Musah Lab Presents at SciX

Professor Musah, Samira and Allix’s posters.

Professor Musah, Samira and Allix presented at the virtual SciX 2020. Each presented a virtual poster accompanied by an oral presentation. Dr. Musah presented “A Workflow for the Identification of Psychoactive Plant Types Featuring a Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass-Spectral Database”, Samira presented “A New Supervised Learning-based Workflow for the Processing of Chemical Data – Efficient Data Reduction-Multivariate Curve Resolution (EDR-MCR)” and Allix presented “Towards the Utilization of Human Cerumen (Earwax) Matrix for Disease Diagnostics: Chemical Profiling Using Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry”. Allix also received the Society of Applied Spectroscopy Poster Award.

Musah Lab Presents at NEAFS

Monica, Amy, Meghan and Megan’s presentations.

Meghan, Amy, Megan and Monica presented virtual talks at the 2020 North Eastern Association of Forensic Scientists Virtual Annual Meeting. Their talks were titled “Mass Spec of the Woods: Species-level Identification of Endangered Woods Using Mass Spectral and Chemometric Techniques”, “Flour Power: A Fresh Approach to Insect Detection in Stored-Product Forensic Entomology Assays Using Direct Analysis in Real Time – High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Chemometrics”, “Who’s Ready for Halloweed? – Detecting Cannabinoids in Candies, Chocolates and Other Edible Products by DART-HRMS”, and “Trip or Treat: Data Fusion and Multivariate Statistical Analysis Treatment of DART-HRMS Collision-induced Dissociation Data to Enable the Rapid Detection and Identification of Tryptamines” respectively. Megan also received the Carol de Forest Student Research Grant.

Musah Lab Group Meeting

The Musah Lab has kicked off the new semester with a group meeting! This pandemic means that we are meeting in an untraditional way, but it is always great to see familiar faces!

Dr. Victor Deklerck Joins the Musah Lab

The Musah Lab welcomes post-doc, Dr. Victor Deklerck to the lab! Victor received his Ph.D. from Ghent University in Bioscience Engineering with a focus in Natural Resources.

Paper Accepted by the Journal of Physical Chemistry A

Daman’s paper titled “Computational Study Investigating the Atmospheric Oxidation Mechanism and Kinetics of Dipropyl Thiosulfinate Initiated by OH Radicals, and the Fate of Propanethiyl Radical” has been accepted by the Journal of Physical Chemistry A.

Amy Receives FSF Award

Amy received the Field Research Grant from the Forensic Science Foundation. This award is designed to help to fund her graduate research. Congratulations Amy!

Paper Accepted by Forensic Chemistry

Cameron’s paper titled “MALDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging for Touch Chemistry Biometric Analysis: Establishment of Exposure to Nitroaromatic Explosives Through Chemical Imaging of Latent Fingermarks” has been accepted by Forensic Chemistry.

Amy and Megan Receive IFW Awards

Amy and Megan both received the Karen R. Hitchcock New Frontiers award through the Initiatives for Women Foundation. Congratulations to both!

Musah Lab Mentioned by WBZ-FM

The entomological research being performed in the Musah Lab was mentioned in the “Tomorrow’s Technology Today” segment of Boston’s 98.5 WBZ-FM radio station. A recording of the segment can be found here.

Musah Lab Presents at ASMS

Professor Musah, Cameron, Meghan and Megan’s presentations.

Professor Musah, Cameron, Meghan and Megan presented at the “Rebooted” 68th Annual Meeting for the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. Professor Musah, Cameron and Meghan presented talks titled “Lend Me Your Ears: Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Earwax for Disease Diagnosis”, “Identification of Diagnostic Markers Indicative of Exposure to Energetic Materials Using Mass Spectrometric Techniques and Random Forest Classification” and “Birds of a Feather: Species Identification of Endangered Macaws Using Direct Analysis in Real Time – Mass Spectrometry and Machine Learning” respectively. Megan presented a poster titled “An Ambient Mass Spectral Technique for the Rapid Detection of Cannabinoids in Plant Material and Complex Edible Matrices”.

Mark and Jessica Graduate from UAlbany

Mark and Jessica both graduated from the University at Albany. Mark completed a B.S. in biochemistry and molecular biology and will be going to medical school. Jessica completed a B.S. in chemistry and will be completing her Master’s in the Musah Lab. Congratulations Mark and Jessica!

Paper Accepted by Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Daman and Mark’s paper titled “Reaction Mechanism, Energetics, and Kinetics of the Water-assisted Thioformaldehyde + ∙OH Reaction and the Fate of its Product Radical Under Tropospheric Conditions” has been accepted by Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.

Musah Lab Featured by Technology Networks

Professor Musah, Samira, Monica and Justine’s Analytical Chemistry paper was featured in Technology Networks. The article, titled “Molecular Maggot Clock Helps Forensic Investigators”, highlighted the work being done in our lab to rapidly determine maggot species. The article can be found here.

Musah Lab Presents at Pittcon

Megan, Meghan, Amy and Professor Musah at Pittcon 2020.

Professor Musah, Meghan, Amy and Megan traveled to Chicago, IL to present at the 2020 Pittcon Conference and Expo. Professor Musah and Meghan were both invited speakers and presented talks titled “Determination of the Structures of New Psychoactive Substances Using DART-MS-derived Collision Induced Dissociation Data” and “High Times: Mass Spectral Analysis of Headspace Volatiles for the Detection and Identification of Psychoactive Synthetics” respectively. Amy presented two poster titled “Identification of Necrophagous Beetles Through the Chemometric Processing of DART-HRMS-derived Metabolome Profiles” and “Kava Kraze: The Use of DART-HRMS to Quantify Yangonin, the Psychoactive Component of a Popular ‘Legal High’ Plant”, while Megan presented a talk titled “Bake Sale: An Ambient Mass Spectral Technique for the Rapid Detection of Cannabinoids in Complex Edible Matrices” and a poster titled “If it’s Mint to Be: An Ambient Mass Spectral Technique for the Rapid Forensic Analysis of Psychoactive Salvia Divinorum”.

Paper Accepted by Analytical Chemistry

Samira, Mónica and Justine’s paper titled “Identification of the Species Constituents of Maggot Populations Feeding on Decomposing Remains—Facilitation of the Determination of Post Mortem Interval and Time Since Tissue Infestation through Application of Machine Learning and Direct Analysis in Real Time-Mass Spectrometry” has been accepted by Analytical Chemistry.

Professor Musah Invited to Present at Williams College

Professor Musah traveled to Williams College in Williamstown, MA to present at the Chemistry Department Colloquium. Her talk was titled “New Frontiers in Forensic Science—Applications of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry to Carrion Insect Identification, Wild-life Trafficking, and the Characterization of “Legal High” Plant Materials”.

Musah Lab Presents at AAFS

Meghan, Megan, Cameron, Dr. Musah and Amy at AAFS.

Professor Musah, Cameron, Meghan, Amy and Megan traveled to Anaheim, CA to present at the 72nd Annual American Academy of Forensic Scientists Annual Scientific Meeting. Cameron and Meghan presented talks titled “See the Forest for the Trees: A Non-Targeted Approach to Discerning Exposure to Explosives Using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and the Multivariate Statistical Model Random Forest” and “Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Detection and Identification of Illegally Traded Endangered Species of Wood Using Mass Spectral Techniques” respectively. Amy and Megan presented posters titled “A Novel Approach to the Identification of Beetles that Colonize Remains: A Chemometric Processing of Direct Analysis in Real-Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-HRMS) Derived Chemical Signatures of Carrion Insects” and “Pepper Plants and Magic Mint – The Application of Ambient Mass Spectral Analysis for the Rapid Detection and Quantification of Psychoactive Compounds in the Complex Matrices of Plant-Based Legal-High Substances” respectively.

Paper Accepted by Journal of Medical Entomology

Justine’s paper titled “Characterization of the Volatiles’ Profiles of the Eggs of Forensically Relevant Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Blow Flies by SPME-Facilitated GC-MS”.

Allix Receives Benevolent Association Award

Allix received the Benevolent Association Research and Creative Activity Grant. This grant will help fund her graduate research. Congratulations Allix!

Allix Receives GSA Grant

Allix received the University at Albany Graduate Student Association Research Grant. This award is designed to help fund her graduate research. Congratulations Allix!