Event Date
Instructor: Dr. Uri Keshet, UC Davis
Required software: None
Participant prerequisites: None
Short description of the course: Mass spectrometry (MS) is an important analytical technique in many metabolomics labs. With GC-MS, LC-MS, EI, ESI, TOF, QQQ, Orbitrap, and many other different MS systems in the market, it can be challenging to make the right choice of instrument for your specific needs and constraints. In this short course, we will cover the fundamental principles of MS, including the different sample introduction types, ionization techniques, and mass analyzer varieties, and how they are used in metabolomics. Whether it is for targeted or untargeted applications, we will cover the basics of reading and understanding MS output data (i.e., EI-MS, ESI-MS, or ESI-MS/MS spectra). We will also cover tips & tricks for developing high-throughput MS methods (i.e., short 5-min method) that can be used in metabolomics. By the end of the course you will have a solid understanding of the available MS systems in the market, the pitfalls in using such systems, the basics of designing a study using the different MS approaches, and the tools for reading and processing MS data files.