Pittcon 2024: An Interview with Tom Linz

Tom Linz, the 2023 recipient of the ACS Analytical Division Satinder Ahuja Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science, is a chemist recognized for his outstanding contributions in the field. After completing his PhD at the University of Kansas under Professor Susan Lunte's mentorship in 2013, Linz pursued postdoctoral research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Professor J. Michael Ramsey.

Currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Wayne State University, Linz leads the Linz Laboratory, which specializes in the development of innovative lab-on-a-chip technologies. These cutting-edge devices integrate sample preparation, preconcentration, and various analytical techniques such as microchip electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis, or immunoassays. By combining these functionalities into a single platform, Linz's team aims to enhance biochemical measurements, surpassing the capabilities of conventional instrumentation. Their research focuses on employing these novel bioanalytical strategies to investigate fundamental biological processes implicated in disease pathogenesis. Through their work, they aim to uncover biomedical insights that remain inaccessible with current state-of-the-art technologies.

LCGC International sat down with Linz to discuss the following topics:

• Explain the significance of the Satinder Ahuja Award. What does it mean to you and your career to receive this honor? (0:12)
• What did you present here at Pittcon and how does the subject matter align with your work as a whole? (1:24)
• What’s coming next for you and your research group? (2:48)
• Other than receiving your award and presenting, what have you enjoyed most about this week? (3:34)