Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!
Episode 84: Chris Freye (Los Alamos) — Chromatography, Chemometrics, and the Science of Aging Explosives
Chris Freye, Ph.D., is a staff scientist in the High Explosives Science and Technology group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he uses GC×GC, UHPLC, UHPLC-IMS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry to study how high explosives and plastic-bonded explosives (PBXs) change over time.
In this episode, Chris discusses his path from rock climbing in the Pacific Northwest to a PhD under GC×GC pioneer Robert Synovec at the University of Washington, and how that training shaped his current work at Los Alamos. He walks through the unique safety and security realities of national lab chemistry, from handling gram-scale samples to retrieving material from magazines holding thousands of pounds of explosives, and explains why sample prep always starts with the scientific question rather than the instrument.
The conversation covers why LC has long been the gold standard for explosives analysis and why it only tells half the story, how his team developed vacuum GC×GC to elute volatile explosives before they decompose, and the accidental discovery that a GC inlet can double as an aging oven — compressing three-year explosive aging studies into two hours. Chris also explains why his team started finding PFAS in high explosives materials through fluoropolymer binders, the extraction method they had to invent after standard EPA protocols failed, and how chemometric tools like Alteration Analysis and Fisher ratio analysis let them distill billions of data points into a simple yes-or-no answer about chemical change.
Whether you work in chromatography, mass spectrometry, materials science, or just want a rare look inside high-explosives research, this episode covers the instrumentation, the chemistry, and the day-to-day reality of the work.
19 Oct 2026
Episode 83: Beyond DNA: Forensic Lubricant Analysis, DART-MS & Sexual Assault Evidence with Dr. Candice Bridge
When DNA is absent, incomplete, or difficult to interpret, what other evidence can help forensic investigators make meaningful connections?
In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, David Oliva speaks with Dr. Candice Bridge of the University of Central Florida and the National Center for Forensic Science about the emerging field of forensic lubricant analysis.
Dr. Bridge explains how chemical residues from sexual lubricants can support sexual-assault investigations by helping connect a victim, suspect, condom wrapper, or crime scene—especially when a usable DNA profile is unavailable. She discusses why DNA is not always the “silver bullet” people expect, why preserving limited evidence is essential, and how forensic laboratories prioritize the least destructive analysis first.
The conversation also explores the analytical chemistry behind lubricant evidence:
The chemical differences among water-, silicone-, oil-, and natural/edible-based lubricants
Why personal-care products such as lotions and oils can complicate forensic interpretation
The limitations of conventional GC-MS for high-mass polymers such as PDMS and PEG
How DART-TOF mass spectrometry enables rapid screening of complex forensic samples
Why extraction from cotton swabs and other evidence substrates remains a critical challenge
How solvent polarity affects recovery of lubricant components
How likelihood ratios, population studies, and retail-market data could help assess the rarity and evidentiary value of a recovered lubricant residue
Practical advice for undergraduate students considering careers in forensic science and analytical chemistry
Dr. Bridge also shares why she chose an underdeveloped research area, what it takes to build a new forensic discipline, and why students should pursue socially important scientific questions—even when funding and established protocols have not yet caught up.
Guest: Dr. Candice Bridge
Host: David Oliva
Podcast: Concentrating on Chromatography
Follow the podcast for conversations on chromatography, mass spectrometry, forensic science, sample preparation, laboratory technology, and careers in analytical chemistry.
12 Oct 2026
Episode 82: Ultra-Fast GC Meets Mass Spec: Measuring Forest Chemicals That Create Storm Clouds
He built a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer small enough to fit in a carry-on suitcase, then hauled it up a 43-meter tower in 100-degree Alabama heat to catch invisible forest chemicals in real time.
Austin "Augie" Dobrecevich, a PhD researcher at the University of Washington, joins Candi and David to break down how his ultra-fast GC captures a full chromatogram every single second, isomer-speciating the biogenic VOCs (like alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and limonene) that trees release into the atmosphere. Those compounds don't just disappear; they react with ozone and each other, eventually seeding the massive summer thunderstorms that roll over the southeast.
Augie walks through why traditional chemical ionization mass spec struggles to tell chemical isomers apart, how his fast GC front end solves that blind spot, and the engineering trade-offs required to make the whole system run on less power than a vacuum cleaner. The conversation also opens up into where this technology could go next, from oceanographic research to coral reef VOC sampling, and closes with a candid look at the patent process: provisional patents, university tech transfer offices, IP strategy, and the leap from writing research papers to pitching a business case.
Whether you're deep into analytical chemistry or just curious how scientists are learning to read the invisible chemistry of a forest, this episode covers both the technical detail and the real story of turning a lab prototype into something the world might actually use.
Guest: Austin Dobrecevich
Hosts: Candi Gokey and David Oliva
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
4,332
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
59
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
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