In the last few years, my understanding of the applications of analytical chemistry and separations, in particular, has grown multiple folds; equally was the areas of my interest. It started as a simple mini-project run for three months in the year 2002. In the following two years, during my MSc, I applied separation science: chromatography and spectroscopy for environmental study. Later and in a much larger project in the areas of food and feed, with a focus on wines, I started to learn a great deal of the benefits of the areas of expertise I was heading for. For some of my work on wines, please read my PhD thesis and some of my publications.

My fascination with the field was even more magnified when Wageningen University (WUR), the Netherlands, employed me. Coming from zero background in Entomology, in the beginning, it was somehow a challenge not so much for the chemistry part but with the idea of immersing myself into the world of insects and plants. “If there is a will, there is always a way,” are the phrases I often hear; and I was willing to put myself out there and find a way to be useful in the laboratory. It didn’t take me long to learn the vast and almost endless applications of separation sciences. Employed at WUR, I have dealt with various plants and insect species, with more emphasis on their chemistry. My adventure didn’t stop there. With the intention of widening my horizon, I collaborated on projects dealing with Malaria and mosquitos. In all the projects I was involved in, I must confess with pride, we had a very high success rate. Some of our work at WUR can be viewed from the list of my publications.

It is also worth noting the technical skills I acquired along the way. Over the course of my MSc, PhD and employment at WUR, I became well acquainted with the aspects of the technicals of analytical tools at my disposal as well as their maintenance and troubleshooting. It added value to my academic skills and analytical ability enabling me to work independently and/or in a group.

Considering the large data I have dealt with, it was critical for my work to incorporate additional skills. That is where my little knowledge and experience in statistics mainly in multivariate data analysis became very handy.

Most of my experiences are academic and I have attained a wealth of knowledge and experiences in the fields of analytical, environmental, food & flavour as well as in the chemistry of plants and insects. I worked with samples of biological and non-biological in nature, liquid and gas phase separations, one- and multidimensional-gas chromatographic tools, and employed active and passive sampling protocols in order to obtain the qualitative and quantitative information on the organic chemical compositions in all sample types.

I have a multidisciplinary background and proved this, especially during my employment as a postdoc and researcher at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). I have played a crucial role in bridging the historical gap between chemistry and biology by actively engaging with most of my colleagues through collaborating on multiple projects both nationally within and outside our institute as well as internationally with colleagues in science around Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Throughout I have contributed my part to the team in addition to carrying out my own research.

I welcome your views. In order to grow in science, I appreciate any expert advice and all the help I can get.