Advancing Liquid Atmospheric Pressure (LAP) MALDI Mass Spectrometry

MALDI

mass spectrometry has been a cornerstone of modern biological mass

spectrometry, enabling the soft ionization, analysis and characterisation of

large biomolecules such as proteins. It has been a game changer in areas such

as clinical microbiology and imaging as well as in the analysis of synthetic

polymers and other macromolecules. This project will take the conventional

solid (crystalline) MALDI methodology to the next level by further developing

and advancing its liquid counterpart. As shown in our previous work, liquid

MALDI as applied to modern atmospheric pressure mass spectrometers can

advance MALDI analysis by adding greater ion signal stability, faster

sample-to-sample analysis times and ESI-like ion formation, leading to

mutliply charged analyte ions. These advantages will be further investigated

and applied to a range of applications and analyte molecules. Possible

application areas are clinical and veterinary diagnostics, environmental

analysis, forensics, pharmaceutical analysis, and industrial polymer

analysis. Applicants can express interest by providing a CV or they can

submit a formal application through the university systems using the

following link: http://www.reading.ac.uk/pgapply – any questions on the

application process should be directed to chem-pgadmin@reading.ac.uk.