Analytical Chemistry

Analytical chemistry is a branch of experimental chemistry that seeks to answer questions such as: What is this composition of this substance? What is this material's structure? How much of it is there? Analytical chemistry combines novel instrumentation, data analysis, and a broad knowledge of chemistry to solve these questions. In many applications, achieving precision and accuracy in analytical measurement is essential. Making the correct diagnosis, for example, may be the difference between a good and bad analytical measurement.

Research in analytical chemistry is concentrated in mass spectrometry and NMR, with a particular focus on methods development and instrumentation. Applications range from the development of new materials to solving biological problems.

Areas of Focus

Mass spectrometry • Solid-state NMR • Biopolymers • Ion-chemistry mechanisms • Hyper-polarization NMR methods

 

Affiliated Faculty

Michael Gross
Biological and biophysical chemistry, mass spectrometry, structural proteomics,protein footprinting, FPOP, HDX, native MS, crosslinking, ion mobility

Sophia Hayes
Optically-pumped NMR, solid state NMR of semiconductors, thin films, CO2-capture materials, catalysts, minerals and geochemical systems.  NMR tensor computations for data-enabled science

Kevin Moeller
Synthetic organic chemistry, electrochemistry, addressable molecular libraries, new chemical probes for mapping biological receptors

Gary Patti
Biochemistry; Metabolism; Metabolomics; Mass Spectrometry; LC/MS; Mass Spectrometry-Based Imaging; Cancer Metabolism; Cell-Cell Interactions; Metabolic Flux Analysis; Enzyme Kinetics; Stable Isotope Tracing; Organismal Metabolism of Model Animals (Zebrafish)

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Washington University Biomedical Mass Spectrometry Resource
WashU has not only the most beautiful campus but also tremendous analytical resources, including NMR, circular dichroism (CD) and thorough kinds of mass spectrometers like Bruker MaXis Q-Tof, Waters Synapt G2, Thermo Q-Exactive Orbitrap, Thermo EMR, Thermo Linear Ion Trap coupled with Fourier Transformer Analyzer (LTQ-FT), MALDI and Bruker 12T FT-Ion Cyclotron Resonance. The Mass Spectrometry Resource, supported by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institute of Health (NIH), provides great collaborations from other top academic labs to leading companies such as Genentech and Bristol Myer Squibb. These resources developed my scientific way of thinking but also had perspectives from a larger scope. In addition, I feel so inspired working with Dr. Michael Gross, who provides guidance in research and beyond. ― Mengru Zhang PhD Candidate, Gross Lab