Faculty of Science

Non-Target Screening for Environmental Analysis
Provider: Faculty of Science

Activity no.: 5745-26-00-00	There are 20 available seats
	Enrollment deadline: 20/03/2026

Place	Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Date and time	20.04.2026, at: 09:00 - 01.06.2026, at: 16:00
Regular seats	20
ECTS credits	7.50

Contact person	Jan H. Christensen E-mail address: jch@plen.ku.dk

Enrolment Handling/Course Organiser	PhD Administration SCIENCE E-mail address: phdcourses@science.ku.dk

Enrolment guidelines This is a toolbox course where 80% of the seats are reserved to PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 20% of the seats are reserved to PhD students from other Danish Universities/faculties (except CBS). Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university (except CBS), you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list. Requirements for signing up PhD students must contact the course coordinator before registration to ensure prerequisites are met Aim and Content This course introduces students to suspect and non-target screening (SS/NTS) for identifying unknown chemicals in the environment. Students will learn analytical workflows for prioritization of unknowns and compound identification using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) with a focus on liquid chromatography (LC), gas chromatography (GC) and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Hands-on sessions will involve applying NTS to real environmental samples (e.g., water, soil, biological organisms). Students will work in small groups to design and execute research projects, covering sample preparation (e.g., solid-phase extraction, vacuum evaporation up-concentration), data analysis using software like MSDial and MZmine, and compound prioritization via R scripts and suspect screening libraries. Learning outcomes Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course: Knowledge Students will learn • the definitions and distinctions between suspect and non-target screening (SS/NTS) • strengths and limitations of NTS workflow in environmental analysis • core concepts such as sample preparation, data acquisition, quality control, data processing, filtering, prioritization, and interpretation. • gain insights into quality control procedures. Skills • By the end of the course, students will be able to design NTS workflows, process and interpret HRMS data, apply quality control, use open-source tools for SS/NTS, and effectively communicate findings. Competences Students will develop the ability to: • Critically evaluate analytical platforms and data processing methods used in NTS research. • Reflect on the quality and reliability of NTS studies. • Interpret NTS data to draw accurate and evidence-based conclusions. Target Group PhD students from various scientific disciplines working with analytical chemistry Recommended Academic Qualifications Basic university-level analytical chemistry knowledge required. Research Area Analytical Chemistry; Environmental Chemistry; Food Chemistry; Plant and Soil Chemistry Teaching and Learning Methods Lectures, theoretical and practical exercises, laboratory experiments Type of Assessment Completion of laboratory exercises (40%), and oral exam of curriculum (60%). Literature Laboratory compendium and electronic resources via Absalon Course coordinator Jan H Christensen, Professor, jch@plen.ku.dk Dates Start Date: 20. April 2026 End Date: 1. June 2026 The theoretical part can be followed online. Expected frequency The course takes place every year. Course location Frederiksberg Campus Course fee • Participant fee: 5000 DKK • PhD student enrolled at SCIENCE: 0 DKK • PhD student from Danish PhD school Open market: 0 DKK • PhD student from Danish PhD school not Open market: 9000 DKK • PhD student from foreign university: 9000 DKK • Master's student from Danish university: 0 DKK • Master's student from foreign university: 9000 DKK • Non-PhD student employed at a university (e.g., postdocs): 9000 DKK • Non-PhD student not employed at a university (e.g., from a private company): 25.200 DKK Cancellation policy • Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge. • Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000 • Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000 • No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000 • Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000 Course fee and participant fee PhD courses offered at the Faculty of SCIENCE have course fees corresponding to different participant types. In addition to the course fee, there might also be a participant fee. If the course has a participant fee, this will apply to all participants regardless of participant type - and in addition to the course fee.

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