Training the Next Generation of Chromatographers

Nicholas H. Snow, recipient of the 2025 EAS Award for Outstanding Achievements in Separation Science, has spent more than three decades advancing gas chromatography (GC) and GC–MS through research, publications, and teaching. Beyond his contributions to instrumentation and analytical methods, Snow is deeply invested in the education and training of future chromatographers. As an academic department chair at Seton Hall, he has firsthand experience with the challenges facing chromatography education.

Snow observes that, despite technological advances in GC, the demand for well-trained analytical chemists remains high, yet the supply in the U.S. is limited. Industry often attracts top talent, leaving colleges with fewer experienced chromatographers to teach the next generation. Consequently, many students receive foundational exposure to GC and liquid chromatography from faculty without deep hands-on expertise. Snow argues that increasing the number of trained chromatographers in academia would help close this gap, ensuring students gain meaningful, practical experience.

In the meantime, Snow emphasizes the importance of professional development outside of traditional degree programs. He encourages managers and industrial leaders to send employees to conferences and short courses offered by organizations such as EAS, Pittcon, and ACS, where specialized training in chromatography can be delivered efficiently by experts and vendors. According to Snow, these opportunities remain among the most effective ways for professionals to acquire advanced skills and stay current with emerging trends in GC, including automation, miniaturization, and AI-assisted workflows.

The gas chromatography industry relies on high-quality training and a balance of foundational knowledge and modern innovations to build a skilled workforce ready to tackle today’s complex analytical challenges.