Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Practical Multidimensional Chromatography
PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course where 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students at other faculties and universities. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student, 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.
Applicants must apply for the course and at the same time also submit an e-mail to the course coordinators Jan H Christensen, Professor, jch@plen.ku.dk and Nikoline J Nielsen, Associate Professor, njn@plen.ku.dk confirming previous chromatography experience upon registration.
Aim and Content
The course offers in-depth theoretical knowledge and hands-on training in multidimensional chromatography, including GC×GC, LC×LC, and SFC techniques. Participants will gain practical experience in method optimization, operation of multidimensional chromatographic systems, and data analysis through advanced chemometric approaches.
Key topics include comprehensive LC×LC and GC×GC methodologies, pulsed-elution techniques, hyphenated systems (e.g., LC×LC-MS, GC×GC-MS), and practical data interpretation using commercial and custom software tools.
Learning outcomes
Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course:
Knowledge
• Understand theoretical concepts and operational principles of multidimensional chromatography (GC, LC, CE, SFC)
• Recognize the application scope and advantages of multidimensional chromatography for complex analyses
Skills
• Execute and optimize analytical methods in LC×LC-MS, GC×GC-MS, and SFC×SFC-MS
• Perform practical method development for multidimensional chromatographic systems
Competences
• Critically evaluate and interpret multidimensional chromatographic data
• Select and apply appropriate multidimensional chromatography techniques to solve complex analytical problems
Target Group
PhD students from environmental, biological, pharmaceutical, and related scientific fields interested in practical application of multidimensional chromatography.
Recommended Academic Qualifications
Participants should have foundational knowledge and practical experience with one-dimensional chromatography techniques.
Research Area
Analytical chemistry in environmental, biological, and pharmaceutical research
Teaching and Learning Methods
Interactive lectures, practical laboratory sessions, data analysis exercises, and discussions with international chromatography experts
Type of Assessment
Final oral examination based on theoretical understanding, laboratory exercises, and data interpretation
Literature
Selected scientific articles, lecture notes, laboratory manuals, and electronic resources provided through Absalon.
Course coordinator
Jan H Christensen, Professor, jch@plen.ku.dk
Nikoline J Nielsen, Associate Professor, njn@plen.ku.dk
Guest Lecturers
5-6 international experts will present in the two days symposium in Faroe Islands (25th-27th August 2027), which is also part of the course.
Confirmed speakers as of February, 2026:
Hans-Gerd Janssen, Affiliated Institution: University of Amsterdam / industry collaboration
Contributions: Lecture on fundamentals and industrial applications of multidimensional chromatography, with emphasis on GC×GC and LC×LC method development and troubleshooting. Hans-Gerd Janssen is a leading expert in separation science with long-standing contributions to both academic and industrial chromatography, particularly in comprehensive two-dimensional techniques.
Bob Pirok
Affiliated Institution: University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Contributions: Lecture on advanced LC×LC method development, optimization strategies, and chemometrics-assisted method design.Bob Pirok is known for his work on automated and algorithm-supported method development in multidimensional LC and has contributed significantly to modern LC×LC optimization workflows.
Sebastiaan Eeltink
Affiliated Institution: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Contributions: Lecture on innovative LC×LC instrumentation and applications in complex sample analysis.Sebastiaan Eeltink is recognized for developments in high-performance LC and advanced LC×LC systems, including miniaturized and high-efficiency platforms.
Dates
August 17– 23, 2027 (onsite at UCPH in Denmark) with mandatory pre-course preparation.
August 24, 2027 (travel-day)
August 25-27, 2027 (Faroe Island – take part in 4th Nordic Multidimensional Chromatography Symposium)
Course location
Analytical Chemistry facilities (RAACE), PLEN, Frederiksberg Campus and Thorshavn, Faroe Islands
Deadline for registration
April 30th, 2027 to ensure travel planning and coordination. Also applicant prioritization will start from this day.
Requirements for signing up
Participants must confirm previous chromatography experience upon registration by sending a letter of motivation, also listing relevant experience, to the course responsibles (jch@plen.ku.dk and njn@plen.ku.dk).
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis among qualified applicants and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered from 30th April, 2027. Applicants who applied after 30th April, 2027, will be considered if seats are available.
Cost
The UCPH PhD-course fee applies with different rates depending on where the PhD-student is enrolled or status as PhD or post doc etc.[NN1.1]
Please notice there is a participant fee of 5000 DKK in addition to the course fee to cover access to research instruments at UCPH.
In addition to the course and participant fees, the participants are responsible for booking and financing travel to and from the Faroe Islands and accommodation (and food) in Faroe Islands.
Around 1st May, 2027 the course responsibles will communicate, to all accepted participants, which flights and accommodation have been booked by the UCPH staff. It would be nice if PhD-course participants would book same flights and accommodation.
Participation in the 2-day symposium in the Faroe Islands is mandatory to pass the course.
Costs for course
Please see the amounts for participant fee and course fee below.
The participant fee of DKK 5000 will cover access to research instruments at UCPH.
In addition to the course and participant fees, the participants are responsible for booking and financing travel to and from the Faroe Islands and accommodation (and food) in Faroe Islands.
Around 1st May, 2027 the course responsibles will communicate, to all accepted participants, which flights and accommodation have been booked by the UCPH staff. PhD-course participants are encouraged to book same flights and accommodation.
Participation in the 2-day symposium in the Faroe Islands is mandatory to pass the course.
Course fee
• Participant fee: DKK 5.000
• PhD student enrolled at SCIENCE: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school Open market: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school not Open market: DKK 3.000
• PhD student from foreign university:DKK 3.000
• Master's student from Danish university: DKK 0
• Master's student from foreign university: 3.000
• Non-PhD student employed at a university (e.g., postdocs): 3.000
• Non-PhD student not employed at a university (e.g., from a private company): DKK 8.400
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.