DMF-NMR development

The biggest challenge was getting our microfluidic devices to operate reliably inside the bore of the superconducting magnet in an NMR spectrometer.

My research group and I developed digital microfluidic devices and methods and then worked with Andre Simpson’s group to develop methods to interface with NMR.

My team has deep and long-standing expertise in microfluidics. Professor Simpson’s team is similarly positioned with regards to NMR measurements and applications. Our colleagues at Bruker brought expertise in NMR instrumentation. Together, these disparate strengths came together to support a project that was much more than the sum of its parts.

We are working with the Simpson group to develop microfluidic chambers for in-vivo manipulation of microscopic sentinel species for environmental applications.

It is impossible to imagine modern research without collaborations and collaborating internationally (without borders) means that we are able to work with the best of the best.

Good research culture gives the researchers the freedom to explore curiosities and unexpected observations, while being opportunistic in how interesting results can be applied.

Chemistry is known as the 'central science' because it underpins nearly every part of the world that we touch, see, smell, and hear, and taste – it is thus a natural fit for anyone who is curious about the world around them. But as a matter of principle, I always encourage young (and young-at-heart) people to think outside the boundaries of disciplines to explore the world while wearing whatever disciplinary 'hat' (including ‘Chemistry’ and other hats) that is needed to address the most interesting questions at hand.

My team is motivated by the challenge of attempting to do things that have not been done before.

Absolutely, the technology has potential for use for environmental monitoring around the world, many areas of chemical and pharmaceutical research and even potential for rapid disease diagnosis, for example metabolic screening in blood spots.

I think we have developed some very futuristic chemical tools. It can take years to discover a new material. By teaching a computer how to control, mix and analyse you can develop automated systems that can accelerate the process which could lead to better performing and more environmentally friendly chemicals and materials in the future. 

Don’t worry about taking risks or trying things just because others tell you it cannot be done. All the big discoveries in my career have come from high-risk projects where we tried something “outside the box”. The world of chemistry is diverse and exciting, if you feel you have something interesting and impactful, then definitely apply.

Our team included scientists from Canada, the US, Germany and Switzerland. In my area of research, collaboration is essential. In science, questions are getting more and more complex. For example, a hundred years ago chemists would study the structure of a single chemical, now people ask how does a giant protein fold inside the cell wall of a living organism? To answer such questions, you need larger interdisciplinary teams. I believe collaboration is essential in nearly all areas of modern science.

I believe international collaboration is important for all the sciences. There are valuable perspectives from different countries that someone in Canada, for example, may not consider. Being able to bring these ideas and perspectives together leads to more accessible science, that can more easily be replicated on an international level.

This is an important question, as research can be an incredibly competitive, and sometimes isolating environment. There have been dramatic changes to creating more inclusive spaces in the last few years, but there is still a long way to go. Good research culture is creating an environment that encourages collaboration, not just internationally, or with other research groups, but within the same lab as well.

Chemistry is essential to all life on Earth. For our research, we have to understand physio-chemical properties to understand how droplets move on DMF chips, and how the chemicals we use during an exposure will interact within an organism on a molecular level. However, it is also important to not just consider chemistry “in isolation”. We couldn’t conduct the research we do without understanding the complex mathematics and physics that went into designing and creating the NMR system, or understanding the evolution and reproduction of the living organisms we use. I believe that all these fields are important because they allow us to gain a greater understanding of the world around us, and how different things can, and do interact.