In my opinion, significant advances in science are often achieved
by the amalgamation of techniques from various fields of study. The challenges
facing scientists today may be too complex for a cadre of specialists from a
single discipline. Consider for instance the research of Dr. Kyu Rhee from
Weill Cornell Medical College and co-workers. Dr. Rhee has performed metabolomics studies
which elucidate the mechanism of action and discovery of new treatments for
bacterial pathogens such as Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. Using the Diamond Hydride™ column, profiling of polar
metabolites in these investigations was made possible. Hence, technologies from
the fields of both medicine and chromatography were applied together to produce
innovative results.
In another related example, correlation of zeta
potential measurements and analyte retention for TYPE-C Silica™ materials has
shed light on the nature of the Aqueous Normal Phase (ANP) mechanism. The data have
demonstrated the contribution that adsorbed hydroxide ions on the stationary
phase surface has on ANP retention. In this case, theory from both zeta
potential techniques as well as chromatography was used to understand the
nature of complex solute–sorbent interactions.
The successful scientist will be
able to make use of any and all methodologies at his or her disposal to solve a
given problem. Demarcations between physics, chemistry, biology, and so on may
be helpful to the student, who learns more easily by the organization of this
information into discreet subjects, but it is the mark of a real scientist when
one can synthesize these disparate concepts into a cohesive strategy of
experimental design.
