R. Graham Cooks

Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor, Chemistry, Purdue University, Indiana, USA.

Career highlight
Working with PhD students and postdocs. On the technical side, many things, starting with MS/MS for complex mixtures and going through MRMs, matrix-assisted ionization, miniature mass spectrometers and now accelerated solution-phase reactions in droplets. All great fun.

Game changers in mass spectrometry
Depends on your interests. For some of us it is ambient ionization, for others the Orbitrap mass analyzer. For others, ion soft landing and surface-induced dissociation.

What makes a successful inventor?
Unhappiness. Unhappiness with the status quo, including yourself. The same properties that make for successful poets.

Nominator comment: “Cooks’ research has transformed the field of mass spectrometry. His recent work on ambient ionization opens up unique opportunities to bring mass spectrometers into every doctor’s office.”

Categories: Inventors, Mass spectrometrists

Part of the Power List 2017

The Magnificent Tens
After 2016’s celebration of women in analytical science, we return to the Top 100 for 2017.
But there’s a twist. This summer, we asked you to nominate scientists in ten categories – from the stars of separation science, to omics explorers, to the mentors training the next generation.

Go to The Power List 2017