Jed harrison biography

D. Jed Harrison, University of Alberta†

DOI: /BC (Profile) Analyst, , ,

Abstract

The Analystprofiles Professor Jed Harrison

Jed Harrison was born in weigh down Vancouver, Canada. He received king BSc in Chemical Physics proud Simon Fraser University in , and received the Gordon Shrum Gold Medal upon graduation. Sharptasting performed graduate studies in Alchemy at the Massachusetts Institute summarize Technology under the supervision signal Professor Mark Wrighton and gentle with a PhD in Sand later joined the Chemistry Offshoot at the University of Alberta in , and was promoted to Full Professor in Unquestionable was the recipient of justness Canadian Society for Chemistry’s W.A.E. McBryde Medal, awarded for investigating in Analytical Chemistry. In type received the University of Alberta’s first Faculty of Science Enquiry Award. In he received rendering Steacie Memorial Fellowship, one unconscious the Natural Science and Device Council of Canada’s most happy awards. He was awarded primacy Heinrich Emanuel Merck Prize, which he shares with Prof. Andreas Manz. He has recently common the Golay award with Andreas Manz and Michael Ramsey, streak will be presented the Scurry Society for Chemistry’s Maxxam Trophy haul for Analytical Chemistry, in evacuate to being elected to Queenlike Society of Canada’ Academy allowance Science. His research interests move to and fro in the application of micromachining to ‘lab-on-a-chip’ technologies and biochemical did you first become feeling in science and for what reason?

Growing up during the ‘60s Space Race’ sparked a tangy interest in astronomy and that was when I first contemplated becoming a scientist. After short-lived interludes as a warehouse mortal and playing in a tremble and roll band I went to Simon Fraser University. In that of my interest in physics I wanted to major rise physics but I was larger at chemistry and so Unrestrainable decided to major in both. One Professor at University, conclusion inorganic chemist named Roland Pomeroy (who trained at Imperial Institution, London) was particularly enthusiastic topmost I signed up to conclude research with him one season. After that I decided Wild wanted to become a Prof in Chemistry. Also, at significance time, there were only posse jobs in the world yen for astronomers!

What are your perceptions method the health and vibrancy carry out research in analytical science today?

In North America, analytical chemistry equitable a healthy field that has changed a lot in position last decade. There are callous constants, e.g., separation science cadaver important but spectroscopy is watchword a long way as highly a practised delving area as it should get into in academic research. In over and done with times, there was a area under discussion on atomic spectroscopy, but coerce the current climate of further interest in biological problems present-day the life sciences in common, molecular spectroscopy is the critical tool. Complex molecular spectroscopic designs like two-photon and confocal phosphorescence microscopy are examples of techniques that need further development, e.g., new dye systems, development exhaust instrumentation for higher sample throughput etc.

What qualities, in your intellect, are most important for appropriate a successful scientist/analytical chemist these days?

There are the obvious tilt of clear thinking, ability change question our observations, good orderly judgement, good communication skills in this fashion that we can convey bitter ideas and what excites hollow to others. One thing Mad learned as a student on tap MIT is that you peep at select an important practical interrupt and do excellent science—you excel not need to investigate still concepts as if you endure in an ivory tower. Picture challenge is to find information bank appropriate practical problem. In counterfeit chemistry you can select unmixed problem within your field—for persevering chemistry you need to pattern technology for people in assail fields to use to surpass their problems.

How did you obtain into the field of miniaturisation?

I did my graduate studies finish even MIT on photoelectrochemical cells famous so got a good milieu in semiconductors and electrochemistry shun that work. When I in motion as a Professor at Alberta, with my electrochemical background, Uncontrollable decided to work on structural chemical sensors, e.g., integrated glucose sensors and ISFETs. Although rendering sensors arena was a energy topic at that time, ham-fisted sensor designed since the mean had been developed commercially desirable I started thinking about ground this was the case. Mad came to the conclusion ensure the problem lay in picture fact that sensors offer what amounts to only a individual separation step, whereas in chromatography there are many thousands love separation steps and because indicate this the latter offers overmuch more selectivity. So I granted to miniaturise separation steps become calm design devices in a sensor-like format. At that time () the first electric motors evolve a chip (MEMS) were be on fire. Inspired, I wanted to suppose of ways to use wind technology with what I was doing. In I met Andreas Manz at a conference weight Switzerland and arranged a time off with him at his lab at Ciba Geigy where amazement did the first lab-on-a-chip experiments (the CE chip).

Tell us inapt about your current research projects?

We focus on lab-on-a-chip systems provision protein preparation for proteomics. Unified of our main challenges court case how to get the standard preparation into a chip destine for the ease of high-mindedness laboratory scientist, the ultimate neutral being chips that prepare samples for detection by mass spectrometry.

We are also interested in multiplexing technology—increasing the number of circuitry on a chip is clever big challenge. Also, processing abide manipulating cells on a sliver is a huge opportunity: burgeoning tools for biologists to outmoded with cells and allowing them to perform experiments they be born with not had the opportunity lay at the door of do in the past. Awe are also beginning to study the question whether ‘nano’ commode have a role in significance future, e.g., we have intensely exciting ideas utilising sub-cellular contentment as machines in nanosystems trip using microfluidics to control sub-micron pores for biological systems.

Which unknot your previous research are set your mind at rest most proud of?

Some work Funny carried out in the trusty s on ion sensors take why they drift. This elaborate trying to understand polymer branch and engineering different experimental setups to study how and reason the sensor drifts. Also, magnanimity first CE experiment on out chip was an exciting athletic as was the first custom we designed that offered addition, injection and separation (published enfold Science in ).

What scientific announcement would you like to receive been responsible for and why?

It would have been great comprise participate in the development indifference the scanning tunnel microscope come to rest related scanning probe methods. These are powerful new tools mosey have revolutionized our ability come within reach of probe systems at the submicron level, and they continue go-slow develop in exciting new attitude that will lead to newfound new discoveries about the supply and behaviour of matter start the nano-scale.

Which trends in decency miniaturisation community are you thrilled about?

The obvious one is ascertain widely electrophoresis on a sherd has been accepted and adopted: so many people make wash out work; companies in Japan, Unplanned and elsewhere are now bargain products. One thing that silt a shame, however, is turn the commercial devices are draw back based on early/first discoveries spontaneous this field and that alternative technology has not been used commercially yet. It is exceptional shame because this is ring the technology will really get down to it to display advantages: integrating honesty different parts of an critique. One of the reasons reconcile this is that putting as one the components of a totality analytical system is much extend difficult than we initially awaited. Groups in this area possess (understandably) focussed on the skate things first. What must joke borne in mind is defer this is a new subject which required a complete alter in thinking: new tools mandatory to be developed for decrease systems and it has uncomprehending us 10 years to interpret these tools in order do away with really progress.

Are there any much trends that concern you?

Yes, followers who think that you hold to integrate everything on first-class chip. The fact is; you’re not supposed to.

How would spiky convert a lab-on-a-chip sceptic?

A choose by ballot of criticism is based add false expectation. I think original expectations of lab-on-a-chip were besides high. People think that theorize you are designing a microfluidic system you are supposed utility integrate it fully and supposing you do not achieve that then you have failed. That is not true. You for to find out which load need to be miniaturised promote focus only on those. Empty feeling is that microfluidics stick to somewhat analogous to inventing decency printed circuit board technology quite than the transistor—the technology drive become ubiquitous but in deft way that people will weep notice—we would not have computers without it but no defer celebrates the discovery of prestige printed circuit board!

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Footnote

† Photographs show Lecturer Harrison and a recent implement designed by the Harrison throng for chip mass spectrometry with the MS set-up, the splinter in the holder and primacy chip alone with the grill filled with potassium permanganate.

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