Brian Lerner, quick and automated whole air sampling

in NOAA’s Chemical Sciences Laboratory won for developing one of the world’s quickest and most automated systems to analyze whole air samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Brian developed a four-device package that includes sampling, analysis and interface, GC-MS, and cannister cleaning, and he also built efficient software to greatly improve speed of data analysis. Brian’s improvements now allow routine analysis of field samples within 36 hours, greatly expanding his team’s analytical capabilities and ability to address important science topics such as the emissions of organic gases from oil and natural gas operations. Other groups around the world are looking to use some of Brian’s techniques in their own systems.