Anneli, program responsible and researcher in analytical chemistry

Associate Professor Anneli Kruve is not only responsible for the master's program in analytical chemistry, she is also a researcher, focusing on developing machine learning tools for analytical chemistry.

Hi Anneli, can please tell me a little bit about yourself?

I am an Assistant Professor at Stockholm University in Analytical Chemistry. I am an analytical chemist by training but I also did a degree in computer science. I am very passionate about using chemical data for making data driven decision and using data to make even better analytical chemistry. 

In the MSc program in Analytical Chemistry, I am teaching method validation, quantification, chromatography and most of all advanced data handling. I am excited to show how advanced data science tools alongside chemistry can benefit pinpointing hazardous chemicals responsible for the toxicity of wastewater or diagnosing dieses from metabolic profiles. 

You are orginally from Estonia, how did you end up at SU?
I joined SU three years ago. I was and still am very drawn to the rich environment at SU. I have found at SU experts in almost anything I could dream about and this has allowed me to build a network of good colleagues. As a student, you will be directly exposed to this very diverse and vibrant environment. 

What is your position?
I am a group leader and a teacher. My research group is focusing on developing machine learning tools for analytical chemistry. We are especially interested in so called nontarget screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry. In comparison to classical targeted analysis methods that start with an assumption about the presence of specific chemicals in a specific sample, nontarget screening aims to look for all chemicals in the sample of and figure out which of these are most important. For example, what are the most toxic chemicals in wastewater? This is a very hard task, but it needs to be done to understand the chemicals in our environment, food, as well as re- and up-cycled consumer products. Our job is to make this a bit easier by developing tools for identification and quantification of the chemicals detected with nontarget analysis. This task requires a understanding of the analytical processes as well as creativity and passion for data driven solutions.

What makes a good chemistry student?

Ability to dream big and be passionate of what you do. Without dreams we will not be able to deliver a better future. After this come ability to focus, work collaboratively, and some background in natural sciences.

What did you learn during your studies that you find valuable today?
Take the most of it. In every sense. It is a time when you can dig deep and wide, fall in love with a topic, disappoint, and find a new interest. It is part of the game. Also, do not forget to enjoy yourself, university will give you friends for life and a network that you can fall back on later in life. 

Why should anyone study chemistry?
As a first year BSc student in chemistry, I was not sure if I should continue in chemistry or switch to IT, which was one of my compulsory courses. However, I did not switch. I started working with chromatography in a biomedicine lab as an undergraduate and slowly moved towards using mass spectrometry as a detector. Soon the magical word of mass spectrometry rolled out in front of me. I was immediately fascinated by the magic still surrounding the ionization techniques. This allowed me to combine my passion for chemistry and data-driven thinking. My research would not be possible if I did not understand the chemistry behind the processes we are modelling. Chemistry really gives you an angle to work in any field you are interested in, be that medicine, food, environment, recycling, energy, or IT. 

What motivates you in your role/what are your driving forces?
As a researcher I am driven by finding out new things and enabling the unthinkable. As a teacher, I am devoted to opening the magic of chemistry (and data) to the students. 

In what way do you believe chemistry can help build a more sustainable future?
At the end of the day, it all boils down to chemistry. What happens to the materials during recycling? What is released to the environment and what is retained in the products? Why do some materials lose its durability? What is the most valuable product that we can “make” of waste? Can sewage produce energy? Behind all these questions are chemical reactions and processes, and accounting for these is essential in moving towards sustainable future.