EACH second-year students: project updates

The second-year EACH students are currently working hard on their Master’s projects. Read on to find out what they have learned and how their experience has been so far.

Quoc, UU track: I am doing my thesis in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Analytical Pharmaceutical Chemistry, at Uppsala University. My project uses UPLC‑HRMS to perform untargeted lipidomics on PLX5622‑treated microglia. My role includes key steps in the lipidomics workflow: sample reconstitution, LC-MS operation, data pre‑processing, and downstream analysis. 

I am very satisfied, happy, and comfortable working here because my supervisor and all team members are very kind, supportive, and willing to help me bridge my knowledge gaps. I have learned a great deal to further develop myself in bioanalytical chemistry, especially in sample handling, LC-MS operation, and R programming for analysing large datasets.

Elvin, AAU track: I am working on laminated electrodes with multiple selective membranes, which represent a novel concept with significant potential for the fabrication of simple, low-cost, and flexible ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). These systems are particularly promising for applications in which conventional liquid-contact ISEs are prone to damage or where their maintenance is impractical. 

I carry out this work in the analytical chemistry laboratories at Åbo Akademi University, an environment that is both accessible and supportive. The setting fosters a strong sense of familiarity and collaboration, where students are surrounded by researchers from diverse academic backgrounds, including significant expertise in electrochemistry.

Luis, UCBL track: I am doing my project in Lyon at IFPEN, which is a leading company in research and training in the fields of energy, transport, and environment. I am developing new chemometrics models to predict the polymers present in different products, such as plastics and textiles, for recycling.  I mainly use spectroscopic techniques, including fluorescence, IR, NIR, Raman, and hyperspectral imaging. My main task is to develop fast, reliable methods for future applications. 

The working environment is amazing, there are people from all around the world working beside you, and the supervisors and the co-workers are very kind. The infrastructure is new and very well planned. There is a restaurant on site with all kinds of food, resting places inside and outside, and you can access cultural and leisure events.

Ola, UCBL track: I am doing my internship at Axel’One in Solaize near Lyon. I am working in Research and Development using different spectroscopic techniques and chemometrics. Right now, I’m working on a study of solvent interactions using NIR spectroscopy, and later in my internship, I will work with benchtop NMR and Raman to monitor a biocatalysis process. I am part of a great team that is always there to offer advice and help me develop my skills. There are great benefits in addition to the learning, like free coffee.

Hans, UU track: I am working on my thesis at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, where I did my summer internship, and Technische Universität Berlin in Germany. 

My master’s thesis investigates the degradation of dissolved organic matter in peatlands through controlled incubation experiments. We are using a combination of different spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques to characterise the chemical diversity of our samples and associate it with carbon dioxide and methane emissions, as well as dissolved minerals. Our goal is to contribute to the development of a molecular-level biogeochemical model of organic carbon-iron mineral interactions to assess the drivers of carbon cycling in iron-rich peatlands. 

I am enjoying working on my thesis because the topic is very interesting and I can use what I learned from different courses in the EACH program to answer new and challenging research questions. And of course, the work is enjoyable and rewarding because I have incredibly supportive mentors from my host institutions and the EACH program!

Syed, AAU track: My university track is the Abo Akademi, which helps me specialise in the electroanalytical side of analytical chemistry and implement the knowledge I have received for my master’s thesis. My work is focused on the fabrication of novel ion-selective electrodes and their membranes from natural materials, intended for potassium quantification.

Komal, UU track: I am currently doing my master’s thesis at Uppsala University. My project involves the optimisation of post-column derivatisation reactions as a pathway to better understand the structural characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM). This work is important because the DOM is highly complex, and improving analytical methods can provide clearer insights into its composition and behaviour. 

So far, I have focused on Aim 1, which includes optimising the post-column derivatisation reaction. This has involved refining experimental conditions to achieve more reliable and sensitive detection. With a solid analytical method in place, I am now moving into the next stage, which involves structural investigation of DOM samples. I will apply the optimised method to uncover deeper molecular-level information.

Thu, UCBL track: I am doing my internship at Axel’One in a collaboration with Servier, which I find both exciting and rewarding. I am working on optimising and setting up an online GC method, which has given me plenty of room to explore, test ideas, and exercise a lot of freedom. What makes me so happy is the people, both of my supervisors, who are very supportive, always ready to help, and the colleagues are friendly. Yeah, I learn a lot… I don’t think I have to survive the internship on stress and chromatography alone. I might finish the internship as a coffeeholic after the internship because the coffee is free here :))