Short CoursesOver 15 half and full day short courses have been announced for SciX 2023! Add on to your conference registration or come to Sparks just for the specialized training and in-depth instruction that our short courses are known for. Below are the short courses we are offering this year.FEES
Short Course List
Short Course DescriptionsCSAS 101 Practical Vibrational Spectroscopy - This course will provide an introduction to Raman, mid-infrared and near-infrared concentrating on why an absorption occurs, where an absorption occurs and the benefits and limitations of the techniques. CSAS 102 Spectral Searching - This course will provide an introduction to spectral searching. Among other topics it will cover how to do an efficient search, why the first "hit" may not be the right answer and how do you deal with a mixture or when the unknown is not in the database. CSAS 103 Problems with FT-IT Spectra and how to Avoid Them - Users of FT-IR spectrometers may have received little or no formal training in spectroscopy and therefore cannot distinguish between “good” and “bad” spectra. In this course, we will show many of the problems that are commonly encountered with FT-IR spectra measured by inexperienced (and often experienced!) users and show how to avoid them. CSAS 104 Introduction to Raman Spectroscopy and Imaging - TBD CSAS 105 Process Analytical Technology: Out of the lab and into the Line - Process analytical technology (PAT) is a tool for product development, scale up and manufacturing of any chemical product. In this course, you will learn about the benefits of in-process monitoring, how to justify and plan the analysis implementation. We will discuss different PAT tools, how to choose them for your application and implementation. We will also discuss the benefits such as saving time and money, improving green scores and manufacturing proficiency. Applications from various industries will be used to explain concepts and provide examples of implementation. SAS 107 An Introduction to Quantitative Spectroscopic Analysis - This course is designed to provide practical information for the development of quantitative methods in spectroscopy. The course provides an overview of basic statistics, method development considerations, and common quantitative techniques, Additionally, the course provides practical considerations in designing methods, defining the problem, and validation requirements to ensure compliance with USP guidelines. Several applications and group discussions are included to illustrate key principals. SAS 109 and 110 Beginners guide to Atomic Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy and Introduction to ICP-MS: Fundamentals, Best Practices and Tips and Tricks This course will cover recent advances in analytical atomic spectroscopy including atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma-mass and atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-MS, ICP-AES), and laser ablation (LA)-ICP-MS. Course content includes theory, instrumentation, practice, troubleshooting hints, as well as common and novel applications. Analytical advantages and limitations of each method will be presented. We will also look at elemental analysis and chemical speciation techniques used in environmental, pharmaceutical, industrial and biological sample analysis. This course will be held as an interactive session and participants are encouraged to discuss their analytical challenges and experiences. The course is geared for novice as well as a refresher course to those participants who are already working in the field. CSAS 112 - The Importance of Microscopy in Microspectroscopy Microspectroscopy is a unified combination of microscopy and spectroscopy for microanalysis. Every aspect of microspectroscopy requires the understanding and application of the fundamental principles of microscopy and spectroscopy. In this intensive one-day course, we concentrate on the fundamental understanding and application of the microscope in acquiring high quality spectral data. Microscopy plays a critically important role in selecting a sample for analysis and defining the microscopic area for which to be analyzed. The relationship between absorbance and illumination is dependent on the optical characteristics of the specimen (diffraction, dispersion, refraction, and reflection) and the optical characteristics of the microscope. CSAS 113: Spectral Interpretation of Vibrational Spectra Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, NMR and Mass spectroscopy are essential techniques to elucidate chemical structure. The success and popularity of NMR and mass spectroscopy have resulted in a general loss of institutional knowledge among most users of IR and Raman interpretation skills. The ability to understand and identify functional groups by interpreting IR and Raman spectra is essential for successful use by end users of these vibrational spectroscopy techniques. This two-day course provides an introduction to IR and Raman spectra. The course content focuses on developing a fundamental understanding of group frequencies and how to apply this to determine molecular structure using both the IR and Raman spectra. Lectures are supplemented with multiple well illustrated examples as well as in-class spectral problem sets under the guidance of highly experienced industrial spectroscopists. CSAS 116: ABC to PMP: A Project Management Crash Course Project management – a term invoking both excitement and loathing to the experienced professional but to the unfamiliar, it might as well be a second language for a freshly minted scientist venturing out into the world. For the average scientist, the fundamentals of project management are not found anywhere in their undergraduate or graduate level schooling, despite project management being used throughout scientific disciplines. Learning further about project management early in one’s career (or even a little later on) can help scientists understand the nuances to formal project management within their chosen discipline. This course is not a substitute for formal project management training towards a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, but aims to provide a half day of learning for attendees to understand how project management fundamentals influence all scientists in modern disciplines. Attendees should leave the course having a firmer understanding of the influences of project management within all realms of scientific work CSAS 117 Laser Fundamentals for Spectroscopy This course is designed to give attendees an introduction to the fundamentals of laser physics as well as a practical understanding of common laser designs and their applications in spectroscopy. This course will begin by providing a fundamental understanding of the three basic components of a laser: gain medium, resonator, and excitation source. You will learn how these components affect the laser characteristics that are important to spectroscopists, specifically, mode structure, spectral linewidth, pulse-width and average power. Finally, attendees will be introduced to the pros and cons of common gas, solid-state, and diode laser designs as they apply to various spectroscopy applications CSAS 118: Technologies and applications for miniature optical spectrometers and spectroscopic sensorsIn the past twenty years optical spectrometers have shrunk dramatically in size, giving us successively laboratory-portable, toaster-sized, instruments; cordless-drill-sized portable instruments for use in the field; and onto spectrometers the size of a computer mouse or deck of cards. The latest development in portable spectroscopy is the availability of very low-cost multispectral sensors, the size of computer chips, leading to the possibility of embedding them into consumer goods. Multispectral sensors can now not only be incorporated into ‘white goods’ like washing machines and dryers, but also into ‘fitness’ products like smart watches and sports watches, and as photonic miniaturization increases, into ‘wearables’ like smart rings, providing the user with health information. A variety of photonic components and technologies can be utilized for these miniature devices including silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits (PICs), produced en masse using semiconductor manufacturing techniques; components from LiDAR including SPAD arrays; electronically-tunable detectors; and ‘photonic’, ‘plasmonic’ and ‘computational’ devices. This course surveys technologies and applications for miniature optical spectrometers and spectroscopic sensors. CSAS 119: How to Make Connections: Networking at Conferences and in Higher Education: Reaching the end of your educational career can be daunting when trying to determine what comes next. There is no one who knows that more than someone else in your shoes. This short course will allow you to discuss the trials and tribulations you face when during/after completing this major milestone. This includes learning ways to get involved in professional development, unique opportunities/options when finishing your education, and how to make professional connections at conferences. Network with other graduate students and young professionals that are undergoing a similar experience as yourself. Conferences and symposia are an ideal location to network and make connections that can lead to amazing opportunities. However, as a student, it can be difficult to be a young professional attending a conference. It can be intimidating to talk to someone whom you’ve only heard about or admired based on their research/job. Moreover, if you are more introverted, there is an additional barrier to overcome to network at conferences. But if you go into conferences with a plan, it helps limit the uncertainty and apprehension that comes with the event. You will learn insights on how to make the most out of a conference experience to and set yourself up for the best future possible. Discussion topics include – conference etiquette, good networking practices, and post-conference follow-up. If you are interested in proposing a short course for the 2023 SciX conference, contact Short Courses Chair Ellen Miseo. |