What level of chemitsry do i need to be good at MS?

[seamoro]

i have degree 4 year degree in biopharmaceutical science 5 years research experience with HPLC and now im doing a Masters in biotechnology...i have a 6 month research project and i would like to do it on MS....i have very little MS experience and i dont think my chemistry is that strong...but does it need to be strong for MS?

[Don_Hilton]

It depends on what you are trying to do with the MS. Some understanding of chemistry is needed to understand the assiciation between an analyte and the formation of a molecuar ion. If you want to use MS to do an analysis of a series of target compounds, you may not need much more. At a minimum, you need to know enough that you can make any admustements needed to ensure reasonable conditions for ionization. On the other hand, if you wish to use CID techniques to elucidate and/or prove structures - it is all chemistry - and requres knowledge of chemical reactions and some experience.

You will need to be able to explain your logic and conclusions in any report on your research. And, if you are doing research on MS, you will need to explain the novelty of your approach as compaired to previous work - in terms of what is unique about using the MS in the way you choose to use it.

[seamoro]

My research project can be nearly on anything i want and i dont need to have publication at the end of it. I would love to do it on some protein analysis coupling that with hplc and with some other bioanalytical tools. You think i can learn MS in 6 months cause that is how long i have for the project?...please give me advice

[Don_Hilton]

Research begins with what you know - and a gap in knowedge. You look in the literature to see if someone has addressed the issue and how well. At some point you discover that what you do not know is something that nobody eles knows either and you then set about to answer the question.

So, I have no idea of what you know or what sorts of unanswered questions you have. And, for a six month project your question could be as simple as "Wouldn't it be eaasier to ..." and then adjust some analytical procedure that you have used in the past.

Talk with those who work around you and your advisor. Talking with people who know you may help you select a project that can be completed in six months using your background and resources available to you.

Otherwise, the two projects I can think of for LC-MS are: 1) universal detection, such as in GC-MS and 2) detection at robust part per trillion levels injected on the LC. (Either would take longer than six months - and a lot of knowledge)