Columns | Column: Incognito

After 14 years in print, Incognito’s last article takes a look at what has changed over a career in chromatography, but it predominantly focuses on what the future might hold in terms of theory, technology, and working practices.

Most analytical chemists believe their pipetting technique is infallible, but few of us are actually following all of the recommendations within the relevant guidance. Incognito investigates good pipetting practice and busts some of the urban myths behind what is probably the most widely used analytical tool.

Is it time to get back to the fundamentals of analytical chemistry? Incognito thinks the time is nigh.

Incognito considers the future of laboratory training, questions the quality of current practices, and assesses the “easy wins” that can be learned across industries.

Incognito asks what the COVID lockdowns have taught us, and discusses how the lessons learned can shape the future of working and work-spaces, post-pandemic.

What does a best-in-class laboratory workplace look like?

Incognito navigates the potentially precarious path to a successful relationship with a contract research organization (CRO).

Incognito is thinking long-term. Is there scope for hope in the future?

Calling all innovators (or anyone seeking to justify a new instrument purchase)!

Evolve or die!

Incognito recalls the words of wisdom from an “old-school” supervisor who mentored him on the art of effective trace analysis.

Incognito scrutinizes the behaviour of baby boomers and Generation X, Y, and Z in the laboratory. What do they want from the workplace?

Incognito wonders if chromatographers are happy with their choice of career.

Can we see the wood for the trees?

Incognito looks to a paradigm shift.

Incognito looks to a paradigm shift.

Incognito asks if chromatographers are behind the curve when it comes to automation.

Is it time to update your working practices?

Incognito focuses on a big challenge in regulated analytical chemistry laboratories.

Incognito demands that we aim high when presenting our work on chromatography.

A new year means a fresh start. Incognito suggests some resolutions to help chromatographers succeed in 2018.

How much chemistry do you really know?

Incognito wonders if chromatographers are just plain lazy.

Incognito wonders where we are, where we have been, and where we are going digitally in the analytical laboratory.

Do you understand the benefits of selectivity as a method development opportunity?

How do you deal with problems that arise in the laboratory?

Incognito delves into some statistics on chromatography research, and is unsettled by what he finds.

Incognito offers his advice on how to be a leader rather than a manager.

Incognito suggests that chromatographers are not exploring the full potential of their “state-of-the-art” instruments.

Do you produce data or information?