Analytical Chemistry
Analytical chemistry identifies, quantifies, and characterizes matter’s composition. Using sophisticated instruments like mass spectrometers and chromatographs, our researchers measure chemical components in diverse samples—from pharmaceuticals to environmental specimens.
Essential across healthcare, environmental monitoring, forensics, and quality control, analytical chemistry enables contamination detection, product verification, and safety monitoring, continually advancing scientific discovery.
Members
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Professor Agar research characterizes post-translational modifications of proteins and changes in protein, peptide, and lipid expression that occur during ALS, and then determines which of these changes have structural or toxic consequences.
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Professor Barecka seeks to provide technically feasible and economically viable solutions for the transition to carbon neutrality.
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Professor Deravi investigates fundamental mechanisms behind systems in biology to better inform the design of new classes of protein-based biomaterials that may interface with or enhance the performance of humans.
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Professor Guo’s research interests include developing nuclear magnetic resonance and LC-MS based techniques for ligand screening and ligand-protein interaction studies.
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Professor Ivanov’s lab is interested in developing separation-and mass spectrometry-based technologies to answer challenging biomedical questions.
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Professor Lee-Parsons’s main research focus is the production of valuable pharmaceutical compounds from plant cell cultures, specifically the production of important anti-cancer drug molecules from cell cultures of Catharanthus roseus.
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The Skinner Lab uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to perform research at the interface of metabolism and proteomics.
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Professor Smotkin’s research is centered on the discovery of better materials for clean energy sources and processes.
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Professor Stubbins studies the natural carbon cycle, how humans are altering it, and plastics in the environment.
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The Tian lab focuses on the identification and quantification of known and unknown contaminants in our environment, to assess their risks to human health and the ecosystem.
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Professor Wales’s research centers on investigations of protein backbone dynamics using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HX MS).
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Professor Weng investigates how plants create diverse specialized compounds, focusing on understanding and harnessing biosynthetic pathways for medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications.
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Professor Zhou’s research applies protein chemistry, analysis and engineering to biology and medicine.
Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis
The Barnett Institute is a center of excellence in the development and application of technologies for biopharmaceutical characterization and proteomics and systems biology. Through its faculty, research scientists, and students, the Institute is improving possibilities every day for how we can address the challenging diseases and complex healthcare issues of the future.
Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems
At the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, we develop imaging tools to highlight chemical processes—enabling clinicians to better diagnose and treat disease. Our researchers collaborate to develop breakthrough imaging tools: Probe Development, Probe Delivery, Imaging Technologies, Animal Models, and Signal Processing.
Interested in working with us?
In the news
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News
Breakthrough ALS research: Free tool from Northeastern scientists could revolutionize drug development
Professor Jeffrey Agar, chemistry and chemical biology, is working with a team to revolutionize drug development, pointing to potential breakthroughs in ALS research. -
Research
How a Northeastern scientist is turning carbon dioxide into renewable ethanol
Assistant professor Magda Barecka is designing a chemical reactor that could produce renewable, carbon-neutral ethanol for use in fuels. Her research recently received support from the U.S. Department of Energy. -
Research
Squid are some of nature’s best camouflagers. Researchers have a new explanation for why
Research from Leila Deravi, associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology, has brought light to how squids use organs to help power their camouflage abilities. -
Research
Northeastern researchers find a faster and more sensitive way to study proteins, which could lead to advances in disease treatment
Northeastern researchers find a faster and more sensitive way to study proteins, which could lead to advances in disease treatment -
Research
Plastics found to be abundant at deep-sea levels, new research reports
Aaron Stubbins, professor of marine and environmental sciences, and Northeastern researchers have discovered have uncovered a “light smog” of microplastics drifting below the surface of the world’s oceans. -
Research
Scientists make major breakthrough that rewrites the understanding of plant evolution
Northeastern researchers led by Dr. Jing-Ke Weng trace the evolutionary history of moonseed, capable of a chemical reaction previously thought to be impossible for plants. What they found could have implications for designing new drugs.