RESEARCH FIELD

Analytical Chemistry

Analytical chemistry is the science of obtaining, processing, and communicating information about the composition and structure of matter. It underpins virtually every branch of science and industry, providing the quantitative and qualitative measurements needed to characterise materials from environmental samples to pharmaceuticals and advanced materials. Core subfields include mass spectrometry, spectroscopy (NMR, IR, UV-Vis, Raman), chromatographic separations (HPLC, GC, LC-MS), electroanalytical methods, and chemometrics for multivariate data analysis. Transformative technologies include tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography for trace-level detection, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for elemental analysis, and lab-on-a-chip microfluidic platforms for point-of-care diagnostics. Analytical chemists collaborate with pharmaceutical scientists, environmental engineers, food scientists, and forensic investigators. The discipline is fundamental to drug discovery, quality control, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics, attracting sustained public and industrial investment globally.