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Analytical Chemistry

The analytical chemistry program is among the strongest in North America, with 11 faculty conducting award-winning research at the forefront of some of the most exciting and significant areas of analytical chemistry. Much of the research is aimed at advancing the state-of-the-art in analytical instrumentation and techniques through increased understanding of the fundamental principles involved.

The research undertaken by this division encompasses a broad range of areas. Students graduating from the program find ready employment in government, industry and academia.

FACULTY

Campbell, Robert E.: Protein engineering and the construction of molecular tools for the manipulation and visualization of biochemistry in live cells.

Gibbs-Davis, Julianne: Multivalency and molecular recognition at interfaces; physical chemistry of "green" catalytic surfaces; supramolecular, self-replicating systems for DNA detection; nonlinear optical spectroscopy of interfacial dynamics.

Harrison, D. Jed: Development of the lab-on-a-chip concept for chemical, biochemical and biological analysis, using micro- and nano- fabrication technology.

Harynuk, James: Multidimensional gas-phase separations and advanced data handling tools.

Klassen, John: Bio-physical gas-phase ion chemistry, mass spectrometry of proteins, DNA and complex oligosaccharides, Fourier transform mass spectrometry.

Le, X. Chris: Bioanalytical and environmental techniques; Chemical speciation and metal interaction with proteins; exposure and metabolism of arsenic species; DNA-protein binding assays; DNA damage and repair; biomarkers; nucleic acids affinity probes.

Li, Liang: Analytical mass spectrometry, bioanalytical techniques, proteomics, proteome analysis, protein characterization, metabolomics, metabolome analysis, tissue and cell analysis, disease biomarker discovery, biosystems analysis.

Loppnow, Glen R.: Time- and frequency-resolved absorption, fluorescence, IR and Raman Spectroscopy; excited-state processes in biological systems; DNA and RNA microarrays; nucleic acid damage, repair and protection.

Lucy, Charles A.: physico-chemical behavior underlying separation techniques such as capillary electrophoresis (CE), ion chromatography (IC) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC).

McCreery, Richard L.: molecular electronics, spectroscopy of molecular electronic devices, surface spectroscopy.

McDermott, Mark T.: Surface modification and microfabrication for improved electroanalytical response, biomolecule microarray development, nanoscience, molecular electronics.

Serpe, Michael J.: Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, polymer brush synthesis and characterization, Janus microgels, responsive polymers, biosensors, block copolymer antibacterial coatings, materials/polymer chemistry, analytical instrument design, nanoscience.

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RECENT AWARDS

University

• Faculty of Science Research Award, University of Alberta (1994, 2002)
• Faculty of Science Teaching Innovation Award (2007, 2008)
• Killam Annual Professorship (2004-2005)
• Martha Piper Research Prize (2000)
• McCalla Professorship (2002-2003, 2008-2009)
• Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award (2004, 2008)
• Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching (2008)

Local and Canadian

• Alberta Science & Technology Leadership Foundation award for outstanding leadership in Alberta Technology (2002)
• E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, NSERC of Canada (1996-1998, 2000-2002)
• W.A.E. McBryde Medal in Analytical Chemistry - Canadian Society of Chemistry (1993, 1998, 2001, 2002)
• Maxxam Award in Analytical Chemistry - Canadian Society for Chemistry (2003, 2008, 2009)
• Fisher Awards
• Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Analytical Chemistry (2005-2012)
• Canada Research Chairs (Tier II) in Bioanalytical Technology and Environmental Health (2000-2006) and in Bioanalytical Chemistry (2004-2010)
• Young Explorers Prize from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (2002)
• Rutherford Memorial Medal in Chemistry from the Royal Society of Canada (2003)
• F.P. Lossing Award from the Canadian Society for Mass Spectrometry (2006)
• 3M National Teaching Award (2009)

International

• Heinrich Emanuel Merck Prize, Merck KGaA of Germany (1996)
• Frederick Conference Award for outstanding achievement in capillary electrophoresis (2002)
• International Ion Chromatography Achievement Award (2002)
• Golay Award - Capillary Chromatography and Electrophoresis Conference (2003)
• Pittcon Spectroscopy Award
• American Chemical Society Award in Spectrochemical Analysis (1996)
• American Chemical Society Award in Chemical Instrumentation (2004)
• Early Career Award for Applied Ecological Research - cosponsored by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and the American Chemistry Council (2003)
• Michael Gross Award, University of Nebraska (2008)

RESEARCH AREAS

The research undertaken by this division encompasses a broad range of areas including:

• liquid chromatography
• multi-dimensional gas chromatography
• high sensitivity bioanalytical techniques
• capillary electrophoresis
• chemical microinstrumentation or "lab-on-a-chip"
• electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
• MALDI MS
• proteomics, genomics and metabolomics
• interfacial chemistry
• scanning probe microscopy
• surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy
• surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
• electroanalytical chemistry
• environmental chemistry and chemical toxicology
• absorption, fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy
• microarray development
• nanoscience
• nanoparticle enhanced detection
• molecular electronics
• polymer brush synthesis and characterization
• chemometrics
• analytical instrument design
• biosensors

EMPLOYMENT LISTING

Careers in analytical chemistry.

Industry

• Chemical Industry
  • Analytica, Branford
  • Arryx, Inc. (Chicago)
  • Canada West Biosciences, Alberta
  • Dow Chemicals, Alberta
  • O’Connor Associates, Alberta
  • Syncrude Research, Edmonton
  • Unilever, New Jersey
• High Tech
  • Applied Nanotools, Edmonton
  • BD Diagnostics, New Jersey
  • Cytokinetics
  • Aclara Biosciences, California
  • EZ Chem, Medicine Hat, AB
  • Eksigent Technologies, California
  • FormFactor, California
  • Genelabs Technologies, California
  • Genentech, California
  • MJ Bioworks, California
  • QSV Biologics Inc., Alberta
  • Semiconductor Co., California
  • Thar Instruments. Inc (Waters), Pittsburgh
  • Gyros, Sweden
• Pharmaceutical
  • Apotex
  • Aventis Pasteur
  • Biomira, Edmonton
  • Eli Lilly Canada, Toronto
  • Gilead, Edmonton
  • Isotechnika, Edmonton
  • Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA
  • Merck Frosst, Quebec
  • Pfizer, Connecticut
  • Proteolix Inc., California
  • Theravance Inc., California

Government

• Agriculture and Agro-Foods Canada
• Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon
• Health Canada
• NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences, Halifax
• NRC-Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, Ottawa
• RCMP Forensics Laboratory
• Water Supply Department, Hong Kong

Academia

• University of British Columbia
• Simon Fraser University
• Thompson River University (Kamloops)
• University of Calgary
• University of Alberta
• University of Saskatchewan
• University of Guelph
• University of Waterloo
• University of Western Ontario
• Université de Montréal
• Dalhousie University
• University of Minnesota (St. Cloud)
• King's University College, Edmonton
• Simon Fraser University
• University of Winnipeg
• Queen's University
• Concordia University
• Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Missouri
• University of Minnesota (Minneapolis)
• Bethany College (Kentucky)
• Wake Forest University (North Carolina)
• San Diego State University
• Grant MacEwan University College, Edmonton
• College of the North Atlantic
• University of Groningen, Netherlands
• Universität Leipzig
• Hasylab, Germany
• IICT (Hyderabad, India)

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