARY I Development of breath test for oesophageal cancer (Prof. George Hanna, Imperial College London, UK)
</li>
<li>8.50am Development and validation of an automated SIFT-MS method for VOCs measurement in water (Dr Mark Perkins, Anatune Limited, UK)
</li>
</ul>
<h4>9.35am refreshment break</h4>
<ul>
<li>9.40am PLENARY II Design requirement for breath clinical studies (Prof. George Hanna, Imperial College London, UK)
</li>
<li>10.20am SIFT-MS in heritage science: characterization of organic residues in archaeological objects by portable mass spectrometry (Prof. Ilaria Degano, University of Pisa, Italy)
</li>
</ul>
<h5>10.45am refreshment break</h5>
<ul>
<li>10.55am Finishing the 2019 story: Part 1. SIFT-MS as a sensory tool for packaging screening (Dr Vaughan Langford, Syft Technologies)
</li>
<li>11.15am From mould worms to fake honey: using SIFT-MS to improve food quality (Prof. Sheryl Barringer, The Ohio State University, USA)
</li>
<li>11.50am Concluding remarks (Dr Mark Perkins, Anatune Limited, UK)
</li>
</ul>
<h4>12pm close for Day 1</h4>
See more details including abstracts for all presentation at <a href="https://www.syft.com/this-years-syft-technologies-north-american-and-european-user-meetings-have-moved-online/.">SIFT-MS User Meeting web page</a>.

Second European SIFT-MS User Meeting - Day 1

Syft Technologies invites you to join the 2020 European user group meeting focused on the latest applications of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).
SIFT-MS users present their latest data from across diverse fields from cutting-edge breath research to antiquities studies to atmospheric research.
<h3>Day 2 (Times are shown BST)</h3>
<ul>
<li>8am Welcome and procedures reminder (Dr Vaughan Langford, Syft Technologies, NZ)
</li>
<li>8.10am PLENARY III Emerging requirements for VOC analysis in support of environmental regulation (Prof. Ally Lewis, University of York, UK)
</li>
<li>8.40am From the shower room, to human breath to Asian megacities: A SIFT-MS measurement journey (Dr Marvin Shaw, University of York, UK)
</li>
</ul>
<h5>9.20am refreshment break</h5>
<ul>
<li>9.30am Comparison of sample introduction techniques like static headspace, dynamic headspace and direct thermal extraction for analysis of rancidity markers in instant food using SIFT-MS and GC/MS (Thomas Langenberg, Dr Eike Kleine-Benne, GERSTEL, Germany)
</li>
<li>9.55am Comparing SIFT-MS and GC/MS in a biomedical context: A solvent and its metabolite in plasma (Dr Colin Hastie, Anatune Limited, UK)
</li>
<li>10.05am The use of SIFT-MS for the analysis of exhaled breath from e-cigarette users after vaping (Louise Bishop, BAT, UK)
</li>
<li>10.25am Supercritical CO₂ extraction/drying coupled with SIFT-MS analysis (Georgia Sanxaridou, CMAC/University of Strathclyde, UK)
</li>
</ul>
<h4>10.45am refreshment break</h4>
<ul>
<li>11am SIFT-MS for the characterization of the volatile organic compounds emitted from macroand microplastics (Dr Jacopo La Nasa, University of Pisa, Italy)
</li>
<li>11.25am Time-resolved thermal extraction of volatiles from plastic materials using TD-SIFT-MS (Dr Christopher Pfaff, Syft Technologies, Germany)
</li>
<li>11.50am Concluding remarks (Dr Mark Perkins, Anatune Limited, UK)
</li>
</ul>
<h4>12pm close for Day 2</h4>
See more details including abstracts for all presentation at <a href="https://www.syft.com/this-years-syft-technologies-north-american-and-european-user-meetings-have-moved-online/.">SIFT-MS User Meeting web page</a>.

Second European SIFT-MS User Meeting - Day 2

Single use plastics have been a hot topic in public discourse in recent years. A huge amount isn’t collected, sorted or recycled and people are asking the why big business isn’t doing more. Many companies are responding positively and setting ambitious goals like Unilever who committed to halving its use of virgin plastics by 2025.
But in order to sort this out, we need to analyse plastics to see what’s in there and, as with most things in our industry, it’s not that simple. It’s a complicated process with a bewildering number of variables to consider, and not a lot of control.
We’ve been using SIFT-MS in conjunction with GC/Q-TOF and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to provide some insight into malodours in recycled plastic.
Join Unilever’s Alison Cummins and, Jamie Minaeian &amp; Phine Banks of Anatune as they talk about some of the pioneering work being done to improve our ability to make single use plastics a thing of the past.

Pixabay/StockSnap: The Problem with Recycled Plastics – A Discussion with Anatune and Unilever

GCMS webinars focusing on SIFT-MS - page 3