• Description of WG4:

The detection and quantification of trace amounts of analytes in complex samples is the Holy Grail of cheap and portable analytical solutions. The present COST action is very ambitious in its interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial nature and aims to generate significant results and breakthroughs in terms of cheap, portable devices allowing selective extraction and sensitive detection of target analytes even from complex matrices. Sample preparation represents a powerful tool to overcome the frequent limitation of matrix interference and low sensitivity. At the same time, microfluidic platforms would be excellent candidates since they can allow for integration of a wide range of analytical operations such as sample clean up, immobilisation, derivatization, pre-concentration, and separation.

• Aims or tasks:

  • Integrate the latest trends on sample preparation methods and principles in cheap and portable analytical solutions as a standalone OSH or integrated in a microfluidic platform.
  • Exploit and optimize the integration of microfluidics in cheap and portable analytical solutions.
  • Communicate/network between members of this work group and members of WG3.
  • Organize workshops and seminars to establish connecting networks among scholars, SMEs and other stakeholders.
  • Provide up to date information on funding opportunities.
  • Propose and manage the scientific activities of STSMs.

• Deliverables:

  • Construction of new prototypes.
  • Devise solutions that are specific in a case-by-case basis and are suitable for untrained users.
  • Publications in ISI journals.

WG Leader: Elefteria Psillakis (elia(at)enveng.tuc.gr)

School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece

Elia Psillakis is a Full Professor in Water Chemistry at the School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Greece. She received her degree in Chemistry from the Universitè Montpellier II, France (1994) with Summa Cum Laude and her PhD from the University of Bristol, U.K (1997). In 2007, she was selected for a Fulbright Research Fellowship and used it at CALTECH, USA. Her research activities focus on (i) understanding and applying novel sample preparation methods to the detection of trace amounts of organic pollutants, (ii) the environmental fate of organic contaminants in natural or engineered environments and (iii) environmental sensors. To date her investigations have resulted in one patent, five book chapters and more than 80 publications in ISI Journals. Her publications have received more than 6000 citations, an h-index=39 and three "Top cited article awards". EP has given a number of keynote/invited talks and lectures in International conferences and University departments. EP has been the principal investigator of different funded research projects and has acted as a research collaborator for many others. From 2005-2013, she was a EU expert evaluator for the Marie-Curie excellence fellowships, and in 2012-2013 she acted as the vice-chair of the European chemistry evaluation panel. From 2014-2016 she acted as the Deputy Rector of Academic Affairs and Research at the Technical University of Crete. She is currently the Director of postgraduate studies at the School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Greece.

Assisted by: Marcela Segundo (msegundo(at)ff.up.pt)

Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

Marcela Segundo holds a BSc in Microbiology and a PhD in Biotechnology (College of Biotechnology, Portuguese Catholic University). She is currently the Head of the Analytical Development Group at REQUIMTE, Portuguese Government Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry, Clean technologies and also member of the Executive Board of Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, where she teaches in the Department of Chemical Sciences. Her current research is focused on automation of sample treatment prior to chromatographic analysis, and on development of high-throughput microchemical methods. Her scientific production (ORCID 0000-0003-2938-0214) comprises 14 book chapters, >125 peer-reviewed papers in international journals (h-index 29). In 2016 she received the FIA Award for Science attributed by the Japanese Association for Flow Injection Analysis. Since 2018, she is the Secretary of the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS).

COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020

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