Analytically Speaking

LCGC & Spectroscopy

Analytically Speaking, the podcast from LCGC and Spectroscopy magazines, addresses important issues in separation science and analytical spectroscopy. Topics include new analytical techniques, methods, and approaches; the latest trends; advances in instrument and software technology; practical solutions for specific applications; recent papers in the scientific literature and their applicability; challenges and solutions for data analysis and interpretation; analytical chemistry theory and fundamentals (from advanced research to tutorials and troubleshooting); and more. Our regular hosts are Dwight Stoll, PhD, a professor of chemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and Jerry Workman, PhD, a spectroscopist, noted author, and currently the Senior Technical Editor of Spectroscopy and LCGC. Dwight covers separation science and Jerry addresses spectroscopy related topics.

  1. Ep. 40: Curiosity, Collaboration, and Open-Mindnesses are the Keys

    4H AGO

    Ep. 40: Curiosity, Collaboration, and Open-Mindnesses are the Keys

    In this episode, podcast co-hosts Dr. Dwight Stoll and Dr. James Grinias talk with Professor Luis Colon. Dr. Colon is is the SUNY Distinguished Professor, A. Conger Goodyear Professor, and Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University at Buffalo. He received his bachelors degree from University of Puerto Rico at Cayey, and then received the Ph.D. from UMass Lowell. He also was a postdoctoral fellow in the Zare Group at Stanford where did groundbreaking work in detection for capillary electrophoresis. Colon has won numerous awards, including most recently the Kirkland Award in Chromatography (formerly known as the ACS Award in Chromatography), which we celebrated at the ACS Fall 2025 National Meeting. In a fascinating conversation, we discuss the influence of Luis’ father on his scientific career, by demonstrating to Luis (whether he realized it at the time or not) a physical separation of coffee shells and beans in the wind. Dr. Colon explains the origins of his interest in materials development for chromatography, which included observations he made on the relatively short lifetimes and fragility of silica-based materials while working in industry early in his career. We also spend a good bit of time discussing Prof. Colon’s motivations for an approach to mentoring younger scientists, as well as some of his thoughts about the future of the separation science field. Finally, Luis shares some of his wisdom gained over several decades as a successful and well recognized analytical scientist, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and open-mindedness.

    52 min
  2. Ep. 38: Being prepared isn’t just for Boy Scouts

    SEP 8

    Ep. 38: Being prepared isn’t just for Boy Scouts

    Dr. Wilson is a research chemist and coordinator of the Cannabis Research Program in the Chemical Sciences Division at the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Greensboro College followed by a M.S. degree in Chemistry from the same institution. He then moved south to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Central Florida, training in the lab of Prof. Andres D. Campiglia. In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the influence of 2000’s television shows such as CSI on Brent’s interest in forensic science and analytical chemistry, and how an informal interview at a poster session ultimately led to the position he now holds at NIST. Dr. Wilson shares how he navigated the educational landscapes in forensic science and chemistry, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. We discuss the evolution of cannabis standards and analytical characterization in recent years, and Brent shares his perspective on the importance of standards in general, the birth of a reference material, and the significant effort it takes to bring these materials to the point where analytical scientists like us can purchase them. Dr. Wilson also describes some of his work on low-temperature emission spectroscopy techniques, where molecule exhibit much narrower and specific emission bands compared to room temperature detection. Brent also shares more about the life of a scientist within NIST, from day-to-day activities, competing for federal funding, and more. Finally, Dr. Wilson shares some professional advice, including the importance of being prepared and adaptable, the value of talking with people at conferences, and the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships over the course of one's career.

    1h 2m
  3. Ep. 34: A Banner Year for Separation Science at Pittcon 2025

    MAR 10

    Ep. 34: A Banner Year for Separation Science at Pittcon 2025

    Perrault Uptmor of William & Mary, and Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo of SUNY at Buffalo. Kate and Emanuela are both returning guests of the pod (see episodes 2 and 14), and joined us on-site at the Boston Convention Center to reflect on what we saw and heard at Pittcon 2025. In a wide-ranging conversation, we touch on a variety of aspects of the Pittcon experience, including networking opportunities, award sessions recognizing both early-career scientists and achievements over lifetimes, and of course trends in various areas as observed from the numerous technical sessions and talks. Several notable award sessions honoring great work in separation science included: ● ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Young Investigator in Separation Science - awarded to Prof. Xiao Su of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ● Pittcon Analytical Chemistry Award - awarded to Prof. Dan Armstrong of the University of Texas at Arlington ● LCGC Emerging Leader Award - awarded to Prof. Katelynn Perrault Uptmor of William & Mary ● LCGC Lifetime Achievement Award - awarded to Christopher Pohl of CAP Chromatography and Consulting ● Chromatography Forum of the Delaware Valley Dal Nogare Award - awarded to Terry Berger Some of the trends discussed during the episode include developments in the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence tools in our field, multi-dimensional separations, green chemistry, and more!

    36 min
  4. JAN 2

    Ep. 32: Don’t skip seminar…you might miss a life-changing event

    In this episode, podcast co-hosts Dr. Dwight Stoll and Dr. James Grinias talk with Dr. Benjamin Garcia. Dr. Garcia is the Raymond H. Wittcoff Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics in the School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. His research interests primarily focus on the development of mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches for the analysis of post-translational modifications of proteins (PTMs) and modified proteomes. His group specializes in high-throughput and quantitative analysis of many classes of modified proteins, especially epigenetic histone PTMs. He is a prolific author and scientific leader, with an h-index approaching 120. He has received a LOT of awards to date, but we sat down with him at the Eastern Analytical Symposium where he was recognized for his recent EAS Award for Outstanding Achievement in Mass Spectrometry. In the conversation we talk about the origins of Dr. Garcia’s interests in analytical science, mass spectrometry, and biomedical research, and he shares his thoughts about the current state and near future for technologies used for biomolecule separations including peptides, proteins, and oligonucleotides. We also discuss Dr. Garcia’s highly impactful efforts to promote participation in the analytical sciences by people from all backgrounds, and he shares some thoughts about the “to-do list” for his upcoming term as chair of the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry.

    49 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Analytically Speaking, the podcast from LCGC and Spectroscopy magazines, addresses important issues in separation science and analytical spectroscopy. Topics include new analytical techniques, methods, and approaches; the latest trends; advances in instrument and software technology; practical solutions for specific applications; recent papers in the scientific literature and their applicability; challenges and solutions for data analysis and interpretation; analytical chemistry theory and fundamentals (from advanced research to tutorials and troubleshooting); and more. Our regular hosts are Dwight Stoll, PhD, a professor of chemistry at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and Jerry Workman, PhD, a spectroscopist, noted author, and currently the Senior Technical Editor of Spectroscopy and LCGC. Dwight covers separation science and Jerry addresses spectroscopy related topics.

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