The research group "Instrumental Analytical Chemistry and Metabolomics" addresses separation science and mass spectrometry.
The group performs elemental ultratrace analysis down to sub-ng L -1 concentrations via ICP-MS in clean room laboratories. Moreover, it combines efficient separation techniques, i.e. HPLC, CE and GC with ICP-MS for elemental speciation analysis. We implement method developments into environmental projects (iron transport in the ocean, surface water analysis, platinum group elements and compounds), soil/plant research (root exudates, metal complexes in the rhizosphere, plant and microbial siderophores) and advanced wastewater treatment processes using ionic liquids.
In the field of metabolomics, the group uses tandem mass spectrometers (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS) for targeted quantification (metabolic profiling) of primary metabolites and intermediates in biological systems focussing mainly on biotechnological research and applications. In the same context, we use accurate mass time-of-flight systems (LC-TOFMS, GC-qTOFMS) for development of non-targeted analysis together with highly sophisticated chemometric data analysis methods. Currently ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry is a centrasl research topic. We are addressing 13C metabolic flux analysis by method development for measurement of accurate isotopologue and isotopomer ratios of selected metabolites in cell extracts. After calculation of isotopologue fractions, these data are transferred to bioinformatic modeling of metabolic fluxes.
In several projects, quantitative data is generated by advanced quantification strategies based on elemental labeling or isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Great importance is attached to determination of measurement uncertainty and uncertainty budgeting.
A list of recent publications is available at the BOKU research information system.
Collaborations/partners
The group is cooperating with academic and industrial partners within several research projects.
BOKU partners:
Ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Nicole Borth, Institute of Applied Microbiology and Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology – acib
(Biotechnological research)
Univ. Prof. Dr. Diethard Mattanovich, Institute of Applied Microbiology and Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology – acib (Biotechnological research)
PD Dr. Markus Puschenreiter, Institute of Soil Science
(Rhizosphere and plant/soil research)
Academia/Government:
Univ. Prof. Dr. Gunda Köllensperger, Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Vienna
(Metallomics and metabolomics projects within Metallomics Platform Vienna and acib)
Ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Regina Krachler, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna
(Iron transport in the ocean, ionic liquids)
Bundesministerium für Nachhaltigkeit und Tourismus
(BMNT, Nationale und internationale Wasserwirtschaft, Abteilung I/3)
Industry partners:
acib - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (Core facility metabolomics)
Agilent Technologies (Mass spectrometry based metabolomics)
F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Chemical analysis)
FFoQSI – Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (Mass spectrometry based food authenticity and provenance)
Sandoz Kundl (Metabolic profiling and metabolic flux analysis)
Staff
Principal Investigator:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stephan Hann
Department für Chemie
Universität für Bodenkultur
Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Wien
Österreich (Austria)
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5045-7293
Research topics: design of novel analytical strategies in mass spectrometry based metabolomics, elemental ultra-trace analysis and speciation; method validation; uncertainty of measurement
Senior Scientists:
Tim Causon, BSc (Hons), PhD
Department für Chemie
Universität für Bodenkultur
Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Wien
Österreich (Austria)
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1373-7493
Research topics: LC-MS based metabolomics, separation sciences, ion mobility mass spectrometry
Dr. Zora Jandric
Department für Chemie
Universität für Bodenkultur
Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Wien
Österreich (Austria)
Research topics: LC-MS based analysis in metabolomics and food authenticity
Dr. Christina Troyer
Department für Chemie
Universität für Bodenkultur
Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Wien
Österreich (Austria)
Research topics: GC-MS based metabolomics
Post-Docs:
Dr. Lisa Fischer
Research topics: ICP-MS, elemental ultra-trace analysis of surface water, ultra-trace speciation analysis
Technicians:
Halimat Ahmatova
LC-MS/MS analysis, sample preparation
Hedda Drexler
LC-TOFMS and LC-ICP-MS analysis, sample preparation
Simone Panholzer
technician at ACIB Core facility metabolomics
GC-MS/MS analysis, sample preparation
Philipp Tondl
GC-QTOFMS and GC-MS/MS analysis, sample preparation
Doctoral Students:
MSc Max Feuerstein
Thesis topic: Advanced mass spectrometry strategies for metabolomics
MSc Kaan Kutlucinar
Thesis topic: Development and application of non-targeted methods for water analysis
MSc Hung Le Si
Thesis topic: Non-targeted metabolomics with accurate mass spectrometry in food- and biotechnology
DI Stefan Nauer
Thesis topic: Typische und untypische Aromen der Sorte Grüner Veltliner (with Dr. Reinhard Eder, Höhere Bundeslehranstalt und Bundesamt für Wein- und Obstbau Klosterneuburg)
MSc Michael Urban
Thesis topic: GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS approaches for the determination of contaminants in food and feed (with LVA GmbH, Klosterneuburg, Austria)
MSc Hendri Wasito
Thesis topic: Non-targeted metabolomics with separation sciences and accurate mass spectrometry in biotechnology