Description

This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), under the NRC Research Associateship Programs, supports postdoctoral research in separation science techniques aimed at trace organic and organometallic compound analysis. The research focuses on developing and applying advanced chromatographic and electrophoretic methods such as gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), capillary electrochromatography (CEC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE).

Key research areas include:

• Development of selective extraction systems for analytes from complex natural matrices (e.g., pressurized fluid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, solid phase microextraction).
• Chromatographic and electrophoretic sample preparation, cleanup, and analyte preconcentration prior to analysis.
• Multidimensional separation techniques (e.g., LC-GC, LC-LC, LC-CE) for resolving individual species in complex mixtures.
• Use of multiple and selective detection systems (mass spectrometry, electron capture, flame photometric, UV-visible diode array, fluorescence, electrochemical, chemical reaction detectors) to improve selectivity and sensitivity.

Applications of these techniques have been emphasized in environmental, clinical, and forensic contexts, including detection of:

• Environmental contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, dioxins, toxaphene, flame retardants, and organometallic species in matrices like sediment, tissue, human serum and milk, and air particulates.
• Nutrients such as vitamins and carotenoids in food and serum.
• Drugs of abuse in urine and hair.
• Biomolecules including proteins, peptides, and DNA fragments.

There are also opportunities to extend these techniques to trace inorganic analysis problems.