From Classroom to Lab: Training Chemists to Apply Analytical Science in Practice

Education and mentorship play a central role in shaping the future of analytical chemistry. In this interview with LCGC International, David S. Hage, James Hewett University Professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and recipient of the 2025 Eastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Separation Science, shares his approach to teaching the next generation of chemists. He emphasizes the importance of instilling critical thinking skills, a rigorous understanding of data quality, method validation, and the real-world applicability of analytical techniques.

Hage’s research focuses on advancing affinity chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and hybrid analytical platforms to tackle complex biological and environmental matrices. His laboratory pursues four interconnected research areas:

• Chromatographic immunoassays that combine high specificity with traditional separation techniques,
• Biological interaction studies using affinity methods to quantify binding kinetics and stoichiometry,
• Innovative supports and immobilization strategies that enhance robustness, selectivity, and analytical performance, and
• Miniaturized and microfluidic separation systems designed for rapid analysis in personalized medicine and environmental applications.

Hage has authored more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and book chapters, including the authoritative Handbook of Affinity Chromatography. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Chromatography B, is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a member of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the ACS Chromatography Award, the ISMR/Pierce Award in Affinity Technology, the Eastern Analytical Symposium Award for Separation Science, and the AACC Young Investigator Award, as well as institutional awards such as the University of Nebraska’s Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Hage is the lead author of Analytical Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis and has contributed to multiple reference texts in analytical chemistry. His teaching and mentoring have been recognized with the College Distinguished Teaching Award, the Excellence in Graduate Education Award, and the Lily Sands Legacy Award, along with international recognition from the IFCC and the AACC for outstanding contributions to education.