Analytical Chemistry for Non-Analytical Chemists
PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE at University of Copenhagen
This is a toolbox course where 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 20% og the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS).
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university (except CBS), you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
The course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except CBS).
All other participants must pay the course fee (except if you are a master’s student from a Danish University).
Aim and Content
This toolbox PhD course aims to equip students without extensive analytical chemistry backgrounds with core analytical skills. It covers analytical methodologies such as sampling and sample preparation (liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, super-critical fluid extraction, pressurised liquid extraction), chromatographic methods (HPLC, GC), spectroscopic techniques (UV-VIS, ICP-MS), mass spectrometry (GC-MS, LC-MS), data processing, method validation, and quality assurance.
Hands-on laboratory sessions form the core experience, emphasizing practical competencies and analytical problem-solving relevant to students' research fields.
Learning outcomes
Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course:
Knowledge
• Fundamental principles of analytical methodologies.
• Chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical methods.
• Qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometry analyses.
Skills
• Practical application of analytical techniques.
• Statistical and chemometric data interpretation.
• Quality assurance in analytical processes.
Competences
• Develop and validate analytical methods.
• Critically evaluate analytical data.
• Apply analytical chemistry to interdisciplinary research.
Target Group
PhD students from various scientific disciplines who require analytical chemistry skills in their research but have limited formal training in analytical methodologies.
Recommended Academic Qualifications
Basic university-level chemistry knowledge required. No prior analytical chemistry training necessary.
Research Area
Analytical Chemistry; Environmental Chemistry; Food Chemistry; Plant and Soil Chemistry and other non-chemistry research areas
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, theoretical and practical exercises, laboratory experiments, and an excursion to an accredited analytical laboratory.
Type of Assessment
Completion of laboratory exercises (40%), and oral exam of curriculum (60%).
Literature
Daniel C. Harris: Quantitative Chemical Analysis Ed. 10.
Laboratory compendium and electronic resources via Absalon
Course coordinator
Jan H Christensen, Professor, jch@plen.ku.dk
Guest Lecturers
Asger Geppel and other researchers from Novonesis during visit to Novonesis.
Dates
Start Date: 2. February 2026
End Date: 4. March 2026
Expected frequency
The course takes place every year.
Course location
Frederiksberg Campus
Requirements for signing up
PhD students must contact the course coordinator before registration to ensure prerequisites are met
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the deadline for registration.
Cancellation policy
• Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge.
• Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000
• Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
• No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000
• Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
Course fee and participant fee
PhD courses offered at the Faculty of SCIENCE have course fees corresponding to different participant types.
In addition to the course fee, there might also be a participant fee.
If the course has a participant fee, this will apply to all participants regardless of participant
type - and in addition to the course fee