Swetha Sarangarajan
Columbus,OH
Summary
Analytical chemist and Ph.D. candidate with hands-on experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing Agilent GC-MS systems, including single quadrupole, triple quadrupole, and Q-ToF platforms. Experienced in trace-level identification and quantitation of volatile and semi-volatile compounds in complex matrices using MRM, standard addition, stable isotope labeling, and advanced extraction and sampling techniques. Proficient in instrument tuning, calibration, background and interference management, and Agilent MassHunter data analysis. Complementary research experience in polymer synthesis, surface modification, and materials characterization, with a strong interest in applying analytical expertise to contamination control, cleanliness qualification, and optics lifetime applications.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Ph.D. Candidate (Graduate Research Assistant)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
08.2022 - 04.2027
- Run and maintain the lab's Agilent GC-MS systems (single quad, triple quad, Q-ToF): tuning, calibration, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting when problems come up.
- Extract and analyze volatile and semi-volatile compounds from complex matrices using SAFE, LLE, SPME, dynamic headspace (DHS), and thermal desorption (TDU), with CIS injection for thermally labile compounds.
- Support GC-MS/olfactometry (GC-MS/O) panel activities; develop experiments and select sample extraction methods that match matrix composition
- Use MRM on triple quadrupole systems for selective identification and quantitation of target compounds in complex matrices with interfering contaminants.
- Quantify trace compounds by standard addition and stable isotope labeling to correct for matrix effects and background.
- Acquire data in Agilent MassHunter, process it with the qualitative and quantitative software, and identify volatile compounds against NIST and odorant databases for compound discovery.
- Run targeted and untargeted GC-MS workflows for volatiles and LC-MS (Q-ToF) workflows for non-volatiles, with preparative LC for compound isolation.
- Work with complementary techniques: ATR-MIR, SEM, ICP-OES,NMR, Dumas
Research Intern, Institute of Functional Interfaces (Advanced Polymers and Biomaterials Group)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
11.2019 - 02.2020
- Contributed to a multidisciplinary project on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization and organic synthesis to build chiral polymer nanohelix surfaces.
- Characterized materials by NMR, GPC, SEM, circular dichroism, and FTIR spectroscopy.
- Gained hands-on experience in polymer synthesis, surface modification, and analytical instrumentation.
- Co-authored the resulting publication in Advanced Materials (see Publication).
Summer Research Intern, Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
04.2019 - 06.2019
- Synthesized linear, monodisperse, sequence-defined oligomers, enhancing potential for advanced polymer applications.
- Characterized molecular structure and purity by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).
- Secured KHYS grant funding to support innovative research initiatives in polymer chemistry.
Education
Ph.D. - Food Science and Technology (Flavor Chemistry)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH04-2027
M.S. - Chemistry
University of Madras
Chennai, India01-2021
B.S. - Chemistry
University of Madras
Chennai, India04-2018
Skills
- GC-MS instruments (Agilent)
- 8990 GC / 7010 Triple Quadrupole MS
- 7890B GC / 7010B Triple Quadrupole MS
- 7890B GC / 5977A Single Quadrupole MS
- 7890B GC / 7250 Q-ToF MS
- GC-MS/Olfactometry
- GC sampling, extraction, and injection
- Gerstel MPS autosampler and rails
- Thermal desorption (TDU)
- Cooled Injection System (CIS) for thermally labile compounds
- Dynamic headspace (DHS)
- Solid-phase microextraction (SPME)
- Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE)
- Solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE)
- Agilent S/SL inlets
- LC-MS and separations:
- Agilent Revident LC/Q-TOF
- Preparative LC
- Quantitation and identification
- MRM for selective identification and quantitation in complex matrices with interfering contaminants
- Standard addition
- Stable isotope labeling
- Trace-level quantitation
- Targeted and untargeted analysis
- Software and databases
- Agilent MassHunter acquisition, qualitative, and quantitative software
- NIST library and odorant databases for volatile compound discovery and identification
- R for statistics and data visualization
- Instrument care: Tuning, calibration, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting on the GC-MS systems and autosamplers used day to day
- Chemometrics and study design: PCA, OPLS an other multivariate statistical modeling
- Complementary techniques: ATR-MIR/FTIR, NIR, Raman, SEM, NMR (including 23-Na NMR), ICP-OES, Dumas, UV-Vis, GPC, Circular dichroism
Personal Information
Analytical and Flavor Chemist | GC-MS and LC-MS | Trace Quantitation in Complex Matrices
Languages
- English (Fluent)
- German (Full Professional)
Honors
Best Outgoing Student of the Department, University of Madras (B.S. and M.S.), Academic Proficiency Awards (2015 – 2020), Gold Medal (B.S., Rank 1) and Silver Medal (M.S., Rank 2)
Publication
Varadharajan, D.; Nayani, K.; Zippel, C.; Spuling, E.; Cheng, K. C.; Sarangarajan, S.; Roh, S.; Kim, J.; Trouillet, V.; Brase, S.; Abbott, N. L.; Lahann, J. Surfaces Decorated with Enantiomorphically Pure Polymer Nanohelices via Hierarchical Chirality Transfer across Multiple Length Scales. Advanced Materials, 2021. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202108386
Teaching and Leadership
- Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University, FST Department: Introduction to Food Processing (Fall 2023), Chocolate Science and Science of Food (Fall 2022), Food Sustainability (Spring 2024), Food Proteins (Spring 2026). Led laboratory sessions, graded assignments, and mentored students.
- President, IFTSA College Bowl Team, Aug 2024 – Apr 2025: Led team preparation for a national food science competition.
- Team Member, IFTSA College Bowl, Aug 2023 – Jul 2024: Won the Midwest Regional competition and represented Ohio State at the finals at the IFT Annual Meeting in Chicago (July 2024).
Timeline
Ph.D. Candidate (Graduate Research Assistant)
The Ohio State University
08.2022 - 04.2027
Research Intern, Institute of Functional Interfaces (Advanced Polymers and Biomaterials Group)
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
11.2019 - 02.2020
Summer Research Intern, Institute for Chemical Technology and Polymer Chemistry
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
04.2019 - 06.2019
Ph.D. - Food Science and Technology (Flavor Chemistry)
The Ohio State University
M.S. - Chemistry
University of Madras
B.S. - Chemistry
University of Madras