What’s Happening on Days Three & Four of Pittcon?

Welcome to days three and four of Pittcon! 

As we move into the second half of the conference, there’s still plenty to see and do. The next two days offer an exciting mix of technical talks, live demonstrations, and opportunities to engage with leading experts from around the world. From pioneering advancements in chemical analysis to the future of spectroscopy, there’s something for everyone.

Here are our top choices for the second half of the conference!

Day Three Must See

1:30–4:40 pm (Room 104A): Pittsburgh Analytical Chemistry Award (Dan Armstrong, Willie Hinze, Jared Anderson, Kevin Shug & Zachary Breitbach)

Collecting this year’s Pittsburgh Award is Dan Armstrong, as an homage to his groundbreaking research in stereochemical analysis and contributions to ionic liquids for chemical investigations, microbiological separations, and mechanistic studies across various fields of analytical chemistry. 

Daniel was ranked as one of the top 10 “Connectors and Interdisciplinarians” of the decade in our 2023 Power List. When asked about the secret to successful interdisciplinary collaboration, he said: “There is no secret, just a decision: you can either remain isolated, self-acquiring knowledge and raising funds (which can be a costly and lengthy process), or you can collaborate with individuals/groups from different fields to increase productivity, decrease costs, and help you reach solutions at a faster pace. Working amongst others also broadens your overall knowledge, which could be applied to future research projects. When interdisciplinary projects work – which is often – problems are solved, publications are produced, and everyone is happy.” 

2:30–3:00 pm (Room 211, Level 2): Enhancing Medical Diagnostics with AI-driven Raman Spectroscopy (Juergen Popp) 

With AI seemingly emerging in all walks of life at the moment, Juergen Popp shares how machine learning is enhancing spectroscopic methodology (Raman spectroscopy in particular) for use in diagnostics – something he mentioned to us back in 2022. “The success of spectroscopic methods for medical diagnosis and therapy (and other applications, such as in the life sciences, process analytics, pharmaceuticals, or environmental analysis) is closely related to the development of tailored data evaluation algorithms. In short, measurement data must be translated into qualitatively and quantitatively usable information for the end user.”

2:30–4:40 pm (Room 107A): Sensing Technology in Neuroscience: From Single Cells to In Vivo Measurements (Ashley Ross, Leslie Sombers, Nako Nakatsuka, Netz Arroyo)

From the gut-brain-immune axis to in vivo neurochemical detection, this session highlights technologies that promise to reshape how we study health and disease progression. Leslie Sombers presents a novel electrochemical approach to directly detect opioid neuropeptide release, and Ashley Ross will speak on her lab’s efforts in sensing neurochemicals along the gut-brain-immune axis. Her advice to aspiring researchers?  “Do not be afraid to take risks… Some of the best projects going on in my lab at the moment are projects that I would have never dreamed we would be doing a few years ago. Sometimes it’s necessary to get out of your comfort zone and go for it. I have found that that creates amazing opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and raises the overall impact of your work.” 

Day Four Planner

8:30–11:40 am (Room 104B): ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Symposium: Electrochemistry, Mass Spectrometry, Separations, and Spectroscopy (Si Wu, Amit Vaish, Erin Baker, Liangliang Sun, Shanlin Pan)

Organized in collaboration with Pittcon, this symposium brings leading researchers together to discuss innovations shaping the future of analytical chemistry. PFAS pioneer Erin Baker will present new multidimensional techniques used to monitor chemical exposure, while Liangliang Sun will delve into new mass spectrometry-based approaches helping to reshape proteomics and nanomedicine. 

10:00–10:30 am (Room 107C): Analysis of the relative abundances of perfluorooctane sulfonate isomers in biological samples (Diana Aga) 

9:30–12:00 pm (Room 207, Level 2): Novel Modalities/Vaccines (Bingchuan Wei, Brian Wei, Jun Chen, Zachary Pederson, Blesson John, Emory Payne, Michael Leach)

Highlighting some of the new analytical processes involved in new medical and vaccine research include Jun Chen, Michael Leach and Bingchuan Wei. Wei hinted at some of the challenges faced in vaccine delivery when we spoke to him in ‘The mRNA Moment’. “The mRNA itself is already difficult to analyze, but the lipid nanoparticles used to encapsulate it add even more complexity. Characterizing the particles – ensuring the right particle size and encapsulation efficiency – is crucial. We’re still developing innovative ways to measure, analyze and deliver these therapies.”

Thought of the Day

“Today with high-end mass spectrometry we can study thousands of proteins within a single cell in just half an hour. To put that into perspective, 20 years ago, when I worked at a biomarker company, it took us half a day to identify 1,000 proteins from a sample of 1 million cells. So we’ve gone from 1 million cells to a single cell, and from half a day to half an hour – that’s quite an accomplishment.” - Koen Sandra

Aprés-Sci

If you’re looking to combat the post-conference blues, or perhaps just a way to decompress after a long day, consider an evening stroll through the lush gardens making up the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Found in the heart of Boston, the public park spans for over a mile and features a range of food trucks and even a carousel with hand-carved characters inspired by Boston's natural surroundings. 

Whether you're interested in grabbing a bite to eat or simply seeking a peaceful place to unwind, the Rose Kennedy Greenway is a slice of serenity amidst Boston's urban landscape.