Episode 17: From Lab Building to Fingerprint Aging: Dr. Petr Vozka on Advanced Chromatography

In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host David Oliva interviews Dr. Petr Vozka, Assistant Professor at California State University, Los Angeles, about his journey establishing the Complex Chemical Composition Analysis Lab (C³AL).Dr. Vozka shares how he built his research facility during the pandemic, focusing on creating opportunities for first-generation and underrepresented undergraduate students. Learn about the groundbreaking LECO-C³AL partnership that provides students with hands-on experience using advanced comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) instrumentation.The conversation explores:- Building a cutting-edge analytical chemistry lab during challenging circumstances- Creating research opportunities for underrepresented undergraduate students- The innovative fingerprint aging research in collaboration with the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center- How multidimensional chromatography enables detection of thousands of compounds in complex mixtures- The workflow for analyzing fingerprint samples using GC×GC-TOFMS- The advantages of nitrogen generators in laboratory settingsDr. Vozka also discusses the upcoming 17th Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop (MDCW), a FREE conference taking place January 13-15, 2026, in Williamsburg, VA, bringing together experts in multidimensional separation techniques.Visit Dr. Vozka's lab website: https://www.calstatela.edu/research/c3alLearn more about MDCW: https://www.multidimensionalchromatography.com/#Chromatography #GCGC #ForensicScience #AnalyticalChemistry #Fingerprints #MDCW #CalStateLA