AOAC Annual Meeting & Conference—Boca Raton, FL, USA
I attended the 128th AOAC Annual Meeting in Boca Raton. I attended the 10th stakeholder meeting of AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition (SPIFAN) and the Expert Review Panel (ERP) to discuss the current developments in methods of analysis for infant formula and reviewing and developing standards for global acceptance. The nucleotides method I developed was endorsed by SPIFAN Expert Review Panel as an Official Final Action Method (AOAC 2011.20).
Boca Raton is warm and humid, and the poolside was the place to be to cool off after talking science all day.
AOAC Editorial Board appointment—Gaithersburg, MD, USA
I was appointed to the Editorial Board AOAC International, which oversees all publications including the Journal of AOAC International and is tasked with ensuring the highest standards of quality are maintained. My first 3-year term beings at the annual meeting in September.
SPIFAN meetings at AOAC Mid-Year Meeting—Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Attended the 9th stakeholder meeting of AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition (SPIFAN) and the Expert Review Panel (ERP) to discuss the current developments in methods of analysis for infant formula and reviewing and developing standards for global acceptance.
Paper accepted for publication entitled "Application of an LC-UV method to estimate lutein recovery during infant formula manufacture" to be published in the International Dairy Journal. This paper describes the evaluation of lutein recovery through the manufacture of pediatric formula, confirming that lutein loss through the entire process is insignificant.
The installation of the much-anticipated triple quadrupole mass spectrometer occurs today. The coupling of this instrument to a liquid chromatography system is a widely used analytical technique for quantitative and qualitative analysis.
The ion source allows for the ionisation of various semi-volatile, thermally labile, and polar to nonpolar compounds in trace levels. These ions are then separated by molecular mass through a series of quadrupoles and identified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The first quadrupole (Q1) filters a specific precursor ion of interest. Ions generated in the ion source having a different mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) cannot pass Q1. The collision cell (Q2) is optimized to produce a characteristic product ion by collision of the precursor ion with a neutral collision gas, such as nitrogen. Generated product ions are transferred into the third quadrupole (Q3) where only a specific m/z is allowed to pass on to the detector; all other product ions are filtered out in Q3.
We will be able to use the LC‑MS for detecting analytes that are difficult or impossible by many other techniques.
University of Waikato Graduation Ceremony—Hamilton, New Zealand
Attended the University of Waikato Graduation Ceremony at which I was presented with my doctoral degree by the Chancellor of University of Waikato and former New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Jim Bolger. I was pleased that the family could be there to witness the ceremony.
Paper accepted for publication entitled "Biotin content of paediatric formulae, early lactation milk and seasonal bovine milk powders by biosensor immunoassay" to be published in the International Dairy Journal. This paper describes the development of an optical biosensor assay utilising a monoclonal antibody for the quantitation of the biotin content of milk and paediatric formula.
I attended the 127th AOAC Annual Meeting in Boca Raton. I attended the 8th stakeholder meeting of AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition (SPIFAN) and the Expert Review Panel (ERP) to discuss the current developments in methods of analysis for infant formula and reviewing and developing standards for global acceptance. The nucleotides method I developed was endorsed by SPIFAN Expert Review Panel as an Official Final Action Method (AOAC 2011.20).
I love Chicago as a city to visit. The wnids off the lake made it pleasant to walk around and there were many restaurants to choose from for dinner. The "bean" was my favourite and I took many photos.
AOAC Annual Meeting & Conference—Boca Raton, FL, USA
I attended the 128th AOAC Annual Meeting in Boca Raton. I attended the 10th stakeholder meeting of AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition (SPIFAN) and the Expert Review Panel (ERP) to discuss the current developments in methods of analysis for infant formula and reviewing and developing standards for global acceptance. The nucleotides method I developed was endorsed by SPIFAN Expert Review Panel as an Official Final Action Method (AOAC 2011.20).
Boca Raton is warm and humid, and the poolside was the place to be to cool off after talking science all day.
Promotion—Waitoa, New Zealand
I have been promoted to Senior Research Scientist from my previous role as Research Scientist.
AOAC Editorial Board appointment—Gaithersburg, MD, USA
I was appointed to the Editorial Board AOAC International, which oversees all publications including the Journal of AOAC International and is tasked with ensuring the highest standards of quality are maintained. My first 3-year term beings at the annual meeting in September.
SPIFAN meetings at AOAC Mid-Year Meeting—Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Attended the 9th stakeholder meeting of AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition (SPIFAN) and the Expert Review Panel (ERP) to discuss the current developments in methods of analysis for infant formula and reviewing and developing standards for global acceptance.
Paper accepted for publication
Paper accepted for publication entitled "Application of an LC-UV method to estimate lutein recovery during infant formula manufacture" to be published in the International Dairy Journal. This paper describes the evaluation of lutein recovery through the manufacture of pediatric formula, confirming that lutein loss through the entire process is insignificant.
LC-MS Installation—Waitoa, New Zealand
The installation of the much-anticipated triple quadrupole mass spectrometer occurs today. The coupling of this instrument to a liquid chromatography system is a widely used analytical technique for quantitative and qualitative analysis.
The ion source allows for the ionisation of various semi-volatile, thermally labile, and polar to nonpolar compounds in trace levels. These ions are then separated by molecular mass through a series of quadrupoles and identified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The first quadrupole (Q1) filters a specific precursor ion of interest. Ions generated in the ion source having a different mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) cannot pass Q1. The collision cell (Q2) is optimized to produce a characteristic product ion by collision of the precursor ion with a neutral collision gas, such as nitrogen. Generated product ions are transferred into the third quadrupole (Q3) where only a specific m/z is allowed to pass on to the detector; all other product ions are filtered out in Q3.
We will be able to use the LC‑MS for detecting analytes that are difficult or impossible by many other techniques.
University of Waikato Graduation Ceremony—Hamilton, New Zealand
Attended the University of Waikato Graduation Ceremony at which I was presented with my doctoral degree by the Chancellor of University of Waikato and former New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Jim Bolger. I was pleased that the family could be there to witness the ceremony.
Paper accepted for publication
Paper accepted for publication entitled "Biotin content of paediatric formulae, early lactation milk and seasonal bovine milk powders by biosensor immunoassay" to be published in the International Dairy Journal. This paper describes the development of an optical biosensor assay utilising a monoclonal antibody for the quantitation of the biotin content of milk and paediatric formula.
AOAC Annual Meeting & Conference—Chicago, IL, USA
I attended the 127th AOAC Annual Meeting in Boca Raton. I attended the 8th stakeholder meeting of AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition (SPIFAN) and the Expert Review Panel (ERP) to discuss the current developments in methods of analysis for infant formula and reviewing and developing standards for global acceptance. The nucleotides method I developed was endorsed by SPIFAN Expert Review Panel as an Official Final Action Method (AOAC 2011.20).
I love Chicago as a city to visit. The wnids off the lake made it pleasant to walk around and there were many restaurants to choose from for dinner. The "bean" was my favourite and I took many photos.
Laboratory visit—Beijing, China
Visited laboratories in China to learn various GB methods.
My first visit to an Asian city and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The Forbidden City was definitely a highlight.