My research focuses on two distinct areas: chemical derivatization using Trimethylation Enhancement by Diazomethane (TrEnDi) and chemical attribution profiling of illicit substances. In the Smith Lab, TrEnDi has been applied to a variety of molecules such lipids, herbicides, and drugs to enhance analyte sensitivity when analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This improvement is achieved by fixating a permanent positive charge on amino residues and removing the zwitterionic character of molecules through methylation. My work aims to expand the applicability of TrEnDi and optimize existing methods to further improve the sensitivity of TrEnDi-modified molecules beyond what has previously been reported.
In parallel, my second research stream focuses on chemical attribution profiling, a field in forensic chemistry that investigates impurity profiles and isotopic signatures present in a sample to help associate said sample with a potential manufacturer or geographic origin. My work aims to develop an automated method capable of rapidly characterizing impurities and isotopic signatures.