The 2026 LCGC Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Leader in Chromatography Awards

Jack Henion and Bob W.J. Pirok are the winners of the 19th annual LCGC International Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Leader in Chromatography Awards, respectively. The LCGC International Awards honor the work of talented separation scientists at different stages in their career (Table 1). The award winners will be honored in March in an oral symposium at the Pittcon 2026 conference to be held March 7–11, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

The Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2026 Lifetime Achievement in Chromatography Award honors an outstanding and experienced professional for a lifetime of contributions to the advancement of chromatographic techniques and applications and is selected by a neutral panel of experts.

Jack Henion, the 2026 winner, is a pioneer in chromatography–mass spectrometry. He is Emeritus Professor of Analytical Toxicology at Cornell University, adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson University, and co-founder of Advion. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Henion has made foundational contributions to the coupling of liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC–MS), most notably through the development of pneumatically assisted electrospray ionization (EI “Ion Spray”). This innovation enabled practical atmospheric-pressure ionization for LC–MS and profoundly influenced pharmaceutical analysis, environmental chemistry, and clinical diagnostics. Henion’s work encompasses more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, multiple issued U.S. patents, extensive mentoring and teaching, and sustained service to professional societies. This article reviews his research focus, major scientific contributions, patent and publication record, honors, and service to the analytical science community.

Introduction

The development of LC–MS represents one of the most consequential advances in analytical chemistry of the late twentieth century. Among the scientists who shaped this evolution, Henion occupies a central position. His work addressed one of the most persistent technical challenges in analytical science: the efficient coupling of high-flow liquid chromatographic separations with sensitive and robust mass spectrometric detection (1,2).

Henion received his education from three New York state institutions. He received his BA degree in chemistry from Alfred University, his MS degree in chemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology, and his doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry from the State University at Albany. His post-doctoral work was completed at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Henion served for more than 24 years as a professor at Cornell University, where he led a major research laboratory in analytical toxicology. He later became Emeritus Professor while continuing his scientific and industrial activities as co-founder of Advion, a company recognized for its innovations in LC–MS instrumentation and contract analytical services. Across academia, industry, and professional societies, Henion’s contributions have consistently focused on translating fundamental ionization concepts into practical, high-impact analytical tools (3).

Main Research Topics

Atmospheric Pressure Ionization for LC–MS

A defining theme of Henion’s research has been the development of atmospheric pressure ionization (API) interfaces for mass spectrometry. Prior to the mid-1980s, LC–MS coupling was constrained by interfaces that struggled with solvent load, flow rate, and analyte stability. Henion’s work on pneumatically assisted electrospray addressed these issues directly, enabling stable ion formation from conventional LC eluents under atmospheric conditions (1).

Hyphenated Separation Techniques

Beyond reversed-phase LC–MS, Henion’s research explored the coupling of mass spectrometry with multiple separation modalities, including capillary gas chromatography (GC–MS), supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC–MS), ion chromatography (IC–MS), and capillary electrophoresis (CE–MS). These studies demonstrated the broad applicability of API-based MS detection across diverse analytical challenges in pharmaceutical, environmental, and biochemical analysis (4).

Miniaturization and Chip-Based Electrospray

In later phases of his career, Henion contributed to the development of chip-based nano-electrospray and microfluidic LC–MS systems. These approaches reduced sample consumption while improving sensitivity and reproducibility, particularly for bioanalytical and proteomic workflows. Such developments also formed part of Advion’s commercial technology portfolio (5).

Major Research Contributions

Development of the Ion Spray Interface

Henion’s most widely recognized contribution is the development of the Ion Spray interface, reported in a landmark 1987 publication co-authored with Andries Bruins and Thomas Covey (1). The interface combined ion evaporation with pneumatic nebulization, enabling efficient ionization of analytes from LC effluent at atmospheric pressure. This work demonstrated orders-of-magnitude improvements in sensitivity compared with then-available LC detection methods and earlier LC–MS interfaces.

The Ion Spray paper has been cited more than 1,000 times, reflecting its enduring impact on analytical chemistry (1). Importantly, the technology was rapidly commercialized through collaboration with Sciex, where Covey helped integrate Ion Spray with the API III triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. This instrument became a mainstay of pharmaceutical bioanalysis and regulatory laboratories worldwide (2,6).

Establishing Atmospheric Pressure LC–MS as a Standard Tool

Henion’s work helped establish atmospheric pressure LC–MS as a routine and reliable analytical technique. Concepts originating from Ion Spray now underpin modern electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interfaces used across the analytical sciences (2). These approaches are now fundamental in drug development, toxicology, environmental monitoring, and clinical diagnostics, including newborn metabolic screening programs (7).

Impact on Clinical and Applied Analysis

More than three decades after its introduction, Ion Spray-based LC–MS remains integral to clinical laboratories and regulated bioanalytical workflows. Henion’s research also extended to novel sampling formats, such as dried plasma spot cards, which have found application in anti-doping science and clinical testing (8).

Summary of Issued U.S. Patents and Publications

Henion is credited with 13 issued U.S. patents, primarily focused on atmospheric pressure ionization, mass spectrometer inlets, and related interface technologies (9). Representative patents include designs for complementary API sources and ionization inlets that improve robustness and analytical performance.

His scholarly output includes more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, covering fundamental ionization science, instrumental development, and applied LC–MS methods. These publications document the evolution of LC–MS from an experimental technique to a mature analytical platform and continue to be widely cited across analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry literature (3,5).

In recognition of his international scientific impact, Henion has received Doctor Honoris Causadegrees from the University of Ghent (Belgium), Uppsala University (Sweden), and the University at Albany (10).

Service to the Scientific Community

Service to the scientific community has been a defining aspect of Henion’s career. He has delivered advanced LC–MS short courses at ASMS and other international conferences for decades, reaching thousands of scientists (6). He has mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and industrial scientists, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia, industry, and government laboratories.

Henion has also served multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) and has been an active reviewer and advisor for journals, conferences, and scientific organizations. Through these efforts, he has played a sustained role in shaping the direction and standards of the mass spectrometry community (6).

References

(1) Bruins, A. P.; Covey, T. R.; Henion, J. D. Ion Spray Interface for Combined Liquid Chromatography/Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Anal. Chem 1987, 59 (22), 2642–2646. DOI: 10.1021/ac00149a003

(2) Fenn, J. B.; Mann, M.; Meng, C. K. et al. Electrospray Ionization for Mass Spectrometry of Large Biomolecules. Science 1989, 246, 64–71. DOI: 10.1126/science.2675315

(3) Henion, J. D. Faculty Profile. Thomas Jefferson University. https://www.jefferson.edu/academics/colleges-schools-institutes/health-professions/emerging-health-professions/faculty-staff/faculty/henion.html (accessed 2025-12-16).

(4) Brewer, E.; Henion, J. D. Atmospheric Pressure Ionization LC/MS/MS Techniques for Drug Disposition Studies. J. Pharm. Sci 1998, 87 (4), 395–402. DOI: 10.1021/js9701059

(5) Advion, Inc. Company History and Technology Overview. https://www.advion.com (accessed 2025-12-16).

(6) American Society for Mass Spectrometry. John B. Fenn Award for Distinguished Contribution in Mass Spectrometry: Jack Henion. https://www.asms.org/about-asms-awards/distinguished-contribution (accessed 2025-12-16).

(7) Covey, T. R.; Lee, E. D.; Bruins, A. P. et al. Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Anal. Chem 1986, 58 (14), 1451A–1461A. DOI: 10.1021/ac00127a767

(8) Ryona, I.; Henion, J. A. A Book-Type Dried Plasma Spot Card for Automated Flow-Through Elution Coupled with Online SPE-LC-MS/MS Bioanalysis of Opioids and Stimulants in Blood. Anal. Chem 2016, 88 (22), 11229–11237. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b03691

(9) Henion, J. D. Patents Assigned to Jack Henion. Justia Patents Database. https://patents.justia.com/inventor/jack-henion (accessed 2025-12-16).

(10) Jack Henion Biography and Honors. Cannabis Sci. 2021. https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/jack-henion-joins-cannabis-science-and-technology-s-editorial-advisory-board (accessed 2025-12-16).

The Emerging Leader Award

The LCGC Emerging Leader in Chromatography Award recognizes the achievements and aspirations of a talented early-career separation scientist who has made strides toward the advancement of chromatography techniques or applications.

Bob W. J. Pirok, the 2026 winner, is an associate professor at the University of Amsterdam whose research focuses on comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC), automated method development, and chemometric data analysis. Within a few years of completing his PhD in 2019, he has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and established an internationally visible research program at the interface of separation science, statistics, and artificial intelligence. His work addresses long-standing challenges in LC×LC, including method complexity, data interpretation, and experimental optimization, with the goal of transforming advanced chromatographic techniques into practical and robust analytical tools. This article reviews Pirok’s scientific trajectory, main research themes, most influential contributions, teaching and mentoring activities, and service to the chromatography community, providing context for his selection as the recipient of the 2026 LCGC International Emerging Leader in Chromatography Award.

Introduction

Liquid chromatography continues to advance as analytical challenges grow in complexity, driven by applications ranging from polymer science and biopharmaceuticals to cultural heritage, forensic science, and industrial process monitoring. LC×LC offers unparalleled separation power, yet its widespread adoption has historically been limited by instrumental complexity, demanding method development, and challenging data interpretation. Over the past decade, efforts to address these barriers have increasingly drawn on chemometrics, retention modeling, and automated optimization strategies.

Pirok has emerged as a prominent figure in this evolution. Educated and trained at the University of Amsterdam, Pirok completed his PhD in 2019 with the distinction cum laude, presenting a body of work that already demonstrated a distinctive approach: integrating separation science fundamentals with data-driven tools to make analytically incompatible techniques compatible. Since then, he has continued to develop methods, algorithms, and workflows that reduce the practical barriers to advanced chromatography while preserving analytical rigor. His research is characterized by close interaction between theory, instrumentation, and application, as well as sustained collaboration with academic and industrial partners.

Main Research Topics

Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography

A central theme of Pirok’s work is the development and optimization of LC×LC. His early and continuing research has addressed fundamental questions related to orthogonality, modulation, and utilization of the two-dimensional separation space. In a widely cited review, Pirok and co-authors analyzed recent developments in two-dimensional liquid chromatography, emphasizing practical improvements that enable broader application of the technique (1). This work provided a framework for understanding how instrumental design, gradient strategies, and data handling collectively determine performance.

Pirok has contributed to innovations in modulation strategies, including thermal and stationary-phase-assisted modulation, aimed at reducing band broadening and improving peak capacity (2). These studies combine experimental investigation with theoretical considerations, reflecting his emphasis on understanding mechanisms rather than relying solely on empirical optimization.

Automated Method Development and Retention Modeling

Method development in LC and LC×LC is traditionally labor-intensive and dependent on expert intuition. Pirok has worked extensively on algorithmic and automated approaches to method development, particularly using retention modeling and gradient-scanning techniques. His work on peak-tracking algorithms and interpretive optimization has provided tools that allow chromatographic systems to “learn” from experimental data (3).

More recently, Pirok has been involved in the application of Bayesian optimization and closed-loop strategies to gradient design, demonstrating how machine learning concepts can be translated into practical chromatographic workflows (4). These approaches reduce experimental effort while maintaining transparency and interpretability—an important consideration in regulated and industrial environments.

Chemometrics, Statistics, and Artificial Intelligence

Chemometrics forms the connective tissue of much of Pirok’s research. His work emphasizes that advanced separations generate high-dimensional data that must be analyzed with appropriate statistical rigor. Contributions include comparative evaluations of background-correction algorithms in chromatography, providing guidance on data preprocessing choices that directly affect quantitative outcomes (5).

In LC×LC, where data complexity is especially high, Pirok has co-developed automated feature-mining approaches based on mass-remainder analysis and multivariate methods (6). These tools enable systematic extraction of chemically meaningful information from large datasets, particularly in polymer analysis.

Hyphenation and Integration of Separation and Reaction Devices

Another recurring theme in Pirok’s work is the integration of chromatographic separations with other analytical or reaction platforms. Examples include the coupling of LC×LC with mass spectrometry, photochemical degradation cells, and microreactors for studying reaction pathways and material transformations (7). These hyphenated approaches extend chromatography beyond separation alone, positioning it as a central component of multidimensional analytical workflows.

Career Highlights

Pirok was born in 1987 in Den Helder, the Netherlands. He completed his MSc in analytical chemistry at the University of Amsterdam, followed by doctoral research conducted in close collaboration with industrial partners including Shell, DSM, and Heineken. His PhD thesis, “Making Analytically Incompatible Approaches Compatible (MANIAC),” consisted of 16 chapters, including 14 peer-reviewed publications, and set the foundation for his later work (8).

After earning his PhD in 2019, Pirok was appointed tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Amsterdam within the van ’t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, and was promoted to associate professor in early 2025. He founded the Chemometrics and Advanced Separations Team (CAST), which has grown to include a substantial cohort of PhD, MSc, and BSc researchers. In parallel, he has maintained strong international ties as a visiting research professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in the United States and as a visiting researcher at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

Most Influential Research

Among Pirok’s most influential contributions is his work on automated interpretive method development in liquid chromatography. A 2022 Analytical Chemistry paper described chemometric strategies for fully automated method development, integrating peak tracking, retention modeling, and optimization algorithms into a coherent workflow (9).

Pirok’s earlier work on peak-tracking algorithms in LC×LC addressed a critical bottleneck in two-dimensional separations: the reliable alignment and interpretation of peaks across changing conditions (3). By providing robust computational tools, this research enabled more systematic comparison of experiments and facilitated automation.

Pirok has also applied LC×LC to challenging real-world samples, including polymers and cultural-heritage materials. His study on dye extracts from historical objects demonstrated how state-of-the-art LC×LC–MS, combined with optimized modulation and gradients, can resolve complex mixtures that are otherwise analytically intractable (10).

Key Awards and Honors

Pirok’s early career has been marked by a series of international recognitions. These include the Shimadzu Young Scientist Award at HPLC 2015, the SCM-8 and SCM-9 Young Scientist Awards, the Csaba Horváth Young-Scientist Award at HPLC 2017, and the Journal of Chromatography Young-Scientist Award at ISCC 2018.

Service to the Scientific Community

In addition to research, Pirok has made substantial contributions to education and professional service. He is recognized as an effective and popular teacher within the University of Amsterdam’s analytical chemistry programs, where he teaches courses in chemometrics, statistics, and separation science. He has supervised dozens of MSc and BSc theses and plays a central role in training early-career researchers.

Pirok serves on the Early Career Board of Analytical Chemistry and is active in professional networks such as the European Chemistry Thematic Network. He has contributed to conference organization, delivered invited lectures at major international meetings, and taught short courses on LC×LC and method development.

References

(1) Pirok, B. W. J.; Stoll, D. R.; Schoenmakers, P. J. Recent Developments in Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography: Fundamental Improvements for Practical Applications. Anal Chem. 2019, 91, 240–263. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04841

(2) Niezen, L. E.; Staal, B. B. P.; Lang, C. et al. Thermal Modulation to Enhance Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography Separations of Polymers. J Chromatogr. A 2021, 1653, 462429. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462429

(3) Molenaar, S. R. A.; Dahlseid, T. A.; Stoll, D. R. et al. Peak-Tracking Algorithm for Use in Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography. J Chromatogr. A 2021, 1639, 461922. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.461922

(4) Boelrijk, J.; Ensing, B.; Forré, P. et al.Closed-Loop Automatic Gradient Design for Liquid Chromatography Using Bayesian Optimization. Anal. Chim Acta 2023, 1242, 340789. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.340789

(5) Niezen, L. E.; Schoenmakers, P. J.; Pirok, B. W. J. Critical Comparison of Background Correction Algorithms Used in Chromatography. Anal. Chim Acta 2022, 1201, 339605. DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.339605

(6) Molenaar, S. R. A.; van der Put, B.; Peters, R. A. H. et al. Automated Feature-Mining for Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography Applied to Polymers Enabled by Mass Remainder Analysis. Anal Chem. 2022, 94, 5599–5607. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05336

(7) den Uijl, M. J.; Schoenmakers, P. J.; Pirok, B. W. J. et al. Combining Photodegradation with Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography. Anal Chem. 2022, 94, 11055–11061. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01928

(8) Pirok, B. W. J. Making Analytically Incompatible Approaches Compatible (MANIAC); University of Amsterdam: Amsterdam, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/11245.1/4b32e4f5-bc71-41b0-8fd4-c694b410d425(accesseed 2025-12-16).

(9) Bos, T. S.; Boelrijk, J.; Molenaar, S. R. A. et al. Chemometric Strategies for Fully Automated Interpretive Method Development in Liquid Chromatography. Anal Chem. 2022, 94, 16060–16068. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03160

(10) Pirok, B. W. J.; den Uijl, M. J.; van Bommel, M. R.; et al. Characterization of Dye Extracts from Historical Cultural-Heritage Objects Using Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem. 2019, 91, 3062–3069. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b05469